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.
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 to mark the store's 50th anniversary. Harold and Ralph Diamond eventually took over the 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.
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