Ohrbach's
| File:Ohrbach's logo 1973-1985.svg Logo used from 1973 to 1985 | |
| Company type | Department store chain |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founder | Nathan M. Ohrbach, Max Wiesen |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Fate | Closed and rebranded as Steinbach |
| Headquarters | New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | New York metropolitan area, Los Angeles metropolitan area, New Jersey |
| Products | Apparel and related accessories |
| Parent | C.&A. Brenninkmeyer Company (from 1962) |
Ohrbach's was a department store known for offering moderately priced merchandise, concentrating mainly on apparel and related accessories. Established in 1923, the chain experienced significant growth following World War II, eventually launching multiple branches throughout the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan area regions. Its flagship location was originally situated at Union Square in New York City. Administrative operations were based in both Newark and Los Angeles, with the Newark office closing during the 1970s. Many of Ohrbach's stores, including the Union Square flagship, were designed by Paul László.
History
The inaugural Ohrbach's store commenced business on October 4, 1923, occupying a building previously damaged by fire that had once housed the world's first nickelodeon operated by Adolph Zukor. The enterprise was founded by Nathan M. Ohrbach alongside Max Wiesen, who was engaged in dress manufacturing. A disagreement arose between the two partners, with Wiesen declining to sell his share. In response, Ohrbach leased a nearby location to open a second store, which ultimately compelled Wiesen to sell his interest.
Sale policies
Ohrbach’s initial retail strategy emphasized minimizing customer service to reduce costs and pass savings onto buyers. Unlike most competitors who used odd pricing, Ohrbach priced items in even numbers. Wiesen contributed women's ready-to-wear merchandise sourced from job lots, seconds, overstock from manufacturers, and irregular items. These products were sold in large quantities at low prices. After acquiring Wiesen’s stake in 1928, Ohrbach expanded the inventory to include men's and children’s furnishings and accessories while elevating the style level of women's apparel. Additional established policies included avoiding price advertising, maintaining a small sales staff, eliminating alterations and delivery services, operating on a cash-and-carry basis, and refraining from holding special sales events.
Expansion into California
The burgeoning fashion scene in California prompted the company to extend its operations to the state. As early as 1939, the business engaged a buying office in Los Angeles, and by 1945, it had established its own facility there. In 1948, the company secured a lease for three floors plus the mezzanine within a wing of the Prudential Insurance Building—designed by Welton Becket and William Wurdeman—located on Wilshire Boulevard’s Miracle Mile. This building is presently known as Museum Square or the SAG-AFTRA Building.
Following the success of its Miracle Mile location, the company expanded further by opening a second outlet in Downtown Los Angeles. This was achieved through acquiring the twelve-story Milliron's building at 312 W. 5th Street, situated at the corner of Broadway, in August 1953. At that period, Broadway was nearing the end of its long-standing role as the premier shopping district for mid- to upscale department stores in the Los Angeles area. The district housed flagship stores for Bullock's, The Broadway, May Company California, Robinson's, and was just beginning to see competition from emerging suburban malls. After a $1 million renovation led by architect Welton Becket, the store reopened in November 1953 as Ohrbach's-Downtown. However, this branch experienced limited longevity; it first reduced operations by closing five floors and ultimately shut down in 1959 due to unsatisfactory financial performance. The building still stands today and has been converted into loft condominiums known as Shybary Grand Lofts at 312 W. Fifth Street, with retail spaces on the ground level.
On November 3, 1962, Ohrbach's inaugurated its third store in the Los Angeles vicinity at La Mirada Shopping Center within the Gateway Cities region, encompassing approximately 100,000 square feet. Two years later, in 1964, another location spanning roughly 104,000 square feet opened at Panorama City Shopping Center in the San Fernando Valley; this site is currently home to the Valley Indoor Swap Meet. In 1965, the Miracle Mile store was relocated to a former Seibu Department Store building situated at Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue—now recognized as the site of the Petersen Automotive Museum.
During the 1970s, Ohrbach's served as an anchor tenant at Los Cerritos Center in Cerritos, California. Mid-decade saw another expansion with a new store opening within Glendale Galleria in Glendale. Both Cerritos and Glendale locations featured distinctive tile façades designed to make Ohrbach's stand out amid these expansive shopping malls.
The company also played a significant role in outfitting cast members for various television soap operas and shows. These included The Edge of Night, All My Children, Dark Shadows, The Doctors, and the short-lived drama Coronet Blue. Additionally, Ohrbach's provided wardrobe items for popular comedies such as Mister Ed, I Love Lucy, and The Donna Reed Show, among others.
Subsequent developments
In 1954, Ohrbach's relocated from its Union Square site to a new address on West 34th Street, situated between Fifth and Sixth Avenue directly opposite the Empire State Building. This eleven-story structure had previously housed McCreery and Company Department Stores. By 1962, the Brenninkmeyer Company, based in the Netherlands, acquired a stake in Ohrbach's and gradually increased its shareholding until Nathan Ohrbach retired in 1965, at which point Brenninkmeyer assumed full ownership. In 1967, Ohrbach's inaugurated its initial suburban outlet in New Jersey at The Bergen Mall.
During the latter half of the 20th century, Ohrbach's was among five principal department stores anchoring downtown Newark, New Jersey. However, following the racial unrest in July 1967, retail activity in the downtown area diminished significantly, with conditions deteriorating further into the early 1970s. In 1973, Ohrbach's declared plans to shut its Newark location after the Christmas shopping season. The store ceased operations in January 1974 after a clearance sale. Subsequently, the remaining corporate offices on the fifth and sixth floors of the Newark building were transferred to the West 34th Street location. Meanwhile, credit department functions formerly based in Newark were relocated to the Bergen Mall store. At Ohrbach’s exit, other downtown department stores professed ongoing commitment to the area; nevertheless, closures began in 1976. By 1992, the final downtown retailer, Macy's/Bamberger's, had also closed its doors.
Closure and aftermath
The Netherlands-based C.&A. Brenninkmeyer Company acquired Ohrbach's in 1962 and later formed Amcena as a holding entity for its U.S. operations. After 24 years under this ownership, Amcena purchased Howland-Steinbach from Supermarkets General Corp in June 1986 and simultaneously announced the discontinuation of the Ohrbach's chain. This included closing its flagship Manhattan store on 34th Street and divesting all six locations in the Greater Los Angeles area. The remaining five Ohrbach's outlets across New York and New Jersey shuttered in January 1987 and subsequently reopened two months later under the Steinbach name.
Epilogue: Retail Outlets in the Los Angeles Region
Although it was declared earlier in the year, several California branches continued operations into 1987 before ultimately closing as detailed below:↔
| Store | Location | Inaugurated | Closure/Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Los Angeles | 312 W. Fifth at Broadway | November 1953 | Store closed and building sold in 1958 |
| Miracle Mile | 6060 Wilshire Boulevard | 1948 | Ceased operations December 28, 1986 |
| La Mirada | La Mirada Mall | November 3, 1962 | Approximately June 1974 closure |
| Cerritos | Los Cerritos Center | 1972 | Closed December 28, 1986; designed by Gruen & Associates |
| Canoga Park | Topanga Plaza | Circa 1964 | Shut down December 28, 1986 |
| Panorama City | Panorama City Shopping Center | 1964 | Sold to developer Gary Leff in September 1986; space leased as an indoor swap meet |
| Torrance | Del Amo Fashion Center | October 4, 1971 | Closed around 1987 |
| Glendale | Glendale Galleria | Mid-1970s | Closed mid-1987 |