Kann's
| File:Classic logo | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1893 in Washington, D.C., United States |
| Founder | Louis Kann, Solomon Kann, Sigmund Kann |
| Defunct | 1975 |
| Fate | Acquired by L. S. Good and Co. in 1971; store closed in 1975 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia |
| Products | Department store merchandise |
S. Kann Sons Co., widely recognized as Kann's, was a department store headquartered in Washington, D.C.. It held the distinction of being the city's second department store and was a trailblazer in introducing the one-price system alongside the retail philosophy that the customer is always right to the Washington, D.C. market. The establishment also offered customers the option to return merchandise for a full refund.
History
Established in 1893 by brothers Louis, Solomon, and Sigmund Kann, the company originated in Washington, D.C. The Kann family, originally from Baltimore, initially arrived in the city in 1890 to oversee the liquidation of Abe Kaufman’s store located at 909 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Following this, they decided to set up a permanent retail operation. The business remained under family ownership until 1971, when it was acquired by L. S. Good and Co., based in Wheeling, West Virginia. The store ultimately ceased operations in 1975.
Flagship store
The flagship location of S. Kann Sons Co. was situated at the intersection of 8th Street and Market Place, N.W., along Pennsylvania Avenue within Washington, D.C.’s downtown retail area. From its inception at this site in 1893, the company gradually expanded into adjoining storefronts until undertaking a significant enlargement in 1913 that added four stories and introduced a public dining facility. In 1959, following approval from the Fine Arts Commission, Kann’s unified its various 19th-century storefronts by applying anodized aluminum panels as part of a $500,000 modernization effort. After closing its doors in 1975, the building remained empty until it was purchased in 1978 for $4.275 million by the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC), which intended to redevelop the property for residential use. On March 31, 1979, a fire broke out at the flagship store resulting in its prompt demolition. During a Senate hearing, D.C. fire marshal Carmel Del Bazo informed Senator Patrick Leahy that an accidental origin of the blaze was ruled out. Following demolition, the site directly across from the National Archives Building stayed vacant until it was redeveloped into Market Square during the early 1990s.
Virginia Square location
Kann's became the second department store chain originating from Washington D.C. to launch a suburban outlet in the nearby Northern Virginia area. Merely a fortnight following the Hecht Company's debut at Parkington Shopping Center, Kann's unveiled its establishment at the intersection of N. Fairfax Drive and N. Kirkwood Rd. in Arlington County, Virginia on November 16, 1951. This three-level store, with an investment of $4.5 million and known as Kann's Virginia, opened alongside the adjacent Virginia Square Shopping Center. Upon its inauguration, the store showcased unique attractions such as Brazilian squirrel monkeys named Teeny, Weeny, Eeny, and Miney entertaining children within the shoe section; a conveyor belt system for package assembly; the "Kannteen" dining area; a customer lounge; and even a hospital room staffed by a nurse. Following its closure in 1975, the facility was purchased in 1979 by George Mason University, which repurposed it for their Arlington campus. Initially, the building housed the law school before transitioning to accommodate the School of Public Policy. The structure was ultimately demolished in 2021.[1][2]