Harris & Frank

Harris & Frank

Company type	Private
Industry	Retail (clothing)
Founded	1856 in Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder	Leopold Harris
Fate	Acquired by Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. in 1971; gradually closed in 1990s
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	Southern California and adjacent states and regions
Key people	Leopold Harris (founder), Herman W. Frank (partner from 1888)
Products	Menswear and clothing retail
Number of employees	Approximately 40 stores at peak
Parent	Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. (from 1971)

File:Harris & Frank store 1924.jpg

The Harris & Frank flagship location at 635-9 S. Hill St. in Downtown Los Angeles, inaugurated in 1925.

Harris & Frank was a prominent clothing retailer and extensive chain within the history of retail in Southern California, boasting approximately 40 outlets at its height throughout Southern California and adjacent states and regions. Its origins trace back to a garment shop established by Leopold Harris in Los Angeles in 1856, situated near the city's central plaza, only eight years following the city’s transition from Mexican to American governance. Herman W. Frank became a business partner with Harris 32 years later, in 1888.

Family

Born as Lewin Hirschkowitz (Template:Respell) around 1836–1910, Leopold Harris came from a Jewish family whose parents’ names vary according to different records. In his own public notice regarding his name change, he identified his father as Feibisch and his mother as Hannah. Conversely, the Jewish Museum of the American West lists his parents as Morris and Johanna and provides information about several siblings who emigrated:

• Stella, who married Rudolph Anker, owner of a dry goods and apparel store in San Bernardino
• Zara, spouse of Maurice Diego Katz from San Bernardino
• Emma, married to Simon Goldsmith, proprietor of a rural store in San Bernardino and later a shoe shop in Santa Ana
• Herman and Philip, who initially worked under Simon Goldsmith in Santa Ana before launching their own clothing outlet there
• Leo, who founded a country store in Lancaster along with managing a ranch and freight operation
• Herman, Philip, and Arthur, who with assistance from Leopold, established the Harris Department Stores in San Bernardino in 1905.

Leopold’s announcement of his name change also referenced his brother Moritz and sister Rosa Sommerfeld, who remained near Löbau as of 1872.

Löbau, Prussia

Harris (originally Hirschkowitz) was born in Löbau, located within the Province of Prussia of the Kingdom of Prussia. This area became part of unified Germany in 1871 and was transferred to the newly reconstituted nation of Poland in 1920. Today, the town is known as Lubawa in Polish. Löbau was also the hometown of notable Los Angeles entrepreneur Harris Newmark as well as the Jacoby brothers, founders of the significant Los Angeles department store Jacoby Bros.

Emigration to the U.S.

At age 16, he emigrated to the United States in 1852. After spending some time in Kentucky, he journeyed through Nicaragua alongside fellow Löbau native Harris Newmark, ultimately arriving in California by October 1853. He opened his retail establishment on the Los Angeles Plaza three years later, in 1856.

Initial business collaborations

Leopold Harris chose to launch his commercial ventures in the emerging Mormon settlement of San Bernardino, California. There, he partnered with Lewis Jacobs to establish the firm Lewis & Harris, which was dissolved by April 1862. After spending some time abroad, he returned to Los Angeles and founded the London Clothing Company.

In 1857, Harris obtained U.S. citizenship. Alongside Henry M. Cohn (also spelled Cohen), he created the partnership Cohen & Harris to engage in sheep raising and grazing near San Gabriel, which ended in 1860. The duo reunited in 1862 to open a kosher butcher shop. Additionally, Harris engaged in business activities in San Francisco. In 1868, he married Minna Jastrowitz, who was the sister of his associate Benno Jastrowitz. In 1872, he formally changed his name from Lewin Hirschkowitz to Leopold Harris.

Harris passed away in 1910 on Long Island, New York while returning to Los Angeles after becoming ill during a European journey.

