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Kuppenheimer

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B. Kuppenheimer & Co.
IndustryClothing manufacturer & Retail
Founded1852
Defunct1997
FateAcquired in 1997 by Men's Wearhouse. Remaining outlets were shuttered and assets liquidated.[1]
HeadquartersTerre Haute, Indiana
Chicago, Illinois
Atlanta, Georgia
Key people
Bernard Kuppenheimer (founder)
ProductsFashion apparel
ParentHartmarx
Men's Wearhouse

B. Kuppenheimer & Co., commonly known as Kuppenheimer, was a manufacturer and retailer specializing in men's clothing with headquarters initially in Chicago, Illinois and later relocating to Atlanta, Georgia.

Kohn, Clayburgh & Einstein

Bernard Kuppenheimer, who emigrated to the United States in 1850, established a retail clothing business in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1852.[1] In 1863, Julius Kohn, Martin Clayburgh, and Morris Einstein launched Kohn, Clayburgh & Einstein at 27 Lake Street in Chicago. Just two years later, in 1865, Julius Kohn retired. Bernard Kuppenheimer moved to Chicago—leaving the Terre Haute store under his brother John's management[1]—and joined forces with David Lindauer. Together with Clayburgh and Einstein, this group continued operations under the original company name. Their base remained on Lake Street until the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed their premises, resulting in losses estimated at $200,000 (Template:Inflation). After reconstructing their facilities, they resumed business and relocated in July 1872 to the intersection of Randolph Street and Wabash Avenue, where they operated until late 1876.[2]

B. Kuppenheimer & Co.

File:The spring book of B. Kuppenheimer and Co. - illustrating a new century of clothing-radically different from the old-and incidentally depicting the more striking chances in men's wear during the past (14577803278).jpg
Kuppenheimer retail outlet in Chicago circa 1900

In 1876, the original partnership dissolved, prompting Bernard Kuppenheimer to establish B. Kuppenheimer & Co., comprising himself, his son Jonas Kuppenheimer, and Samuel Nathan. Meanwhile, the former partners of Kohn, Clayburgh & Einstein restructured as Einstein, Longini & Co. The newly formed B. Kuppenheimer & Co. commenced operations on Wabash Avenue and remained there until 1880.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]

By January 1880, the company had moved to Madison Street; Louis B. Kuppenheimer—Bernard’s second son—was admitted as a partner. By 1884, B. Kuppenheimer & Co.’s annual revenue approached $1 million (Template:Inflation).[2] Bernard Kuppenheimer passed away in 1903 and was interred at Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago.

By 1906, "The House of Kuppenheimer" operated branches located in Boston and New York City; sales activities in Washington, D.C. were managed by Isidor Grosner at 1013 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.[3] During World War I, the firm produced uniforms for the U.S. Army. Around 1910, their workforce numbered nearly 2,000 employees across various Chicago-area facilities.[1]

In 1912, Louis assumed the role of vice-president.[4] Albert Kuppenheimer retired from active involvement in 1920; he died at age 64 in California in 1931 but maintained a residence at the Drake Hotel in Chicago.[5] Later that year, Louis advanced to president of B. Kuppenheimer & Co.[4]

Jonas Kuppenheimer—who had been serving as president of "The House of Kuppenheimer"—passed away in 1921.[6] Louis retired from his presidency role in 1926; he was the last surviving son of founder Bernard when he died in 1936.[4]

In May 1959, Lester E. Frankenstein succeeded Bertram J. Cahn as president of the company; prior to this promotion Frankenstein held the vice-president position.[7]

Sale and closure

In March 1963, Louis Roth & Co., Inc., based in Los Angeles, acquired the company for $3 million. The business remained a prominent men's clothing manufacturer until 1982, when it was bought by Hart Schaffner & Marx (which later became Hartmarx), a Chicago-centered apparel producer and distributor. By the mid-1990s, following the relocation of its headquarters to Atlanta, the company faced declining sales, numerous store closures, and eventually filed for bankruptcy.

In 1995, Kuppenheimer was sold by Hartmarx to Kupp Acquisition Corp. for $14 million in cash—$12 million paid initially with an additional $2 million spread over four years—alongside a $2.5 million promissory note secured by one of Kuppenheimer’s manufacturing plants. Kupp Acquisition Corp. was established by an investment consortium led by Gene Kosack, the former president and CEO of NBO Stores Inc., a retail clothing chain.

Two years later, in 1997, The Men's Wearhouse acquired Kuppenheimer Manufacturing Co. from Kupp Acquisition Corp. At that time, Kuppenheimer operated 43 men’s apparel stores primarily located in Chicago, St. Louis, and Atlanta, along with its manufacturing operations. The transaction included ownership of the Kuppenheimer trademark and its customer database. Subsequently, Men's Wearhouse shut down the remaining Kuppenheimer outlets and absorbed the brand by selling off the remaining inventory.

In popular culture

  • During the 1960s, Kuppenheimer supplied wardrobe attire for Rod Serling on his television series The Twilight Zone.
  • Kuppenheimer is recognized for commissioning American artist J.C. Leyendecker to produce hundreds of illustrations used in their advertising campaigns.
  • In the Netflix series Jupiter's Legacy, which debuted in 2021, Season 1 Episode 2 features Sheldon Sampson dressing his father in a Kuppenheimer suit for the funeral.

Gallery

Further reading

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  • B. Kuppenheimer & Co., Spring Book Of B. Kuppenheimer & Co.: Illustrating A New Century Of Clothing—Radically Different From The Old—And Incidentally Depicting The More Striking Changes In Men's Wear During The Past One Hundred Years (1905) [1]
  • Kuppenheimer and Company, Styles for Men: A Book Issued to Show Authoritatively What is Fashionable and Correct for Fall and Winter 1907-'08 (1907)
  • The House Of Kuppenheimer, Facts Versus Fables About The Present Cost Of Good Clothing (1920) [2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Encyclopedia of Chicago, Dictionary of Leading Chicago Businesses (1820-2000) Entries: Kuppenheimer (B.) & Co.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ Display Ad, The Washington Post, Nov 25, 1906, p. 8.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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