Lansburgh's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (department store) |
| Founded | October 30, 1860 |
| Founder | James Lansburgh, Gustav Lansburgh |
| Defunct | June 1973 |
| Fate | Purchased by City Stores, Inc. in 1951; ceased operations in 1973 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington, D.C. metropolitan area |
| Products | Department store goods |
| Parent | City Stores, Inc. (from 1951) |
Lansburgh's was a department store chain serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, primarily catering to middle-income shoppers.
History
The original Lansburgh's store commenced operations on October 30, 1860, situated at the intersection of 7th and E Streets NW within Washington, D.C.'s prominent downtown retail district. Founded by brothers James and Gustav Lansburgh, the business initially gained recognition for providing the black crepe fabric used during President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral. Lansburgh's was also notable for installing the first wooden elevator in a commercial building within the District of Columbia. The enterprise remained under family ownership until its purchase by City Stores, Inc. in 1951. By the time it ceased operations in June 1973, Lansburgh's ranked eighth among Washington D.C. retailers, recording sales totaling $28.5 million.
Flagship store
The flagship location on Seventh Street downtown was originally constructed in 1882, designed by architect Adolf Cluss. The building underwent significant expansions in 1916, 1924, and 1941, extending its footprint toward Eighth Street. During the 1970s and 1980s, this structure was repurposed for office and warehouse use. Positioned prominently within the revitalized Penn Quarter neighborhood of downtown Washington, D.C., the former flagship store played a key role in the area's redevelopment.
Branch stores
Lansburgh's inaugurated its first suburban outlet in Langley Park, Maryland, in 1955. This was succeeded in 1959 by a $2.5 million investment into a 150,000-square-foot location at Shirlington Shopping Center in Arlington, Virginia. The chain’s expansion into suburban malls was relatively gradual; after protracted lease negotiations beginning in 1962, a 160,000-square-foot store opened at Tysons Corner Center on October 19, 1969. This delay hindered Lansburgh's ability to promptly establish additional suburban branches as new malls emerged around Washington, D.C. Subsequent openings included a Rockville Mall store on February 14, 1972, followed by another 160,000-square-foot outlet at Springfield Mall (later converted to Korvettes and then SpringFest Food Court/AMC) in March 1973.
References
External links
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- Pages with script errors
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- Defunct department stores in Washington, D.C.
- Defunct Washington, D.C.-based companies
- American enterprises founded in 1860
- Retail businesses founded in 1860
- Retail businesses closed in 1973
- 1860 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- 1973 closures in Washington, D.C.
- Defunct department stores based in Washington, D.C.