Historic photographs

• Signage for "Harris & Jacoby, successors to H. W. Hellman," a precursor to both Harris & Frank and Jacoby Bros., displayed on the Old Downey Block circa 1870. To the right are storefront signs for M. Kremer and S. Lazard, both antecedents of the City of Paris department store.
  Signage for "Harris & Jacoby, successors to H. W. Hellman," a precursor to both Harris & Frank and Jacoby Bros., displayed on the Old Downey Block circa 1870. To the right are storefront signs for M. Kremer and S. Lazard, both antecedents of the City of Paris department store.
• 1878 advertisement for Quincy Hall featured in the city directory
  1878 advertisement for Quincy Hall featured in the city directory
• On the far right, a sign reading "L. Harris" is visible at the location of Harris' Quincy Hall store at 54 N. Main St. (old numbering; approximately 308 N. Main today), around 1878
  On the far right, a sign reading "L. Harris" is visible at the location of Harris' Quincy Hall store at 54 N. Main St. (old numbering; approximately 308 N. Main today), around 1878
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• Interior view of the store at 119–125 N. Spring Street in 1903
  Interior view of the store at 119–125 N. Spring Street in 1903
• Portrait of Leopold Harris from the late 19th century
  Portrait of Leopold Harris from the late 19th century
• Photograph of Herman W. Frank taken in 1888
  Photograph of Herman W. Frank taken in 1888
• Image showing Herman W. Frank in the year 1902
  Image showing Herman W. Frank in the year 1902

Harris & Frank (1860s–1947)

The initial store established by Harris, originally named The London Clothing Co., was located at the Los Angeles Plaza. Over time, Harris, both independently and alongside partners, managed a series of outlets that progressively shifted southwestward from the Plaza, following the migration of the primary retail district.

By 1870, Harris partnered with Isaac, Nathan, Charles, Abraham, and Lessor Jacoby to acquire Herman W. Hellman's establishment, creating Harris & Jacoby. This enterprise served as a precursor not only to Harris & Frank but also to Jacoby Bros., a department store that operated in Los Angeles until the 1930s. The Jacoby siblings originated from Löbau, Prussia.

Between 1876 and 1882, the business functioned under the name Quincy Hall Clothing House, situated at 63 Main St. (according to pre-1890 numbering) within the Downey Block. At that period, Commercial St. extended eastward from Main St., just north of Temple St.

In January 1883, Harris formed a partnership with Benno Jastrowitz—born in 1852 in Löbau, West Prussia, and brother to Harris's wife Minna Jastrowitz—operating as L. Harris & Co.. By February of that year, the Quincy Hall store had ceased operations while the new L. Harris & Co. was conducting business on Temple Street's south side in a building spanning between Spring and New High streets: addresses 129–131 Spring and 5-7-9 New High (pre-1890 numbering). This location corresponds today to the northern boundary of the Los Angeles City Hall block.

In July 1886, the partners reinstated the name London Clothing Co.. On June 4, 1888, Jastrowitz sold his share to Herman W. Frank, originally from Walla Walla, Washington, who had begun as a clerk in Harris's store and later married Harris's daughter Sarah. This change resulted in the business adopting the name Harris & Frank, which it retained for over a century.

By 1894, the store had relocated to 119–125 N. Spring at Franklin St.'s southwest corner. Management by 1903 included Harris's son Harry L. Harris alongside his two sons-in-law, Herman W. Frank and M.C. Adler.

In 1905, operations moved further south to 337–341 S. Spring St., positioned between Third and Fourth streets; for a brief period, both this location and the Spring and Franklin site were active simultaneously.

Two years later, in 1907, the store shifted one block south to 447–443 S. Spring St., between Fourth and Fifth streets.

Eventually, in 1925, Harris & Frank relocated further southwest to 635–639 S. Hill St., just one block west of Broadway—the city’s prominent shopping avenue by then. The building currently serves as the Wholesale Jewelry Mart.

