Lazarus (department store)

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = F&R Lazarus & Company
company_
company_type = Department store
foundation = 1851
defunct = 2005
fate = Merged with Macy's
location = Columbus, Ohio
industry = Retail
products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
homepage = None

F&R Lazarus & Company — commonly known as Lazarus — was a regional department store retail chain operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest, and based in Columbus, Ohio. For over 150 years, Lazarus was influential in the American retail industry, particularly during the early 20th century as a founding partner in Federated Department Stores, and continued until the nameplate was retired on March 6, 2005 in favor of Macy's.

History

Beginnings

Family patriarch Simon Lazarus, opened a one-room men's clothing store in downtown Columbus in 1851. By 1870, with improvements to the industry in the mass manufacture of men's uniforms for the Civil War, the family business expanded to include ready-made men's civilian clothing and eventually a complete line of merchandise. Sons Fred Lazarus, Sr. and Ralph Lazarus joined the business and added many innovative marketing techniques. The company acquired the John Shillito Company of Cincinnati in 1928 (established in 1830) and a year later, was one of the four founding members of Federated Department Stores in 1929 (along with Williams Filene's Sons Co. and Abraham & Straus. Bloomingdale Brothers) joined the company in 1930.

Lazarus developed many shopping firsts such as "one low price" (no bargaining necessary), first department store escalators in the country, first air-conditioned store in the country, and Fred Lazarus, Jr. successfully lobbied President Franklin Roosevelt to permanently fix Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, ensuring a stable timetable for the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

Fred Lazarus

Fred Lazarus, Jr. served as President of Federated Department Stores, Inc. from its founding until 1957, and thereafter served as board Chairman until his death in 1973. He was succeeded by his son Ralph Lazarus who led Federated through the 1980s. Various Lazarus family members also held key positions on Federated's board and within its various divisions, namely, Foley's, Filene's, Lazarus and Shillito's. As of January 2002, Robert Lazarus Jr. was the only family member still with an official role at Federated, serving as assistant to Ron Klein, then chairman and CEO of the Rich's/Lazarus/Goldsmith's operating unit of Federated, now a portion of Macy's Central.

Expansion

Primarily operating in central Ohio, Lazarus dominated its market, driving the last of its traditional rivals out of business by 1982. Eventually expanding into Indianapolis, Indiana in 1973 and Huntington, West Virginia in 1981, in 1986 Lazarus merged with fellow Federated division Shillito Rike's, itself the result of 1982 merger between Shillito's (John Shillito Co.) and Dayton, Ohio-based Rike's, acquired by Federated in 1959. The new division adopted the Lazarus nameplate, while assuming Shillito's Rike's headquarters in Cincinnati.

In 1987, Federated acquired William H. Block Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Herpolsheimer's of Grand Rapids, Michigan from Allied Stores and incorporated them into Lazarus. After the Federated's 1990 bankruptcy, several marginally-profitable and outdated stores were closed.

Federated experimented with several different formats in the Lazarus division. In 1967, Federated opened its Gold Circle discount department store division in Columbus, locating stores directly across Lazarus stores at Northland, Eastland and Westland Malls. In the mid-1970s Federated opened its "Capri" shops, which were basically off-mall Lazarus stores that budget store goods. Lazarus eventually opened three "Capri" shops, but they were later converted to limited-assortment Lazarus stores. Lazarus was really the only Federated division to open full-line stores in tertiary markets such as Lima, Ohio, Huntington, WV and Mansfield, Ohio. Federated also experimented with "Home Works at Lazarus" which was somewhat similar to today's HomeGoods or Bed Bath & Beyond stores. Finally, in the mid-1980s Lazarus experimented with small-market stores in Owensboro, KY; and Lancaster, Newark and Zanesville, Ohio, all of which have since closed.

