Best & Co.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (department store) |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Founder | Albert Best |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Fate | Liquidated by McCrory's |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Philip Le Boutillier (president, late 1930s), Ira Guilden (chairman, 1966) |
| Products | Clothing for infants, children, women's fashion and accessories |
Number of employees | 1,200 (1970) |
Best & Co. was established in 1879 by Albert Best in New York City. The store initially specialized in clothing for infants and children before broadening its range to include women's fashion and accessories. It gained a reputation for offering "elegantly designed and appropriate women's apparel alongside durable children's garments." In the late 1930s, Philip Le Boutillier held the position of president. By 1966, the company had expanded to operate 20 outlets prior to its acquisition by McCrory's, the parent company of Lerner Shops and S. Klein. McCrory's proceeded to liquidate Best & Co. in late 1970; at that time, the workforce numbered approximately 1,200 employees.
Flagship store
The original flagship of Best & Co. was situated within the "Ladies' Mile" near Sixth Avenue and 23rd Street. In 1908, the firm invested half a million dollars to purchase the former Engineer's Club located at 372 Fifth Avenue and 35th Street, positioning itself among prestigious Fifth Avenue retailers such as B. Altman, Gorham Manufacturing Company, and Tiffany's. This limestone structure later transitioned into the flagship store for Bond Clothing Stores after Best & Co. relocated uptown; it was ultimately converted into residential apartments.
The final flagship store occupied a 12-story building at Fifth Avenue and 51st Street, just north of St. Patrick's Cathedral, replacing the previous address at 645 Fifth Avenue and the former site of the Union Club of the City of New York. Following its closure in late 1970, this white marble edifice was demolished to facilitate construction of the Olympic Tower.
Branches
Best & Co. was an early adopter in opening retail locations in affluent suburban markets ahead of many competitors. The company launched its initial branch stores during the late 1920s and early 1930s, including sites in Manhasset, Long Island (1928), Mamaroneck, New York (1930), East Orange, New Jersey (1930), and Jenkintown, Pennsylvania (1936; closed by 1937). By 1938, branches were operational not only throughout suburban New York but also in cities such as Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Boston, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That same year saw the opening of a Washington, D.C. location at 4433 Connecticut Ave., NW. On August 28, 1940, a new store commenced operations in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In the late 1940s through early 1950s, a branch was introduced in Arlington, Virginia. The principal Washington D.C. store relocated in 1955 to a modern 15,000 square foot facility at 4020 Wisconsin Ave., NW. By 1966, under the leadership of chairman Ira Guilden, Best & Co. maintained a network of 20 branches.
Despite McCrory's decision to liquidate Best & Co. in October 1970 and close all outlets—with only 12 branches still active—a new store was constructed as an outparcel adjacent to the upscale Fashion Center in Paramus, New Jersey. This location featured an updated script logo but remained unoccupied for several years until Britt's Department Store launched there using fixtures originally intended for Best & Co.
In popular culture
The storefront of Best & Co. is featured in The Godfather during a Christmas shopping sequence involving characters Michael Corleone and Kay Adams.