The Emporium (Long Beach) Explained

The Emporium was a department store in Downtown Long Beach, California.

Great Cash Bargain Store 1904–1905 at 332 Pine

The Emporium's origins go back to Harry Brown and Stephen L. Powers, whose company S. L. Powers & Co. opened The Great Cash Bargain Store on July 28, 1904, at 32 Pine Street (later 332 Pine) in the then-new W. H. Martin Building.[1]

1st Emporium 1904–1907, 332 Pine

On March 30, 1905, Powers changed the store name to The Emporium. In January 1907, this first "Emporium" closed.[2]

Meanwhile, Henry D. Meyer of Pasadena who owned Meyer's Department Stores (also written Meyer or Meyers) in Pasadena, Holtville, and Hemet,[3] opened a Long Beach branch at 151 Pine around 1905.[4] In March 1908 T. Sundbye of Huntington Beach partnered with Meyer and the store was known as Meyer & Sundbye's.[5]

2nd Emporium 1909–1932

151 Pine

Under Meyer's ownership, The Emporium would reopen again on July 31, 1909, this time at 151 Pine,[6] which Meyer had operated as "Meyers Department Store".[7]

Broadway and Locust

On March 29, 1912, The Emporium moved to a new building at the northwest corner of Broadway and Locust.[8]

Meyer sells to Ahlswede

On May 1, 1914, Henry D. Meyer of Pasadena sold the store to Ed. Ahlswede[9] [10] [11] [12] who had operated a large dry goods store in Chicago,[13] and his son Herbert F. Ahlswede (b. July 5, 1878, Chicago).[14] [15]

Merger with Marti's

In December 1932, The Emporium merged with Marti's department store, which as from December 30[16] [17] operated at the former Emporium store at Broadway and Locust, now branded Marti's, and closed its old location at 4th and Pine. Marti's held a grand re-opening on January 12, 1933.[18] Marti's in its advertising thanked its customers for their support despite the Great Depression, and in an advertisement profiled its new location: "Marti's New Store will be a Good Store Designed for the Masses without Frills and Fancies…but a Good Store"[19] Nonetheless, Marti's closed for good shortly thereafter.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The Great Cash Bargain Store (advertisement) . 21 March 2024 . Press-Telegram . 27 July 1904 . 5.
  2. News: Emporium Out Of Business . 21 March 2024 . Press-Telegram . 22 January 1907 . 2.
  3. News: Henry Meyer owner of Emporium owned Meyer's Department Store (Pasadena, Hemet, Holtville) . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 1 April 1912 . 5.
  4. News: Mr. S. L. Powers…takes a position with the Cash Store company…today . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 20 April 1908 . 8.
  5. News: Article clipped from The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 20 March 1908 . 2.
  6. News: The Emporium…opening day . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 31 July 1909 . 4.
  7. News: Reopning of the Emporium . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 9 July 1909 . 8.
  8. News: Big Spring Opening at Emporium's New Home: Music, Fancy Gowns, Gorgeous Millinery, New Store and Fine Fixtures to Delight Visitors . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 28 March 1912 . 9.
  9. News: To Take Well Earned Rest: S. L. Powers Retires From Emporium --- Was Popular . 21 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 25 July 1914 . 5.
  10. News: Re-Opening of The Emporium (advertisement) . 20 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 1 May 1914 . 3.
  11. Web site: Emporium in New Hands . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 20 March 2024 . 9 . 1 May 1914.
  12. News: Store Employes Feted on Emporium's 17th Birthday . 20 March 2024 . The Long Beach Sun . 26 April 1931 . 6.
  13. News: Builders of a Great City: Herbert F. Ahlswede, Manager and Part Owner, "Emporium" . 20 March 2024 . The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News . 19 January 1923 . 16.
  14. News: Who's Who in Long Beach: Herbert F. Ahlswede . The Long Beach Sun . 7 January 1932 . 6.
  15. News: New Home . 20 March 2024 . Press-Telegram . 5 June 1914 . 4.
  16. News: Retrenching but not Retreating: Victory — The Reward! (Advertisement for Marti's) . 20 March 2024 . The Long Beach Sun . 30 December 1932 . 6.
  17. News: New Location of Marti's at Hub of Travel . The Long Beach Sun . 30 December 1932 . 3.
  18. News: Marti's Officially Open Their New Home: Broadway at Llcuse merged with The Emporium (advertisement) . The Long Beach Sun . 11 January 1933 . 6.
  19. News: Marti's New Store will be a Good Store Designed for the Masses without Frills and Fancies… . 20 March 2024 . The Long Beach Sun . 31 December 1932 . 6.

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