Jacobson's

Last updated
Jacobson's
Industry Retail (department store)
Founded1838;186 years ago (1838), Jackson, Michigan
FounderAbram Jacobson
Defunct
  • 2002;22 years ago (2002) (original company)
  • 2011;13 years ago (2011) (revival)
Fatedefunct
Headquarters
Jackson, Michigan (original)
Winter Park, Florida (revival)
Number of locations
0
Area served
 Florida, the Midwest
Key people
Tammy Giaimo
Products Apparel, jewelry, furniture

Jacobson's was an American regional department store chain. Based in Jackson, Michigan, the chain operated primarily in Michigan and Florida, but also had stores in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Kansas. Jacobson's focused on apparel, fine jewelry and home furnishings. The chain entered bankruptcy in early 2002 after 164 years of service. One store in Winter Park, Florida was re-established as Jacobson's in 2004, but closed in 2011.

Contents

History

The first Jacobson's store was opened by Abram Jacobson in Reed City, Michigan, in 1838. It eventually expanded to Ann Arbor, Battle Creek and Jackson, Michigan, as well, moving its headquarters to Jackson in 1937. [1] Two years later, brothers Zola and Nathan Rosenfeld purchased the company and began expanding it throughout the state. Zola held the title of company president at the time of his death in 1961, while Nathan remained chairman until his 1982 death. [2]

In 1945, Nathan Rosenfeld hired J. Russell Fowler, a former manager for the Jordan Marsh chain, to manage Jacobson's as well. Under Fowler's management, Jacobson's saw a significant increase in sales and expanded into Florida. [1] Despite declining sales in the 1980s, the chain attempted two prototypes: a more upscale store at Laurel Park Place in Livonia and a discount store in Troy. [1]

1990s

Jacobson's faced further retail decline in the early 1990s. In 1991, the store began operating on Sundays. Previously, Jacobson's stores were closed on Sundays, as it was believed that doing so would help to attract a better caliber employee. [1] Also that year, the chain opened a store in Naples, Florida, and moved its flagship from downtown Ann Arbor to a former Lord & Taylor location at Briarwood Mall. [1] A location in Birmingham, Michigan, was also renovated to target upscale shoppers in their mid-twenties. [1]

The chain made further changes to its retail line in the 1990s, expanding its plus-size clothing lines and adding other lines catered to younger shoppers. A decision was also made to control the growth of stores, by only opening one or two a year. The chain's first Kentucky location, in Louisville, opened in 1994. [1] In 1995, however, Jacobson's posted its biggest loss since 1977, and as a result, three Metro Detroit locations were closed and thirty-two workers were laid off. In addition, competitors Nordstrom and Parisian had begun opening locations in Detroit, increasing the chain's competition. [1] Jacobson's also opened locations in Leawood, Kansas, and Boca Raton, Florida.

By 1997, Jacobson's had twenty-four stores in operation. The chain began to promote its customer service and quality through marketing, and although the Midwestern locations continued to lose money, the Florida stores remained profitable. [1] An East Lansing, Michigan, location that opened in 1970 was relocated to a new store on the site of a former Service Merchandise at Meridian Mall in nearby Okemos in 2000. [3]

2000s

In 2002, however, Jacobson's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed five stores, including one at The Fashion Mall at Keystone in Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as the Meridian Mall location. [4] After failing to find a buyer, Jacobson's began liquidation on its last remaining stores, and was closed by the end of 2002. [5] The Briarwood Mall store and another at Laurel Park Place in Livonia, Michigan, were both sold to Davenport, Iowa-based Von Maur. In early 2004, Longwood, Florida-based Jake's Stores bought the naming rights and re-established Jacobson's in Florida. [6] The company's headquarters in Jackson found a new tenant in baked goods manufacturer Dawn Foods in 2004. [7]

The second incarnation of Jacobson's never saw the planned expansion ever take place. After nearly eight years of doing business as a one-store operation near the former Winter Park, Florida Jacobson's location, the "new" Jacobson's closed on December 21, 2011. Its owner, Tammy Giaimo, shuttered the one location with plans to open a store using a different name near another company she owned. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parisian (department store)</span> U.S. department store chain

Parisian Inc. was an American chain of upmarket department stores founded and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Competing mainly through the 1980s against Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Gus Mayer, Parisian underwent a series of restructurings and mergers during its 130-year history, and was taken over by Proffitt’s, Inc. in 1996. In September 2006, Belk purchased Parisian from Saks for $285 million with twenty-four locations later becoming Belk by September 2007. Parisian was quickly sold once more in October 2006 to The Bon-Ton with stores operating in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Parisian operated individually under its own separate division until 2013 when the exclusive rights to operate Parisian had expired, marking the end of this upmarket department store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farmer Jack</span> Supermarket in Michigan. U.S.

