F&R Lazarus & Company — commonly known as Lazarus — was a regional department store retail chain operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest, and based in Columbus, Ohio. For over 150 years, Lazarus was influential in the American retail industry, particularly during the early 20th century as a founding partner in Federated Department Stores, and continued until the nameplate was retired on March 6, 2005, in favor of Macy's.
Family patriarch Simon Lazarus opened a one-room men's clothing store in downtown Columbus in 1851. By 1870, with improvements to the industry in the mass manufacture of men's uniforms for the Civil War, the family business expanded to include ready-made men's civilian clothing and eventually a complete line of merchandise. Sons Fred Lazarus, Sr. and Ralph Lazarus joined the business and added many innovative marketing techniques. The company acquired the John Shillito Company of Cincinnati in 1928 and a year later, was one of the four founding members of Federated Department Stores in 1929.
Lazarus developed many shopping firsts such as "one low price" (no bargaining necessary), first department store escalators in the country, first air-conditioned store in the country, and Fred Lazarus, Jr. successfully lobbied President Franklin Roosevelt to permanently fix Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, ensuring a stable timetable for the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Primarily operating in central Ohio, Lazarus dominated its market, driving the last of its traditional rivals out of business by 1982. Eventually expanding into Indianapolis, Indiana in 1973 and Huntington, West Virginia in 1981.
Eventually Columbus City Center, a shopping mall, was built onto the downtown Lazarus store in 1988.
In 2008, after 150 years of service, Lazarus was closed and absorbed by Macy's.
For information and pictures of the original Lazarus store click here.
Family patriarch Simon Lazarus opened a one-room men's clothing store in downtown Columbus in 1851. By 1870, with improvements to the industry in the mass manufacture of men's uniforms for the Civil War, the family business expanded to include ready-made men's civilian clothing and eventually a complete line of merchandise. Sons Fred Lazarus, Sr. and Ralph Lazarus joined the business and added many innovative marketing techniques. The company acquired the John Shillito Company of Cincinnati in 1928 and a year later, was one of the four founding members of Federated Department Stores in 1929.
Lazarus developed many shopping firsts such as "one low price" (no bargaining necessary), first department store escalators in the country, first air-conditioned store in the country, and Fred Lazarus, Jr. successfully lobbied President Franklin Roosevelt to permanently fix Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, ensuring a stable timetable for the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Primarily operating in central Ohio, Lazarus dominated its market, driving the last of its traditional rivals out of business by 1982. Eventually expanding into Indianapolis, Indiana in 1973 and Huntington, West Virginia in 1981.
Eventually Columbus City Center, a shopping mall, was built onto the downtown Lazarus store in 1988.
In 2008, after 150 years of service, Lazarus was closed and absorbed by Macy's.
For information and pictures of the original Lazarus store click here.
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