Merger with Horne's

In 1994, Joseph Horne Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was acquired by Federated and its 10 locations absorbed by Lazarus. Lazarus moved into the 630,000 square feet Horne's building for one year before building a new more modern location,

Merge with Rich's

Having absorbed several department stores itself over the years, in 1995 the chain was integrated into an Atlanta, Georgia-based division of Federated along with that city's Rich's and Memphis, Tennessee's Goldsmith's, while retaining its name in local markets.

Merge with Macy's

The so-called RLG division was among Federated's five smaller nameplates absorbed into the Macy's brand, along with Miami, Florida's Burdines and Seattle, Washington's The Bon Marché. The Lazarus stores were eventually co-branded with Macy's in 2003, becoming Lazarus-Macy's prior to the 2005 name change.

The converted former Lazarus stores initially were part of the Macy's South division. In early 2007, after systems integrations were complete, the stores comprising the former Lazarus franchise in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and Kentucky were transferred to the Macy's Midwest division, based in St. Louis, Missouri. By February 2008, Macy's Midwest was merged with Atlanta-based Macy's South to form a newly constituted Macy's Central division.

Former locations

Michigan

*Grand Rapids
**Monroe Square NW (opened as Herpolsheimer's, became Lazarus 1987, closed 1992, now offices)
**1258 28th St. SW (opened as Herpolsheimer's, became Lazarus 1987, closed 1992, converted to Value City Furniture), now divided with Save-A-Lot and vacant space.

Indiana

*Bloomington - College Mall (opened 1965 as William H. Block Co., became Lazarus 1987, closed 2003, torn down for Dick's Sporting Goods)
*Evansville - Eastland Mall (opened 1982 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Greenwood - Greenwood Park Mall (opened 1980 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Indianapolis
**Downtown-Illinois and Market Streets (opened 1910 as William H. Block Co., became Lazarus 1987, closed 1993)
**Castleton Square (opened 1973 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Glendale Mall (opened 1958 as William H. Block Co., became Lazarus 1987, closed 1999. Store divided among Old Navy, Stein Mart and a library; Stein Mart closed 2004, Old Navy closed 2006)
**Lafayette Square Mall
***Original store (opened 1974 as Lazarus, replaced by William H. Block Co. store 1987, sold to Montgomery Ward; now Burlington Coat Factory)
***1987 replacement (opened 1969 as William H. Block Co., replaced existing Lazarus store 1987, closed 2003; now a church)
**Washington Square Mall (opened 1978 as Lazarus, closed 2002; torn down for Dick's Sporting Goods)
*Kokomo - Markland Mall (opened 1968 as William H. Block Co., became Lazarus 1987, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, closed late 2005, now vacant)
*Lafayette - Tippecanoe Mall (opened 1973 as William H. Block Co., became Lazarus 1987, closed 2002. Now Dick's Sporting Goods)

Kentucky

*Florence - Florence Mall
**Main store (opened 1977 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Home store (opened 1994 as Lazarus Home, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Lexington - Fayette Mall (opened 1971 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Louisville
**Jefferson Mall (opened 1979 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Oxmoor Center (opened 1970 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Owensboro - Wesleyan Park Plaza (opened 1987 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, closed 2006)

