Fred Hayman
Fred Hayman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fred Jules Pollag 29 May 1925 St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| Died | 14 April 2016 (aged 90) Malibu, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, fashion retailer |
| Known for | Founder of Giorgio Beverly Hills; "Mr. Beverly Hills" and "Mr. Rodeo Drive" |
Fred Jules Pollag (May 29, 1925 – April 14, 2016), widely recognized by his professional name Fred Hayman, was a Swiss-born American entrepreneur and fashion retailer who established Giorgio Beverly Hills in 1961 in Beverly Hills, California. His pivotal influence in elevating Rodeo Drive into a premier luxury shopping district earned him the titles "Mr. Beverly Hills" and "Mr. Rodeo Drive".
Early life
Born into a Jewish family in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 1925, Hayman was the son of Richard Pollag and Irma Levy. Following his father’s passing, his mother remarried Julius Haymann. During World War II, the family relocated to New York City, where Hayman began working as an apprentice chef at the Waldorf-Astoria. In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy, undergoing dental training until 1946. Afterwards, he traveled through Paris and Mexico City before returning to his position at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Beverly Hilton
By the 1960s, Hayman had advanced to managing the Beverly Hilton hotel. It was there that he met Gale, a cocktail waitress and divorcee whom he helped after she was arrested for underage employment; they wed a year later despite a sixteen-year age difference.
Giorgio Beverly Hills
In 1961, Hayman partnered with George Grant to launch Giorgio Beverly Hills at 273 Rodeo Drive, which was then an unremarkable street. Their boutique’s proximity to The Beverly Hilton hotel was deliberately chosen in anticipation of Rodeo Drive’s emergence as a luxury retail center during the mid-1970s, attracting prestigious brands such as Gucci and Tiffany. The store’s distinctive yellow-and-white striped awning became an emblem of Beverly Hills elegance. Hayman acquired Grant’s share in 1962. To enhance the shopping experience, the boutique included features like a reading room and bar designed to entertain male companions while women shopped.
The store attracted high-profile clientele including Natalie Wood, Princess Grace, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Diana Ross, Charlton Heston, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Recognizing fragrance as a lucrative market, Hayman introduced Giorgio perfume in November 1981. He later sold the fragrance line and brand to Avon in 1987 for $165 million.
Fred Hayman Beverly Hills
Following the sale of Giorgio Beverly Hills, the boutique was renamed Fred Hayman Beverly Hills.
Hayman also owned an office building on Canon Drive near the famed restaurant Spago, prominently displaying his name in red script against his signature yellow backdrop.
Honors
In 2011, Hayman was honored with a plaque on the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style. That same year, Rose Apodaca authored his biography titled Fred Hayman—The Extraordinary Difference.
Philanthropy
Hayman made contributions to the Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden and, alongside his wife, supported the Maple Counseling Center located in Beverly Hills.
Personal life
Hayman experienced four marriages, three of which ended in divorce. His first marriage was to Thelma Bertrand, followed by Dr. Barbara Sziraki in 1957; she bore him three children: Charles Edward Hayman (residing in Jerusalem), Robert Gabriel Hayman (living in Malibu), and Nicole Hayman (based in St. Charles, Missouri). His third marriage was to Gale Gardner in 1966; they separated after thirteen years but maintained a friendship. In 1996, he married Betty at his Malibu residence. At his passing, he was survived by Betty Endo, his three children, and ten grandchildren.
Death
Hayman passed away in 2016 at his residence in Malibu, reaching the age of 90.