Russeks

390 Fifth Avenue, later Russeks, in 2009
390 Fifth Avenue (at left) in 1911 - the lower floors were changed after Russeks moved out

Russeks was a department store at 390 Fifth Avenue, at the intersection with West 36th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

The company was co-founded by brothers Frank Russek and Isidore H. Russek, and became Russeks Fifth Avenue, Inc.[1]

Russeks started as a furrier in New York City during the early 1900s, and expanded into luxury clothing and accessories.[2] In 1924, they opened a department store on 390 Fifth Avenue and West 36th Street.[3][4] This was 390 Fifth Avenue, designed by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White, and completed in 1904-1905 for the Gorham Manufacturing Company.[5]

In the 1940s (at least), they had a department store in Detroit.[6][7]

In February 1959, they announced the closure of their Fifth Avenue store, after five years of losses, but would continue to operate in hotel and suburban locations.[4] In 1960, the new owner, Spear Securities, remodelled the exterior of the lower floors.[5]

  1. ^ "ESTATE OF RUSSEK v. COMMISSIONER - 20 T.C.M. 123 (1961) - btcm1231116 - Leagle.com". Leagle. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Faded Beauty: Russeks Department Store the Little History Left". serstyle.com. September 5, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "Data". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "RUSSEKS TO CLOSE FIFTH AVE. STORE; 5 Years' Losses Reported -Shops Will Continue in Hotel and Suburbs". New York Times. February 26, 1959. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Gray, Christopher (October 22, 2000). "Streetscapes/The 1905 Gorham Building, at Fifth Avenue and 36th Street; Recreating a Stanford White Design -- Using Paint". New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "1982.144.097 - Print, Photographic". detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com.
  7. ^ "Russeks". detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com.