S. Klein
S. Klein On The Square, or simply, S. Klein, was a popular priced department store chain based in New York City that is now defunct. The flagship stores (a main building and a women's fashion building) were located along Union Square in Manhattan; this location would combine with the 1920s idiomatic catch phrase "on the square" (meaning "honest and straight-up") to provide the subtitle. S. Klein positioned itself as a step above regional discount stores of its time (Two Guys, Great Eastern Mills), more fashion aware than E. J. Korvette, and a more affordable option compared to traditional department stores like Macy's, or Abraham & Straus. S. Klein stores were full-line department stores, including furniture departments, fur salons, and full service pet departments.
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[edit] Suburban growth
S. Klein started to build new suburban stores in the 1960s but in an unusual way. Instead of being an anchor store in the regional malls being built at the time, S. Klein would often build as an outparcel near, but not connected to the mall itself. Most stores were located in New York and New Jersey in the greater New York City area. S. Klein operated stores as far south as Alexandria, Virginia and at Beltway Plaza in Greenbelt, Maryland.
[edit] Gradual decline
By the mid-1970s the parent company of S. Klein, Meshulam Riklis' Rapid-American Corp. (also owner of the McCrory Stores dime-store chain), seemed more interested in the real estate the company held than the retail operations (a fate Two Guys would fall to in 1982), and it started to close the stores in clusters. By 1978 the last of the chain's stores would close.
[edit] Traces of S. Klein today
While there is little trace of S. Klein today, a significant part of the signage is still in place at its former location in downtown Newark, NJ. This location has been vacant since the store was closed in 1976, and the neon sign (in 2008 photo) that proclaims, "S Klein, On The Square" complete with their neon carpenter's square logo is still intact as of 2012.
[edit] In popular culture
Due in part to its reputation for bargains, S. Klein was known as the store to pick through racks and bins searching for the ultimate find. In the 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy, Ethel Mertz often mentioned "pawing through racks" at either S. Klein, or the bargain basement at Gimbels. In the 1970s sitcom All In The Family, S. Klein was mentioned as Edith Bunker's favorite store. In the Musical Guys & Dolls song "Marry The Man" lyrics mentions three department stores..."At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's..."
[edit] References
- Sources
- www.oldnewark.com "The Big 3 Department Stores, Their Life and Times", "Downtown Memories".
- Images of downtown Newark store
- 1946 Sale to Grayson Shops [of California] describes company history and operation