Maryland

*Cumberland - Downtown Cumblerland, Baltimore Street

Ohio

*Cincinnati Area Stores
**Beechmont Mall (opened 1969 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Downtown-Seventh & Race Streets (opened 1878 as John Shillito became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, closed 1997)
**Fountain Place (downtown) (opened 1997 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Kenwood
***Kenwood Mall (opened 1966 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, closed 1988 with new Towne Centre store. Converted to Lazarus Furniture Gallery 1989; see below)
***Kenwood Mall Furniture Gallery (opened 1989 as Lazarus at former Kenwood Mall, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
***Kenwood Towne Centre (opened 1988 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, expanded 2005)
**Northgate Mall (opened 1993 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Tri-County Mall (opened 1960 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Western Woods Mall (opened 1964 as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, closed 1997, McAlpin's 1997-1999, now Dillard's)
*Columbus Area Stores
**Downtown Columbus
***Original Flagship Store (Original headquarters of Federated Department Stores, Inc.) (opened in 1851; relocated in 1909; closed August, 2004; the flagship store was completely gutted and currently houses offices for the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency)
****" [http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/progress/the-lazarus-building Lazarus Building Redevelopment Link] "
***Lazarus Annex (The former Columbus Auditorium, located at the southwest corner of Town and Front Streets, was converted into additional hardlines selling space in 1946. The annex was closed in 1992 and demolished one year later.)
***Columbus City Center (Relocated Mall Store) (opened in 1989 as Marshall Field's; became Kaufmann's in 2003; became Macy's in September, 2006; Store closing November, 2007)
**Eastland Mall
***Original Mall Store (opened 1967 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, closed 2006; Building to be demolished and a relocated JCPenney store will be constructed on this site)
***Relocated Mall Store (opened November, 2005 as Kaufmann's; became Macy's April, 2006)
***Home Store East (freestanding) (opened 1972 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Easton Town Center (opened 2001 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Kingsdale Shopping Center (Upper Arlington) (opened 1970 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
***Main store (opened 1997 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
***Furniture Gallery (freestanding) (opened 1996 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Northland Mall (opened 1964 as Lazarus, closed 2001, renovated 2003-5 and became headquarters for Ohio Department of Taxation)
**Northwest/Reed-Henderson Center (Upper Arlington) (originally Tempo-Buckeye Mart; reopened in 1976 as Lazarus, closed 2002)
**Polaris Fashion Place (opened 2001 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Town & Country Shopping Center (Capri Shop located in former Boston Store location; later relocated to former The Union Co./Halle's building, closed 1992)
**Westerville Square (Westerville) (originally Tempo-Buckeye Mart; reopened as Lazarus in 1976, became Lazarus Macy's 2003, closed 2004)
**Westland Mall (first suburban Lazarus store) (opened 1962 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, Closed Spring 2007)
**562 W. Whittier St. Clearance/Furniture (built in 1955, closed in the mid-1990s, purchased by the City of Columbus for redevelopment in 1999)
***" [http://home.columbus.gov/Asset/iu_files/Whittier/Reuse_Lazarus_Whouse.pdf Lazarus Furniture Warehouse Reuse Project Link] "
*Dayton Area Stores
**Downtown Dayton (opened as Rike's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, closed 1991)
**The Mall at Fairfield Commons (Beavercreek) (opened 1994 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Dayton Mall (opened 1969 as Rike's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
**Kettering Shopping Center (Kettering) (opened 1961 as Rike's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, closed 1998, now Elder-Beerman)
**Salem Mall (Trotwood) (opened 1966 as Rike's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, closed 1998)
*Heath - Indian Mound Mall (opened 1986 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, closed 2004)
*Lancaster - River Valley Mall (opened 1987 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, Closed Spring 2007)
*Lima - Lima Mall (opened 1971 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Ontario/Mansfield - Richland Mall (the first Lazarus built outside Columbus area) (opened 1969 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005. Original anchor building closed 2006 and store relocated into former O'Neils/Kaufmanns anchor building at Richland Mall)
*Oxford - Oxford Shop (freestanding) (opened as Shillito's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, closed 2004)
*Springfield - Upper Valley Mall (opened 1971 as Rike's, became Shillito Rike's 1982, Lazarus 1986, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Zanesville - Colony Square Mall (opened 1987 as Lazarus, closed 2002)

