The Emporium (Long Beach)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | July 28, 1904 in Long Beach, California, United States |
| Founder | Harry Brown, Stephen L. Powers |
| Defunct | 1932 |
| Fate | Merged with Marti's department store |
| Headquarters | Long Beach , United States |
Area served | Long Beach, California |
Key people | Henry D. Meyer, Ed. Ahlswede, Herbert F. Ahlswede |
| Products | Department store merchandise |
The Emporium was a retail department store situated in Downtown Long Beach, California.
Great Cash Bargain Store 1904–1905 at 332 Pine
The establishment that would become The Emporium originated with Harry Brown and Stephen L. Powers, who operated under the name S. L. Powers & Co.. They launched The Great Cash Bargain Store on July 28, 1904, located at 32 Pine Street (later renumbered as 332 Pine) within the newly constructed W. H. Martin Building.[1]
First Emporium 1904–1907, 332 Pine
On March 30, 1905, Powers rebranded the store as The Emporium. This initial iteration of The Emporium ceased operations in January 1907.[2]
During this period, Henry D. Meyer from Pasadena—owner of Meyer's Department Stores with locations in Pasadena, Holtville, and Hemet,[3]—established a branch in Long Beach around 1905 at 151 Pine.[4] In March 1908, T. Sundbye from Huntington Beach partnered with Meyer, resulting in the store being renamed Meyer & Sundbye's.[5]
151 Pine
Following Meyer's acquisition, The Emporium reopened on July 31, 1909, at the address of 151 Pine,[6] a location previously operated by Meyer as "Meyers Department Store".[7]
Broadway and Locust
On March 29, 1912, The Emporium relocated to a newly constructed building situated at the northwest intersection of Broadway and Locust.
Meyer sells to Ahlswede
On May 1, 1914, Henry D. Meyer from Pasadena transferred ownership of the store to Ed. Ahlswede, who had previously managed a prominent dry goods establishment in Chicago, along with his son Herbert F. Ahlswede (born July 5, 1878, Chicago). The store's original site was at Broadway and Pine before moving to 124 East Broadway at the corner of Locust.
Merger with Marti's
In December 1932, The Emporium combined operations with Marti's department store. Starting December 30, Marti's operated out of the former Emporium location at Broadway and Locust under the Marti's name, closing its previous branch at 4th and Pine. The grand reopening occurred on January 12, 1933. In its advertisements, Marti's expressed gratitude to its patrons for their loyalty during the Great Depression and described its new premises as "a Good Store Designed for the Masses without Frills and Fancies…but a Good Store." Despite this optimistic presentation, Marti's ceased operations shortly after.
External links
References
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