Farmer Jack was a supermarket chain based in Detroit, Michigan. At its peak, it operated more than 100 stores, primarily in metropolitan Detroit. In its final years, the chain operated as the Midwest subsidiary of the New Jersey-based A&P Corporation. A&P closed the Farmer Jack chain on July 7, 2007.

Von Maur, Inc. is an American department store chain based in Davenport, Iowa. Founded in 1872, the chain operates over 36 locations across the United States, primarily in the Midwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerset Collection</span> Luxury shopping mall in Michigan, U.S.

Somerset Collection is a shopping mall of more than 180 retailers located in Troy, Michigan, part of Metro Detroit. Somerset Collection is developed, managed, and co-owned by The Forbes Company, and is among the most profitable malls in the United States not owned by a real estate investment trust. The mall hosts the traditional mall retail anchor tenants Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus, along with specialty retailers like Allbirds, Altar'd State, and Vuori, and luxury brands including Dior, Saint Laurent, Versace, and Hermès.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Lakes Crossing Outlets</span> An enclosed shopping mall in the city of Auburn Hills, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, formerly Great Lakes Crossing, is a shopping mall in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The site of the mall was originally to have been occupied by a different mall called Auburn Mills, which was never built due to financial issues of its intended developer, Western Development Corporation. Great Lakes Crossing was built on the site and opened in 1998. Constructed and owned by Taubman Centers, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is the largest outlet mall in the state of Michigan. It features 185 stores, with anchor stores including Burlington, Primark, Bass Pro Shops, TJ Maxx, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Marshalls; other notable attractions include a 1,000-seat food court, a 25-screen AMC Star movie theater, Round1, Legoland Discovery Center, and Sea Life Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olga's Kitchen</span>

Olga's Kitchen is an American chain of Greek-American family restaurants located primarily in the U.S. state of Michigan, founded by Olga Loizon in 1970. The company is based in Livonia, Michigan, and currently has 26 locations: one each in Illinois and Massachusetts, and the rest in Michigan.

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

Meridian Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located in Okemos, Meridian Township, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesee Valley Center</span> Shopping mall in Michigan, United States

Genesee Valley Center is an enclosed shopping mall located in Flint Township, Michigan, outside the city of Flint, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1970, the mall is 1,272,397 square feet (118,209.5 m2) of leasable area. The mall has two anchor tenants: JCPenney and Macy's. It comprises more than 120 tenants, including a food court, and an external concourse called the Outdoor Village which also features a Barnes & Noble bookstore. The mall is located on Miller Road and Linden Road, near the junction of Interstate 69 (I-69) and I-75.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Park Mall</span> Shopping mall in Ohio, United States

Franklin Park Mall is a shopping mall in Toledo, Ohio. The anchor stores are Dillard's, Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Forever 21, DSW, and JCPenney.

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

Briarwood Mall is a shopping mall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. The mall's three anchor stores are Macy's, JCPenney, and Von Maur. Surrounded by office and other development, the mall anchors the southern Ann Arbor commercial area around Eisenhower Boulevard and I-94. It serves as the primary shopping mall for all of Washtenaw County. As of 2007 Simon Property Group manages and co-owns the mall. Briarwood is considered a Class A mall property by developers based on its sales per square foot. Many restaurants, hotels and stores surround the mall.

Fairlane Town Center is a super-regional shopping mall in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan. The mall is adjacent to The Henry Hotel, The Fairlane Club, the University of Michigan–Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College, The Henry Ford, and the Ford Motor Company headquarters. The anchor stores are Macy's and JCPenney, with vacant anchor spaces last occupied by AMC Theatres, Sears, and Ford Motor Company offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowley's</span>

Crowley Milner and Company, generally referred to as Crowley's, was a department store chain founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1909. After several years of financial difficulties, the company ceased operation in 1999 and its assets were sold.