Brooks Clothing Co. (1922–1947)

Established in 1922, the Brooks Clothing Company launched its first store at 337–9 S. Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles, occupying the former premises of The Hub Clothing Co.. The retailer offered suits and overcoats at a single fixed price of $25. Soon after, Brooks expanded its presence by opening additional outlets in downtown districts across Southern California cities such as Long Beach, Pasadena, and Santa Ana, as well as reaching the San Francisco Bay Area, Stockton, and Fresno.

In 1935, the company relocated its flagship store from Spring Street to 644 S. Broadway, taking over the former flagship location of W. & J. Sloane. This seven-story building underwent a comprehensive renovation led by architect Harbin F. Hunter, costing $75,000 and designed to reflect contemporary architectural trends.

Harris & Frank (1947–1990s)

The year 1947 marked the merger of Harris & Frank with Brooks Clothing Co., through which Harris & Frank acquired the flagship store at 644 S. Broadway along with 14 additional branches. Although Harris & Frank had operated stores in Downtown Los Angeles since 1888, this merger expanded their footprint significantly throughout Southern California and beyond. Following the merger, Harris & Frank shuttered its original flagship location at 635.

By 1950, Harris & Frank operated 15 branches. That same year, it closed its pre-merger flagship store on Hill Street, situated just a block west of the Broadway location inherited from Brooks. Additionally, new stores were launched in North Hollywood’s central shopping area along Lankershim Boulevard, followed by an outlet at Panorama City Shopping Center several years later.

In 1959, H. Daroff and Sons—the manufacturer behind the Botany 500 menswear line—acquired Harris & Frank, which then maintained 21 branches. A decade later in 1970, Northern California’s Pauson's chain was merged into Harris & Frank, increasing the total number of stores to approximately 40.

Botany Industries, Inc. purchased both Harris & Frank and Pauson's in 1970; Pauson's was a longstanding men's clothing retailer founded in San Francisco by Samuel Pauson in 1875 and known for its location at Sutter and Kearney streets. The sixteen Pauson's outlets across Northern California and Reno, Nevada were rebranded under the Harris & Frank name. By 1972, the Sutter & Kearney store was closed.

In 1971, ownership of Harris & Frank transferred to Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. based in New York, currently known as PVH Corp., which also owns brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.

By 1980, Harris & Frank closed their last remaining Downtown Los Angeles store located at 644 S. Broadway. In the following year, the chain operated a total of 31 outlets spanning California, Nevada, and Texas.

By the early 1990s, store closures had reduced Harris & Frank's locations to just seventeen. Phillips-Van Heusen divested twelve of these to Miami-based businessman Alan Glist, who also owned Alan Stuart men's sportswear and later acquired Florida’s Baron's clothing chain. Glist attempted to revitalize these stores by shifting toward a discount retail model amid declining demand for suits driven by evolving dress codes and consumer preferences.

Despite efforts under Glist's management—including opening a new outlet at Los Cerritos Center—closures persisted. By mid-1994, only six stores remained operational: Brea, Cerritos, Torrance, Riverside, North Hollywood, and Huntington Beach.

Retail

Leopold Harris spent eight years in San Bernardino, where he and his nephew Arthur established the Harris Company in San Bernardino, California. This enterprise evolved into a prominent department store and expanded into a chain throughout the Inland Empire. All three nephews had previously gained experience working under Leopold Harris at his Los Angeles location. Subsequently, Harris returned to Los Angeles.

His nephews Philip and Herman managed the White House store located in Santa Ana, California.

Real Estate

Frank was also active as a real estate developer, responsible for projects such as the Allen Block at Temple and Spring Streets, the Salisbury Block on Spring Street in 1887, and in 1898, the property that housed Niles Pease Furniture until 1907 before becoming the Harris & Frank store at 437–443 S. Spring Street. In 1887, Herman W. Frank (who passed away in 1941) began working for Harris and became a partner in 1888, when the firm was renamed Harris & Frank. Frank also became Harris's son-in-law through his marriage to Sarah, Harris's daughter.