Pennsylvania

*Erie
**Millcreek Mall (opened as Boston Store 1974, became division of Horne's 1977, became Horne's 1979, became Lazarus 1994, closed 1998, later Elder-Beerman, now The Bon-Ton)
**West Erie Plaza (opened as Boston Store 1968, became division of Horne's 1977, became Horne's 1979, became Lazarus 1994, closed 1998)
*Hempfield - Greengate Mall (opened 1965, became Lazarus 1994, closed 1998)
*Monaca - Beaver Valley Mall (opened 1970, became Lazarus 1994, closed 1998, now Boscov's)
*Monroeville - Monroeville Mall (opened 1969, became Lazarus 1995, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Natrona Heights - Heights Plaza Shopping Center (opened 1956, became Lazarus 1995, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*Pittsburgh
**Downtown, Penn Avenue & Stanwix Street (current location built 1922 as Horne's, became Lazarus 1994, closed 1995)
**Downtown, Fifth Avenue & Wood Street (opened 1998, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, closed 2004)
**Ross Park Mall (opened 1986, became Lazarus 1994, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005, closed 2006, site of future Nordstrom)
**South Hills Village
***Main store (opened 1965, became Lazarus 1995, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
***Furniture Gallery (opened 1993, became Lazarus 1995, Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)
*West Mifflin - Century III Mall (opened as Montgomery Ward 1979, became Horne's 1986, became Lazarus 1994, closed 2001, sold to Kaufmann's)

West Virginia

*Barboursville - Huntington Mall (opened 1981 as Lazarus, became Lazarus-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005)

Image Gallery

Historical Information

* [http://www.wosu.org/archive/lazarus/index.php Many Happy Returns to Lazarus] "WOSU-TV Documentary"
* [http://www.columbusjewishhistoricalsociety.org/Oral%20Histories/Interviews/HTML/lazarus.htm Charles Lazarus Interview] "Columbus Jewish Historical Society"
* [http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/14/lazarus.html Former Lazarus Chairman and Federated Director Charles Lazarus Dies at Age 93] , "Columbus Dispatch", May 14, 2007
* [http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/05/15/Chas_Lazarus_obit.ART_ART_05-15-07_A1_2K6NIKD.html Charles Lazarus Recalled as Retail and Civic Leader] , "Columbus Dispatch", May 15, 2007
* [http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2001/12/24/focus1.html Best of times: Staffers remember when work seemed like a family] , "Columbus Business First", December 21, 2001
* [http://www.libraries.uc.edu/research/subject_resources/business/book_ralph_lazarus.html Biography of Ralph Lazarus (1914 - 1988)] "University of Cincinnati"
* [http://www.gccc.com/usaccc_b.aspx?id=1181&rid=940 Great Living Cincinnatians: Fred Lazarus, Jr.] "Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce"
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,793281,00.html Prospecting Pays] "Time Magazine," December 9, 1946
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,899873,00.html Shuffling the Lazari] "Time Magazine," September 29, 1967
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841208,00.html Time to Get Involved] "Time Magazine," January 19, 1968
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939488,00.html Personalities] "Time Magazine," April 3, 1964
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,868850,00.html Family Affair] "Time Magazine," September 8, 1958
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,779422,00.html Foley's New Look] "Time Magazine," November 3, 1947
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792224,00.html How Much is Enough?] "Time Magazine," July 16, 1945
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E5DD1E3EF932A15756C0A9659C8B63 Obituary of Philanthorpist and New York Yankee's Owner Charlotte Lazarus] "New York Times"
* [http://columbusjewishhistoricalsociety.org/Oral%20Histories/Interviews/HTML/witkind_charlotte.htm Interview with Charlotte Lazarus Witkind] "Columbus Jewish Historical Society"

External links

* [http://www.fds.com/pressroom/about/his_2.asp History of Federated Department Stores]
* [http://www.wosu.org/archive/lazarus/index.php WOSU-TV Documentary: Many Happy Returns to Lazarus Documentary]
* [http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2001/12/24/focus1.html Business First Article: Staffers Remember When Work Seemed Like a Family]
* [http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2004/09/27/editorial2.html Business First Article: So Long, Lazarus]
* [http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/06/20060606-F1-01.html Columbus Dispatch Article: Name Change Hurt Macy's: Decision to drop ‘Lazarus’ not a hit here]