Rike Kumler Co.
| File:Rike's Department Store Final Logo.png | |
| Company type | Department store |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | March 9, 1853 |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Fate | Combined with Shillito's |
| Successor | Shillito Rikes (1982–1986) Lazarus (1986–2003) Lazarus-Macy's (2003–2005) Macy's (2005–present) |
| Headquarters | Dayton, Ohio |
| Products | Apparel, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, cosmetics, and household goods. |
| Parent | Federated Department Stores, Inc. |
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The Rike-Kumler Company, frequently referred to as Rike's, was a prominent American department store based in Dayton, Ohio. In 1959, Rike's was acquired by the Federated Department Stores group.[1] By 1982, Federated combined Rike's with its Cincinnati affiliate, the Shillito's, creating the merged entity Shillito–Rike's.[2] Four years later in 1986, Federated integrated Shillito–Rike's into its Columbus-based Lazarus chain,[2] which itself was rebranded under the Macy’s name in 2005 following consolidation of Federated’s various brands.
The original downtown Dayton flagship store of Rike’s was demolished through implosion in 1999; the site has since been redeveloped as the location for the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.[3][4]
Rike’s gained notable recognition for its annual animated Christmas window displays. These mechanical figurines have been preserved and are exhibited each holiday season at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center since its opening.[5]
History
1853 – At the age of 17, David L. Rike started his professional journey with Prugh, Joice/Joyce & Rike Dry Goods, located at 17 E. Third Street in Dayton, Ohio.
1865 – The establishment adopted the name Prugh & Rike and operated on the 300 block of Third Street in Dayton.
1867 – The dry goods business was rebranded as 'The Rike Dry Goods Co.' when David Rike partnered with Robert I. Cummins and Samuel E. Kumler (relatives from his wife’s family) to form D. L. Rike and Company, maintaining its location on Third Street.
1893 – A new store building was constructed at the southwest corner of Fourth and Main Streets in Dayton, inspired by a structure seen at the Columbian Exposition’s White City. Featuring white wood trim, arched windows, oriental carpets, chandeliers, and a grand staircase, it became the most sophisticated dry goods store in the city, catering to Dayton’s affluent clientele.
1895 – Following David L. Rike’s death, Robert Cummins was appointed president, while Rike’s son Frederick took on the role of vice president.
1907 – Upon Robert Cummins’ passing, Frederick assumed the presidency of the company.
1908 – The company transitioned from The Rike Dry Goods Co., or simply Rike’s, to the new name Rike-Kumler.
1912 – A modern seven-story building opened at Second and Main Streets, featuring innovations previously unseen in Dayton businesses. Employing 500 staff members who benefited from progressive employee welfare initiatives promoted by fellow Daytonian John H. Patterson, the store offered amenities such as childcare, an on-site doctor, a pet department, appliances, groceries, two restaurants, and a spacious employee dining area.
1913 – After the Great Flood, Frederick collaborated with John Patterson and other local business leaders to advocate for a city manager government structure in Dayton that granted significant influence to corporate owners over elected officials.
1923 – On Thanksgiving Day, Rike’s launched the Christmas shopping season with a parade—preceding New York’s Macy’s by one year—that concluded at the store’s Toyland featuring costumed characters and Santa Claus descending through a chimney.
1942 – Due to World War II constraints, Rike’s suspended its annual parade tradition.
1943 – Animated Christmas window displays titled “Rike's Winterland Wonderland Windows,” crafted by John Patterson’s National Cash Register New York office, were installed.
1945 – Frederick Rike introduced these animated holiday displays to his Dayton department store. Year after year until 1991, families flocked to see them, delighting children throughout the festive season until the store’s closure.
1947 – After Frederick H. Rike passed away, his son David L. Rike assumed leadership of the department store.
1959 – Rike’s became part of Federated Department Stores, shifting control away from its Dayton origins.
1963 – The Dayton branch of the Congress Of Racial Equality led civil rights protests targeting Rike’s hiring practices. Historically, only white employees were hired for public-facing roles while a limited number of non-white workers served in behind-the-scenes positions.
1982 – Following a merger with Shillito’s, the store was renamed Shillito-Rike’s. Despite assurances to the community that this change did not signal an end for Rike’s, many locals perceived it as such.
1986 – Shillito-Rike’s was rebranded as Lazarus. After 133 years representing Dayton’s premier department store, the Rike family name ceased to be publicly connected with any retail establishment.
1999 – Unlike its predecessor brand Lazarus did not experience a revival after closure; consequently, the iconic building at Second and Main Streets—standing for 88 years—was demolished in a highly publicized implosion event.
Rike-Kumler Co
The earliest enterprise bearing the Rike name was founded in downtown Dayton, Ohio, in 1853 when David L. Rike partnered with dry goods merchants Prugh & Joyce. Various forms of the Rike stores operated independently until 1959, the year they became part of the Federated Department Stores group. At that point, Rike-Kumler owned a 650,000 square-foot flagship store downtown, a 280,000 square-foot service facility, two warehouses, and the Miami Hotel. In that same year, Arthur Beerman reportedly proposed selling his chain of Beerman stores to Rike-Kumler; however, both the company and its new parent, Federated, declined the offer. The company announced plans for its inaugural branch store in December 1960, and by September 1961, construction was actively progressing on a self-service location within a newly developed shopping center in Kettering, Ohio. This store had a soft launch on October 30, 1961, followed by an official grand opening on November 2, attended by several local mayors and county officials. The first mall-based store opened later on August 22, 1963, at the Salem Mall in Trotwood, Ohio. During the summer of 1963, the downtown flagship faced picketing and sit-ins organized by the Congress of Racial Equality due to discriminatory hiring practices. This protest concluded in October 1963 after CORE and Rike-Kumler reached an agreement to increase hiring of black employees, ensure fair employment consideration, and convert some seasonal black workers to permanent positions.
Elder-Beerman Antitrust Lawsuit
Starting in 1961, Rike-Kumler Co and its parent company Federated Department Stores Inc. were entangled in an antitrust lawsuit filed by rival Beerman Stores (later known as Elder-Beerman). The suit accused them of attempting to eliminate competition to monopolize the Dayton market. Specifically, it was alleged that Rike-Kumler pressured suppliers not to sell to Elder-Beerman under threat of losing their business; due to Federated’s greater purchasing power, suppliers often complied with these demands. A second lawsuit seeking $15 million in damages was filed in 1966. Elder-Beerman initially won damages amounting to $1,275,097, which were later tripled to $3,750,291 by a U.S. District Court in Dayton in July 1969. However, this ruling was overturned by a three-judge federal appeals panel in April 1972 and remanded for further proceedings at the district court level. Ultimately, Rike's exited the litigation in November 1972 after reaching a confidential out-of-court settlement.
Growth and Consolidation
Throughout the early 1970s, the company expanded its presence by launching additional mall-based outlets, including locations at Upper Valley Mall and Dayton Mall. Although a store was initially planned for Castleton Square, it was ultimately replaced by Lazarus, another Federated Department Stores brand. The first major consolidation occurred in 1982 when the company merged with Cincinnati, Ohio's Shillito's, creating Shillito-Rike's. The announcement took place at a press event in Middletown, Ohio, chosen due to its central position between Cincinnati and Dayton. At that time, Federated’s vice chairman Donald J. Stone clarified that there were no plans to merge this entity with Lazarus stores, despite circulating speculation. Nevertheless, in early 1986—just four years later—Shillito-Rike's combined with Lazarus, resulting in the retirement of the Rike's brand name.
See also
References
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External links
- Wright State University Rike Historical Collection (provides a concise company history)