Store Locations

All stores listed are located in California unless specified otherwise. BC denotes original Brooks Clothing Co. stores; most were rebranded as H&F in 1947.
P refers to original Pausons stores; PE indicates Pausons/Eaglesons stores; most converted to H&F branding by 1970.
HF identifies locations opened as or rebranded to Harris & Frank stores.

... [table continues with similar rephrased entries for other store locations] ...

B	P	HF	Opened	Closed	City/District	Location	Notes	Sources
Harris and Frank Stores Established 1880s–1940s (all situated in Downtown Los Angeles)
		HF	1883	c.1894	Downtown L.A.	129-131 Spring St. & 5-7-9 New High St.	Numbering system prior to 1890. The block is now occupied by Los Angeles City Hall.
		HF	c.1894	c.1905	Downtown L.A.	119-125 N. Spring St.	Located at the southwest corner of Franklin Street.
		HF	c.1905	1907	Downtown L.A.	337-341 S. Spring St.
		HF	1907	1925	Downtown L.A.	443-447 S. Spring St.
		HF	1929	1950	Downtown L.A.	635–639 Hill Street	Currently the Wholesale Jewelry Mart
Brooks Clothing Co. Origins
B			1922	c.Oct. 1935	Downtown L.A.	337–9 S. Spring St.	Brooks flagship store. Previously occupied by The Hub Clothing Co. from 1916 to 1922, two separate stores (clothing, shoes, phonographs) from 1909–16, Adler Clothing in 1908, and Harris & Frank from 1905 to 1907 (see above).
B			Sep. 27, 1923	c.1928	Downtown L.A.	348 S. Broadway	Second concurrent Brooks location downtown Los Angeles
B			Apr. 19, 1924	c.1928	Downtown L.A.	420 S. Main	Third concurrent Brooks Downtown L.A. location
B			Mar.1925	?	Downtown L.A.	329 W.5th at Hill	Fourth concurrent Brooks Downtown L.A., approximately 10,000 sq ft (930 m2)
B		HF	Oct.1935	1980	Downtown L.A.	644 S.Broadway	Formerly the W. & J. Sloane building, now known as the J.E.Carr Building. Seven-story structure redesigned by architect Harbin F. Hunter
B			By1924	1927	Long Beach	110–116 W Third St.
B			Sep. 21, 1927	Sep. 1935	Long Beach	116 E. Broadway, SE corner of Pine	Occupied entire second floor (approx 7,800 sq ft (720 m2))
B		HF	Sep. 1935		Long Beach	240 Pine Ave.
B			May1,1926	Jun29,1932	Oakland	NW corner of12th at Broadway	Sixth store opened here with renovation and reopening in August 1929
B			Feb8,1928	Summer1942	Hollywood	6660 Hollywood Blvd.
B		HF	Oct31,1927		Pomona	195 W Second St.
B		HF	May18,1928		Santa Ana	(202) W Fourth St., corner of Bush St.
During this time frame the Broadway and Main Street locations in Downtown Los Angeles ceased operations reducing the total store count by two.
B	HF	Oct2,1928		San Bernardino	(347) E Street at Court St.
B	HF	Jan23,1929		San Diego	(916) Fifth Avenue
B	HF	Feb1929		Huntington Park	(6400) Pacific Blvd at Gage Ave.
B	HF	c.April1929		Glendale	(114/224) N Brand Ave.

Notes

1Template:NoteVisual documentation within Wilson's publication depicts Harris & Jacoby operating in the Old Downey Block, which was demolished around 1870. Additionally, seed advertisements from Hellman's store located at No. 2 Downey Block, Los Angeles, discontinue in January 1870, while promotional material for Harris & Jacoby at the same address begins appearing in the newspaper starting December 1870. Determining the precise moment in 1870 when ownership transferred from Hellman to Harris and Jacoby remains challenging due to a gap in available Los Angeles newspaper archives between 1864 (for the Star) and 1873 (when the Herald archives begin).