Diamond's

Last updated
Diamond's
FormerlyThe Boston Store (1897-1947)
Company type Public
Industry Retail
Founded1897
FoundersNathan and Isaac Diamond
Defunct1984 (Acquired By Dillards)
Headquarters Phoenix, Arizona
Number of locations
12 (1984)
Area served
Southwestern US
Key people
Nathan and Isaac Diamond
ProductsClothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products
Parent Roberts Brothers (1957-1968), Dayton-Hudson Corporation (1968-1984)

Diamond's was a department store chain headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona that operated from 1897-1984. Originally named The Boston Store, [1] it was founded by brothers Nathan and Isaac Diamond

Contents

History

The Boston Store was founded in 1897 by brothers Nathan and Isaac Diamond, Jewish immigrants who had in 1891 begun a dry-goods mercantile in El Paso called The New York Store. Hearing of great potential in Arizona the brothers moved to Phoenix. [1] They set up a store on Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix. by 1941 the Diamond brothers had enlisted the help of family to run the store. Nathan's sons Harold and Bert and Isaac's son Herbert were all involved with management of the store. [2] The Boston Store was renamed Diamond's in 1947 in honor of the store's 50th anniversary. Harold and Ralph Diamond eventually took over ownership. Roberts Brothers of Portland, Oregon purchased Diamond's in 1957. [3] That same year the store opened its first branch location at Park Central Mall, the building on Washington Street was subsequently closed. [4] In 1962 the firm considered expanding into the Tucson market but would hold off on doing so until 1974. [5] In 1968 Diamond's was sold to Dayton Corporation of Minneapolis. [6] In 1970 Diamond's acquired Las Vegas based Ronzone's and converted its store at The Boulevard Mall to a Diamond's. [7] On January 14, 1984 Diamond's consolidated its operations in Mesa by closing its Tri-City Mall location due to its close proximity to the newer Fiesta Mall location. [8] Diamond's had expanded to twelve stores throughout the Southwest when in September 1984 then owner, Dayton-Hudson Corporation, sold the chain to Dillard's. [5] [9]

Locations

The locations of the former Diamond's department stores. [10] The Original Flagship Store on Washington Street operated from 1897-1957.

MallLocationOpenedSubsequent use
Park Central Mall Phoenix, AZAugust 25, 1957 [11] Converted to Dillard's, now medical offices
Thomas MallPhoenix, AZSeptember 23, 1963 [12] Converted to Dillard's, later demolished
Tri-City Mall Mesa, AZAugust 7, 1969 [13] Closed January 14, 1984, later demolished
The Boulevard Mall Las Vegas, NV1968 as Ronzone's, 1970 as Diamond'sConverted to Dillard's
Metrocenter Mall Phoenix, AZOctober 1, 1973 [14] Converted to Dillard's then Dillard's Clearance, now vacant
Scottsdale Fashion Square Scottsdale, AZSpring 1974Converted to Dillard's then Sears, now Macy's
Park Place Mall Tucson, AZAugust 5, 1974 [15] Converted to Dillard's later demolished and replaced with new Dillard's
Meadows Mall Las Vegas, NV1978Converted to Dillard's, now Dillard's Clearance on upper level and Curacao on lower level.
Paradise Valley Mall Phoenix, AZFebruary 1, 1979 [16] Converted to Dillard's then Sears, later demolished
Fiesta Mall Mesa, AZJuly 4, 1980 [17] Converted to Dillard's then Dillard's Clearance, later demolished
Fashion Show Mall Las Vegas, NVFebruary 14, 1981Converted to Dillard's, now Forever 21
Tucson Mall Tucson, AZJuly 30, 1981Now Dillard's
Desert Sky Mall Phoenix, AZDecember 1981Converted to Dillard's, now Dillard's Clearance

Related Research Articles

Dayton's was an American department store chain founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1902 by George Draper Dayton. It operated several local high end department stores throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest for almost 100 years. Although it was regionally known as a high-quality shopping destination, Dayton's is best remembered for starting the discount shopping chain Target. The company was also instrumental in the history of shopping malls; opening the first indoor shopping mall in the United States, Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota, in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldwater's</span> Former business in Phoenix, Arizona

