 Blackstone's Department Store building on Broadway, site of the main branch of Los Angeles' Famous Department Store | |
| Predecessor | Cal Hirsch & Sons Mercantile Co. |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1950 |
| Fate | Stores sold to J. J. Sugarman Co., brand subsequently retired |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Number of locations | 8 (1950) |
The Famous Department Store (not to be confused with the "Famous Clothing Store", precursor to Famous-Barr and the May Department Stores Co.) was a department store in Los Angeles, California.
Famous had its origins with the Cal Hirsch & Sons Mercantile Co., founded in 1860 or 1871 depending on the source,[1][2] which ran Army and Navy surplus stores in St. Louis.[1]
After opening stores in Los Angeles starting in 1913 and later moved its headquarters there. As Cal. Hirsch & Sons, it operated the generically named "Army and Navy Store" at 526 S. Main St. then moved to a larger space next door, what it advertised as the "world's largest Army and navy store" at 530-532 S. Main St. starting in December, 1916.[3] In 1917 it advertised a branch store in San Diego.[4]
U.S. Hirsch was president of the company during the 1930s.[5] By 1948, Urban Hirsch, Jr. was president.[6]
- ^ a b Harris, Charles H.; Sadler, Louis R. (2016-04-25). The Secret War in el Paso: Mexican Revolutionary Intrigue, 1906–1920. ISBN 978-0-8263-4654-4.
- ^ "Famous Department Store Moves to Broadway Home". Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Ad for Cal. Hirsch & Sons: "largest army and navy store in the world" - 530-32 South Main St". Los Angeles Evening Express. 20 December 1916. p. 13. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
sandiegowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
pasadenawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Vast Crowds Anticipated at Opening of Great New Value Center". The San Bernardino County Sun. 16 September 1948. p. 44. Retrieved 19 March 2024.