Dearden's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Department store) |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Founder | Edgar Dearden |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles and surrounding areas, California |
| Products | Furniture, appliances, cookware, home essentials, jewelry, watches, fragrances |
Number of employees | 420 (2017) |
Overview
Dearden's was a Los Angeles-based department store chain that operated for over a century, from its establishment in 1909 until its closure in 2017. Founded by Edgar Dearden, an English immigrant, the store specialized in selling furniture, appliances, cookware, various home essentials, as well as jewelry, watches, and fragrances. Beyond retail, Dearden's also offered services such as check cashing, travel arrangements, tax assistance, and bill payment. In its later years, the chain primarily served lower-income Latino communities, particularly immigrants originating from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
A distinctive feature of Dearden's business model was its in-house credit system, which extended credit to many Latino immigrant customers who often faced challenges obtaining traditional credit cards. During the 1990s, some undocumented immigrants used documents from Dearden's to demonstrate their U.S. presence, aiding them in securing amnesty and legal residency.
Flagship Store and Financials
The main store was located at 700 S. Main Street (Los Angeles), occupying a five-story building with approximately 150,000 square feet of retail space. By 2006, the chain reported annual sales reaching $100 million (adjusted for inflation based on US GDP).
Marketing and Locations
In its final decades, Dearden's was recognized for its Spanish-language advertising jingle: "Dearden's, es la tienda más grande, al servicio de usted" (translated as "Dearden's is the largest store at your service"). At the time it ceased operations, the company employed 420 staff members across multiple branches situated in predominantly Latino neighborhoods including Anaheim, Chino, Commerce, Huntington Park, La Puente, Santa Ana, and Van Nuys. Notably, the Van Nuys branch at 6609 Van Nuys Boulevard originally opened in 1951 as part of the Butler Brothers Department Stores network.
References
External links
- Articles with short description
- Defunct department stores located in Downtown Los Angeles
- Furniture retailers in the United States
- Companies founded in California in 1909
- Retail businesses established in 1909
- California disestablishments in 2017
- Main Street (Los Angeles)
- Defunct department stores based in Downtown Los Angeles