Lazard & Kremer
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Founder | Solomon Lazard, Maurice Kremer |
| Defunct | 1897 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Dry goods, department store merchandise |
City of Paris—initially known as S. Lazard & Co.—was a dry goods retailer that evolved into Los Angeles' first department store. It operated from the 1850s until 1897, undergoing several name changes: beginning as Lazard & Kremer Co., then becoming Lazard & Wolfskill Co., followed by S. Lazard & Co., later adopting the City of Paris brand under Eugene Meyer & Co., and eventually managed by Stern, Cahn & Loeb. This establishment is distinct from the more renowned City of Paris in San Francisco or the Ville de Paris in Los Angeles, which was founded by Mr. A. Fusenot as an offshoot of San Francisco’s "City of Paris".
History
French immigrant Solomon Lazard partnered with his cousin Maurice Kremer to establish a dry goods business named Lazard & Kremer Co. in 1852. Their shop was part of a commercial row called Mellus Row—later known as the Bell Block or Bell’s Row—situated at the southeast corner of Los Angeles Street and Aliso Street. In June 1857, Kremer sold his interest to Timoteo Wolfskill (1835–1909), leading to the formation of Lazard & Wolfskill Co..[1] After Wolfskill exited the partnership in August 1858,[2] the firm was renamed S. Lazard & Co.
By 1867, Lazard relocated the enterprise to 53 Main Street, a venue favored by fashionable Los Angeles women seeking contemporary French styles.[3][4][5][6][7]
Marc Eugene Meyer, originally from Strasbourg, Alsace, joined forces with Constant Meyer and Nathan Cahn (or Kahn) to acquire S. Lazard & Co. from Solomon Lazard in 1874. Following this acquisition, they operated under the name Eugene Meyer & Co., branding their store as the City of Paris.[8] As of March 1874, Eugene Meyer & Co. marketed themselves as successors to S. Lazard & Co., conducting business at 51–53 Main Street.[9] By the time of the 1878 city directory, their address was recorded at 53–55 Main Street, located opposite the St. Charles Hotel, placing it on the west side near the St. Elmo Hotel.[10]
In January 1879, Leon (Leopold) Loeb—Eugene Meyer's cousin—was incorporated as a partner into Eugene Meyer & Co.[11] Leon Loeb was married into pioneer family Harris Newmark’s lineage (born in Löbau/Loebau, Prussia) and fathered Joseph P. Loeb.
On October 2, 1880, City of Paris relocated to a newly constructed building known as the City of Paris Block at 17–19 Spring Street, just south of First Street and near where the Nadeau Hotel would be built in 1888.[12]
In early spring of 1883, City of Paris moved again to premises at 105–107 North Spring Street (using pre-1890 numbering; situated west side between Franklin Temple and just north of Jones Block; renumbered post-1890 as 205–207 North Spring Street).
Later that year in October, Eugene Meyer divested his interests; Marc Eugene Meyer moved to San Francisco, Emmanuel L. Stern joined as partner, and along with existing partners they established Stern, Cahn & Loeb.[13] Despite ownership changes, the store retained its name "The City of Paris" and remained located within what was then recognized as Los Angeles’ Central Business District.[14]
Following a citywide renumbering in 1890, advertisements from 1892 indicate that City of Paris continued operations at this location but expanded its footprint to include an additional storefront on each side, occupying addresses from 203 to 209 North Spring Street.[15] By 1893 financial difficulties had arisen; management transitioned to Stern Bros., who succeeded Leon Loeb.[16] In early 1894, announcements appeared signaling the impending closure of the store.[17]
Nevertheless, records show that City of Paris was still active in 1895 within the Jones Block at 177 North Spring Street,[18] even as leading department stores began relocating toward South Broadway.
Ultimately, the City of Paris ceased operations due to bankruptcy in 1897.[19]