Hellman, Haas & Co.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Grocery, Wholesale |
| Founded | January 1, 1870 |
| Founder | Abraham Haas, Herman W. Hellman, Bernard Cohn |
| Fate | Renamed Haas, Baruch & Co. in 1890 |
| Successor | Haas, Baruch & Co. |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles |
| Products | Groceries sold in bulk by weight |
Hellman, Haas & Co.—which was renamed Haas, Baruch & Co. in 1890—ranked among the pioneering grocery businesses in early Los Angeles. Established in the early 1870s by Abraham Haas, Herman W. Hellman, and Bernard Cohn, the company operated out of 218–224 (later changed to 318–324) N. Los Angeles Street throughout the 1880s and 1890s, situated within the city’s primary commercial district. The enterprise specialized in a wide variety of products, notably offering groceries sold in bulk by weight.
Ownership shifted when Herman and Jacob Baruch, relatives of Abraham Haas through marriage, purchased Hellman’s stake after he moved on to oversee the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles. This financial institution expanded significantly, building on Hellman’s reputation for securely managing valuables. In November 1889, the business relocated to larger quarters at 118–124 N. Los Angeles Street (which was renumbered to 218–224 in 1890), allowing for increased operational efficiency.
After Hellman exited on February 17, 1890, the firm continued under the name Haas, Baruch & Co.. By the dawn of the twentieth century, it had become recognized as Los Angeles’ foremost wholesale grocery enterprise.