Goldwater's Department Store was a department store chain based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Christown Spectrum is a mall in Phoenix, Arizona, located at 1703 W. Bethany Home Road. It is the city’s oldest operating mall and was the third shopping mall built in the city. The name Christown Spectrum is derived from Chris-Town Mall and Phoenix Spectrum Mall, previous names. The mall opened as an enclosed shopping mall, but the enclosed portion of the mall was greatly reduced when redevelopment changed the configuration closer to a power center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tri-City Pavilions</span> Former shopping mall in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, US

Tri-City Pavilions, formerly Tri-City Mall, is a shopping mall in Mesa, Arizona, United States. It was developed in 1968 as an enclosed shopping mall featuring Diamond's and JCPenney as the anchor stores. The mall underwent a period of decline following the opening of Fiesta Mall in 1979, particularly after Diamond's consolidated with its store in that mall in 1984. Despite a mall-wide renovation completed in 1985 and the addition of new tenants such as ZCMI and Bealls, Tri-City Mall continued to diminish throughout the 1990s, with JCPenney closing in 1998. The mall was demolished in 1999 in favor of a strip mall anchored by Safeway Inc., although the former JCPenney building remained until 2006. Tri-City Pavilions is owned and managed by Lamar Companies.

Park Central Mall was the first shopping mall in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in Encanto Village, on Central Avenue and Osborn Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucson Mall</span> Shopping mall in Tucson, Arizona

Tucson Mall is the largest shopping mall in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson Mall features over 170 stores and two levels of indoor shopping. It is anchored by Forever 21, J. C. Penney, Macy's, and Dillard's. Tucson Mall contains a food court containing several fast food restaurants, as well as "Arizona Avenue," an arcade containing Southwestern-themed items. The mall is located on the north side of Tucson, bounded by Oracle Road, Wetmore Road, Stone Avenue, and the Rillito River.

Fiesta Mall is a former shopping mall in Mesa, Arizona, United States. Opened in 1979 after nine years of development, it was built by Homart Development Company, the former shopping mall development division of the department store Sears. Sears was the first anchor store to open in the mall, doing so in 1977. Also present as anchor stores were The Broadway and Goldwater's, with Diamond's following in 1980. The mall began experiencing declines in traffic following the opening of Arizona Mills in 1997, and saw numerous anchor store and inline tenancy changes. After a long period of decline, it was shuttered in January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise Valley Mall</span> Former shopping mall in Phoenix, Arizona

Paradise Valley Mall was a shopping mall located in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The last remaining anchor stores were JCPenney and Costco. There were 3 vacant anchor stores that were once Sears, Dillard's, and Macy's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrocenter (Phoenix, Arizona)</span> Former shopping mall

Metrocenter was a regional enclosed shopping mall in northwest Phoenix, Arizona. It was bounded by Interstate 17, 31st, Dunlap and Peoria Avenues. Before its closure, the three most recently open anchor stores were Harkins Theatres, Walmart Supercenter, and Dillard's Clearance Center; three additional vacant anchor stores included former Sears, JCPenney, and Macy's locations. The mall featured 100 stores, a 12 screen movie theater, and a food court. Since January 2021, the mall had been owned by the Carlyle Development Group based in New York City. The mall officially closed on June 30, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baybrook Mall</span> Shopping mall in Texas, United States

Baybrook Mall is a shopping mall located near the Clear Lake City area in Houston, Texas; It has a Friendswood mailing address, but it is in the Houston city limits. The mall is located off Interstate 45, and it is also in proximity to Webster and the NASA Johnson Space Center. The anchor stores are Star Cinema Grill, Dave & Buster's, Dillard's, JCPenney, H&M, Macy's, and Forever 21. There is 1 vacant anchor store that was once Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert Sky Mall</span> Shopping mall in Arizona, United States

