Wallachs (clothiers)
| Company type | Retailer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Men's and women's clothing retail |
| Fate | Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 1995 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | New York, Newark, and other locations in the United States |
| Products | Men's clothing, women's clothing |
| Owner | Hastings Group |
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Wallachs was a men's clothing retailer based in New York City, with additional outlets previously operating in Newark, New Jersey.[1] The brand held a prominent position in New York for over one hundred years. Alongside Roots and F.R. Tripler, Wallachs formed part of a fifty-store chain spanning nineteen states, all under the ownership of the Hastings Group. In November 1995, the Hastings Group sought protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
At the height of demand for custom suits, this corporate group managed nearly 200 retail locations.[2] In addition to menswear, Wallachs also offered women's clothing lines.[3]
Locations and expansion
As of 1938, Wallachs operated stores in Manhattan and the Bronx at several key addresses: on Fifth Avenue near Forty-Fifth Street; at 253 Broadway close to New York City Hall; at 53 Broadway near the Wall Street financial district; and on Fordham Road adjacent to Marion Avenue.[1] Furthermore, two additional branches were established in Brooklyn: one situated on Court Street and another within the Kings Plaza shopping center on Flatbush Avenue.
In October 1954, Wallachs secured a lease for a 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2) retail space, marking its largest store to date. This location was housed inside a nineteen-story office tower at 555 Fifth Avenue.[4] By 1966, Wallachs had grown into a chain consisting of fifteen outlets.[3]
Antitrust litigation
In February of 1956, Alexander's initiated a $3 million antitrust lawsuit against Wallachs and R.H. Macy & Company. The suit accused the defendants of engaging in illegal trade restraints and monopolistic practices. Alexander's claimed that between 1935 and 1955 it procured over $1 million worth of merchandise from clothing manufacturers including David D. Doniger & Company and Laurelton Sportswear. During the years preceding 1955, both Wallachs and R.H. Macy & Company purchased goods from these same suppliers. Alexander's argued that its retail prices were approximately 17% lower than those charged by its competitors involved in the lawsuit. The complaint further alleged that since 1953 the defendants conspired to eliminate Alexander's competition through coordinated price fixing efforts.[5]
Consumer-oriented initiatives
During the mid-1970s, Wallachs offered instructional sessions demonstrating various scarf-tying techniques. At one point, both customers and passersby were invited inside to have loose buttons reattached or missing buttons replaced without charge. Shoppers who asked were also supplied with complimentary items such as shoelaces, collar stays, hat bags, and decorative feathers for hats. Other no-cost amenities available at the sales counters included clothing brushes and identification tags designed to be buttoned inside raincoats.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Display Ad 47-No Title". The New York Times. April 13, 1938. p. 15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ↑ McDowell, Edwin (November 6, 1995). "Wallachs's Parent Files For Chapter 11 Protection". The New York Times. p. D10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sloane, Leonard (January 22, 1966). "Pride of Wallachs Is Service And Much Is Free". The New York Times. p. 33. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ↑ "New 5th Avenue Store Is Leased by Wallachs". The New York Times. July 10, 1953. p. 28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Alexander Sues Macy, Wallachs; Asks $3,000,000 for Price 'Conspiracy' by Chains, Sportswear Makers". The New York Times. February 8, 1956. p. 44. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.