S. Klein

S. Klein, On The Square, or simply, S. Klein, was a popular priced department store chain based in New York City that is now defunct. The flagship stores (a main building and a women's fashion building) were located along Union Square in Manhattan, hence the name "on the square". S. Klein positioned itself as a step above regional discount stores of its time (Two Guys, Great Eastern Mills), more fashion aware than E. J. Korvette, and a more affordable option compared to traditional department stores like Macy's, or Abraham & Straus. S. Klein stores were full-line department stores, including furniture departments, fur salons, and full service pet departments.

uburban Growth

S. Klein started to build new suburban stores in the 1960s but in an unusual way. Instead of being an anchor store in the regional malls being built at the time, S. Klein would often build as an outparcel near, but not connected to the mall itself.

Gradual Retraction

By the mid-1970s the parent company of S. Klein, Meshulam Riklis' Rapid-American Corp. (also owner of the McCrory Stores dime-store chain), seemed more interested in the real estate the company held than the retail operations (a fate Two Guys would fall to in 1982), and it started to close the stores in clusters. By 1978 the last of the chain's stores would be closed.

Traces of S. Klein Today

While there is little trace of S. Klein today, a significant part of the signage is still in place at its former location in downtown Newark, NJ. This location has sat vacant since the store was closed in 1976, and the neon sign that proclaims, "S Klein, On The Square" complete with a neon protractoris still largely intact as of this writing (2007).

. Klein in Popular Culture

Due in part to its reputation for bargains, S. Klein was known as the store to pick through racks and bins searching for the ultimate find. In the 1950s sitcom "I Love Lucy", Ethel Mertz often mentioned "pawing through racks" at either S. Klein, or the bargain basement at Gimbels. In the 1970s sitcom "All In The Family", S. Klein was mentioned as Edith Bunker's favorite store.

Former Locations (partial list)

Maryland

*Greenbelt, Beltway Plaza −- now divided into Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, JoAnn Fabrics and Value City department store

New York

* Union Square -- main building now demolished, women's fashion building, late 20th century Toys R Us.
* Lake Grove LI, outparcel near Smith Haven Mall -- later Korvettes, then Stern's now demolished
* Yonkers, Central Avenue -- later Alexander's, then Bradlees, now divided into many stores
* Flushing, Queens, Main Street/Roosevelt Avenue -- later Alexander's, then Caldor, now vacant
* West Hempstead, LI, outparcel on Hempstead Tpke. -- now National Wholesale Liquidators
* Commack, LI, Vets Memorial Highway -- later Korvettes, then Stern's, now Macy's
* Valley Stream, LI -- later Korvettes, then Stern's, now Macy's

New Jersey

* East Brunswick, Route 18 -- now Kmart
* Downtown Newark closed 1976, vacant since
* Paramus, Route 17 -- now Border's Books
* Wayne, outparcel near Willowbrook Mall -- later incorporated into the West Belt Mall (now Wayne Towne Center ), later E. J. Korvette, now Fortunoff
* Woodbridge, Route 1, opposite Woodbridge Center -- now subdivided retail
* Cherry Hill, Route 38, outparcel near Cherry Hill Mall -- later subdivided into Best Products and Gaudio's garden center, later a Super Fresh (A&P) supermarket

Pennsylvania

* Philadelphia, Great Northeast, Roosevelt Mall -- later John Wanamaker, then Hecht's-Strawbridge's, now Macy's.(2008)
* Springfield, US Route 1 near PA Route 320 -- now part of Marple Crossroads Shopping Center.

Virginia

* Alexandria -- 6200 Little River Turnpike (then Virginia Plaza, now Plaza at Landmark) -- later Hecht's Clearance Center, now contains Shoppers Food Warehouse, Marshalls, Bally Total Fitness and a furniture store; Tower Records had a location there until the chain shut down in 2006.

ources

*www.oldnewark.com "The Big 3 Department Stores, Their Life and Times", "Downtown Memories".
* [http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/depart/klein.php Images of downtown Newark store]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852721,00.html 1946 Sale] to Grayson Shops [of California] describes company history and operation