Laurel Park Place is an enclosed shopping mall located in the city of Livonia, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The mall, which is managed by CBL & Associates Properties, features approximately 60 restaurants and stores. Laurel Park Place includes a Phoenix movie theater, restaurants, a food court, the attached Livonia Marriott hotel, and an office building. In 2004, Laurel Park Place had $409 per sq ft of sales, above the threshold for class A mall properties. It is located near the intersection of I-275 and 6 Mile Rd. The mall's anchor stores are Von Maur and Dunham's Sports.

Livonia Marketplace is an open-air shopping mall in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, Michigan. Opened in 2010, the center is anchored by Kohl's and Walmart. It occupies the site of the former Livonia Mall, which was an enclosed mall built in 1964. Livonia Mall lost the majority of its tenants in the 2000s, including its previous anchor stores of Crowley's, Sears, Mervyns, and Children's Palace. The mall was closed in May 2008, with only the Sears remaining from the original property. Sears closed in April 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderland Village</span> Shopping center in Michigan, United States

Wonderland Village is an outdoor shopping center in Livonia, Michigan, United States, a suburb of Detroit. The center is located at the southwest corner of Middlebelt Road and Plymouth Road, approximately one mile south of I-96. Opened in 1959 as the outdoor Wonderland Center, it originally featured Montgomery Ward and Federal's as its major anchor stores. A 1980s renovation enclosed the formerly open-air complex and renamed it Wonderland Mall, by which point the anchor stores were Montgomery Ward, Service Merchandise, and Target. This configuration lasted throughout the late 1990s, by which point the closure of both Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward had led to a number of vacancies. The center reopened officially in 2007.

Waterside Shops is an open-air mall located on Tamiami Trail in Pelican Bay, Florida, just to the north of Naples, Florida. Opened in November 1992, the mall features Saks Fifth Avenue as the anchor tenant. The mall opened with 85% of its retail space leased. Since 2003, the mall has been managed by the Southfield, Michigan-based Forbes Company, which also operates several other upscale malls in Michigan and Florida. Its open-air concourses feature waterfalls and landscaping. Some of the more popular stores the mall has are Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tesla, Rolex, and among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Van Furniture</span> Defunct American furniture retailer

Art Van Furniture Inc. was an American furniture retail store chain, with stores across the Midwestern United States. Founded in 1959, the company was headquartered in Warren, Michigan, and claimed to be the largest furniture retailer in the Midwest at its peak. In 2020, the company filed for bankruptcy and closed all of its stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Village of Rochester Hills</span> Shopping mall in Michigan, United States

The Village of Rochester Hills is a lifestyle center located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit. Built in 2002, the center replaced a former enclosed shopping mall called Meadowbrook Village Mall. The Village of Rochester Hills features the traditional retailers Von Maur and Whole Foods Market, in addition to prominent specialty retailers such as Williams Sonoma, Talbot's, Banana Republic, Chico's, J.Jill, and Pottery Barn.

Harmony House was an American music retailer founded in the Detroit suburb of Hazel Park, Michigan in 1947. The chain once operated 38 stores, primarily within the Metro Detroit area, and employed more than 400 people. Although most of the stores ceased operations in 2002, a location in Berkley remained until 2004 when it was converted to an f.y.e. music store.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Jacobson's company history". Funding Universe . Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  2. ↑ "Article: Jacobson Stores marches to own drummer; no in-store shops, few price promotions for 25-unit chain". Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  3. ↑ Wright, Rachel (2000-10-12). "Jacobson's reopens doors". The State News . Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  4. ↑ Wall, JK (2002-06-29). "Future Appears Cloudy for Michigan-Based Upscale Clothing Chain Jacobson's". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved 2009-05-18.[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ Yue, Lorenne (2002-07-26). "Jacobson Stores' Shutdown Begins". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  6. ↑ Bott, Jennifer; Greta Guest (2004-01-29). "Defunct Jacobson's Name in Retailing May Return in Florida". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  7. ↑ Smith, Leanne (January 19, 2019). "Peek Through Time: Delectable doughnuts right mix for success at Dawn Foods". mlive.com . Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Pedicini, Sandra (2011-12-18). "BullFish, Jacobson's, Antique Buff closing". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved 2012-05-15.
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.