Kaufman-Straus
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Founder | Henry Kaufman |
| Fate | Acquired by L. S. Ayres; downtown store closed in 1971 |
| Headquarters | Louisville , United States |
Area served | Louisville, Kentucky |
Key people | Benjamin Straus (partner from 1883) |
| Products | Department store goods |
| Parent | City Stores Company (from 1924), later L. S. Ayres (from 1969) |
Kaufman-Straus was a department store headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, operating between 1879 and 1969. The enterprise was initiated by Henry Kaufman, a retail clerk, with its original location on Jefferson Street. In 1883, Benjamin Straus became a business partner. By 1887, the store moved to South 4th Street, occupying leased premises owned by the Polytechnic Society of Kentucky. The primary store, crafted by architect Mason Maury, debuted in 1903 at 533-49 South 4th Street.
City Stores Company took ownership of Kaufman-Straus in 1924 and undertook renovations of the flagship store the subsequent year. The brand was renamed Kaufman's in 1960 and later expanded to two suburban Louisville sites at The Mall and Dixie Manor. In 1969, L. S. Ayres purchased Kaufman's and subsequently shuttered the downtown Louisville location in 1971.
The flagship building, rising six stories, was recognized for its architectural and commercial importance by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.