Rike Kumler Co.

Rike-Kumler Company
Company typeDepartment store
IndustryRetail
FoundedMarch 9, 1853
Defunct1982
FateMerged with Shillito's
SuccessorShillito Rikes (1982–1986)
Lazarus (1986–2003)
Lazarus-Macy's (2003–2005)
Macy's (2005–present)
HeadquartersDayton, Ohio
ProductsClothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
ParentFederated Department Stores, Inc.
WebsiteNone
The Rike-Kumler Company on a Curt Teich postcard
One of several restored Rike's department store animated Christmas window displays, on exhibit at the Fifth Third Bank “Wintergarden Wonderland” in the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center (former site of Rike's main store), Dayton, Ohio, taken December 8, 2013

The Rike-Kumler Company (commonly known as Rike's) was an American department store in Dayton, Ohio. In 1959, Rike's became part of the Federated Department Stores conglomerate.[1] In 1982, Federated merged Rike's with its Cincinnati unit, Shillito's, in order to form Shillito–Rike's.[2] In 1986, Federated merged Shillito–Rike's into the Columbus-based Lazarus chain,[2] which, in 2005 was consolidated with most other Federated chains under the Macy's brand.

Rike's former main store in downtown Dayton was imploded in 1999 and is now the site of the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.[3][4]

Rike's was well known for its annual tradition of animated Christmas window displays. The animated figurines were preserved and have been displayed yearly during the Christmas season at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center since its inception.[5]

  1. ^ "Federated Stores Acquires Rike-Kumler For 580,000 Shares". The Wall Street Journal. July 27, 1959. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Flynn, Adrianne; Bland, Jim; Scruggs, Afi-Odelia E. (November 22, 1991). "A downtown retailing story". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  3. ^ Huffman, Dale (October 3, 1999). "Rike's to go". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  4. ^ DeBrosse, Jim (October 31, 1999). "Rike's building to go bing-bang-boom Saturday". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  5. ^ Stewart, Chris. "Rike's Christmas window display". Dayton Daily News.