Desert Sky Mall is a regional shopping mall in west Phoenix, Arizona. It is located at 75th Avenue and Thomas Road. The mall was developed by Westcor and is managed by Macerich. The anchor stores are Curacao, Burlington, Mercado de los Cielos, and Dillard's Clearance Center. There is 1 vacant anchor store that was once Sears. Desert Sky Mall serves as a transit center for Valley Metro Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lescher & Mahoney</span> Architectural firm based in Phoenix, Arizona

Lescher & Mahoney was an American architectural firm from Phoenix, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwoods Mall (Illinois)</span> Shopping mall in Illinois, United States

Northwoods Mall is a shopping mall in Peoria, Illinois. The mall opened in 1973. It is situated at the corner of Scenic Drive and U.S. Route 150. The anchor stores are JCPenney and The RoomPlace. There is 1 vacant anchor store that was once Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flagstaff Mall</span> Shopping area in Coconino County, Arizona

Flagstaff Mall is a regional shopping mall located in Flagstaff, Arizona, is operated by Cypress Equities. The mall opened in 1979, and is anchored by Dillard's, JCPenney, and Hobby Lobby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward L. Varney</span> American architect (1914–1998)

Edward Leighton Varney Jr. (1914–1998) was an American Modernist architect working in Phoenix, Arizona from 1937 until his retirement in 1985. He designed the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, and Sun Devil Stadium at Arizona State University. In 1941, he began his career, which would extend to his retirement in 1985. His firm would continue designing buildings into the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred M. Guirey</span> American architect (1908–1984)

Fred Melville Guirey (1908-1984) was an architect working in Phoenix Arizona from the 1930s to the 1980s. Over his career his firm produced many works some of which are considered exceptional examples of Mid-Century Modern, and Brutalist architecture.

Mandel's was a chain of shoe stores in the Southwestern United States for many decades of the 20th century. For a time it advertised its wares as "Mandel's Fascinating Slippers". Maurice Mandel headed up the stores through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Later Mandel would later serve as General Merchandise Manager (GMM) of chain Mullen & Bluett and president of Harris & Frank. Among its branches were:

Korricks was a department store in Downtown Phoenix at 1 N. 1st St. at Washington, which later would be a branch of Los Angeles-based The Broadway.

DWL Architects + Planners Inc., is an architecture and planning firm headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. The firm was founded in 1949 by Frederick Penn Weaver and Richard E. Drover as the firm Weaver & Drover. It later became Drover, Welch & Lindlan Architects and was then shortened to DWL. The firm has designed many noteworthy buildings throughout the state of Arizona.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Diamond Family of Phoenix, The Boston Store & Diamond's Department Store – JMAW – Jewish Museum of the American West". www.jmaw.org. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  2. ↑ "Arizona Republic 16 Apr 1941, page Page 21". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  3. ↑ "Arizona Republic 06 Feb 1957, page Page 14". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Arizona Republic 03 Feb 1957, page Page 9". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  5. 1 2 "Tucson Citizen 09 Aug 1984, page 54". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  6. ↑ "Arizona Republic 07 May 1968, page Page 6". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  7. ↑ "The Minneapolis Star 21 Jan 1970, page Page 35". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  8. ↑ "Diamond's to close Tri-City Mall outlet". Arizona Republic. 1984-01-06. p. 79. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  9. ↑ "Arizona Republic 10 Aug 1984, page Page 91". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  10. ↑ BAK. "Diamond's, Phoenix, Arizona" . Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  11. ↑ "Arizona Republic 25 Aug 1957, page Page 83". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  12. ↑ "Arizona Republic 22 Sep 1963, page Page 3". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  13. ↑ "Arizona Republic 04 Aug 1969, page Page 29". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  14. ↑ "Metrocenter Mall". Arizona Republic. 1973-09-30. p. 98. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  15. ↑ "Park Mall Addition Diamonds". Arizona Daily Star. 1974-08-04. p. 29. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  16. ↑ "Gonzales Architect of Paradise Valley Diamond's Store". Arizona Republic. 1979-01-07. p. 52. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  17. ↑ "The best things in life are found in Mesa and Tempe..." Arizona Republic. 1980-07-03. p. 21. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.