Phelps-Terkel
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founder | Richard B. Terkel, David S. Phelps |
| Fate | Merged into Phelps-Wilger chain; ceased operations in 1992 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Men's apparel |
Phelps-Terkel was a department store based in Los Angeles that specialized in men's apparel.
Established in 1923 by Richard (Dick) B. Terkel and David S. Phelps,[1] Dick Terkel, originally from Wisconsin, was a haberdasher who relocated first to Berkeley and then to Los Angeles. Besides his retail work, he was a banjo player and bandleader. He leased half of his store near the entrance to the University of Southern California (USC) to David Phelps, a musician who sold musical instruments there.[2]
On September 15, 1926, the company launched a store near Stanford University at 524 Ramona Street in Palo Alto, California.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name This location eventually moved to 219 University Avenue.
The Modernist flagship store opened in 1936 at 5550 Wilshire Boulevard, on the corner of S. Burnside Avenue in Miracle Mile, Los Angeles. Designed by Morgan, Walls and Clements, this location was shared with Desmond's department store and other retailers. The Los Angeles Conservancy noted that alongside its neighboring store Mullen and Bluett, these establishments contributed significantly to Miracle Mile’s reputation as a premier shopping destination.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 1949, Phelps-Terkel expanded to North Hollywood with a store on Lankershim Boulevard. Four years later, on December 7, 1953, it inaugurated a new adjacent location double the size of the original.[2]
Midway through 1953 saw the opening of another branch at 512 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. Later that year, a new outlet replaced the original USC location at 3406 S. Hoover Street to accommodate university expansion plans.[2]
By 1965, Phelps-Terkel had merged into the Phelps-Wilger chain headquartered at 10924 Weyburn Avenue in Westwood Village. The combined chain operated stores at:[1]
- Miracle Mile, 5550 Wilshire Blvd., later rebranded as Phelps-Meager, which closed around 1976
- Pasadena, located at 422 S. Lake, later known simply as Phelps, closed circa 1979
- Westwood Village
- Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, later called Phelps-La Crosse, which shuttered approximately in 1982
- Newport Beach (Fashion Island) — opened in 1965 and remained operational until after 1987
A former location also existed within Lakewood Center.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Actor Tom Selleck once worked as a sales associate at the Sherman Oaks branch.
In its concluding years, the company reverted to the name Phelps before ultimately ceasing operations in 1992.[3]
External links
- Image of the Miracle Mile Phelps-Terkel location provided by the Los Angeles Conservancy
