Henri Willis Bendel
Encyclopedia
Henri Willis Bendel was an American
businessman, fashion design
er, and philanthropist
who founded an upscale women's fashion company bearing his name in New York City
, which more than 100 years later remains in business on Fifth Avenue, one of the premier shopping streets in the world.
, Louisiana
, Henri Bendel's father died when he was six years old. His mother was an astute businesswoman who owned and operated a retail furniture outlet, a drug store, a dry goods store, and an undertaking parlor. She remarried in 1878 to Benjamin Falk, who would become one of the most successful Lafayette
businessmen of his time. They operated a dry goods store above which was Falk's Opera House that provided vaudevillian and opera
entertainment.
In 1894, Henri Bendel married Blanche Lehman, a daughter of Aaron Lehman and a member of the Henry Lehman
family. They lived in Louisiana.
, he and his wife Blanche moved to New York City. However, Blanche Bendel soon died childless, and Henri never remarried.
Remaining in New York, Henri Bendel was able to use his fashion designing skills to develop a very successful millinery shop on Ninth Street in Greenwich Village
, that catered to the city's wealthy. The business expanded into custom-made dresses, and the French
-speaking Bendel enhanced his store's reputation for exclusivity by importing fashions from Paris, France. In 1913, he built an eight-story women's store at number 10 West 57th Street
, designed by architect Henry Otis Chapman. Other fashion houses soon opened nearby, and West 57th Street became known as "La Rue de la Paix
of New York".
In 1916, Henri Bendel build a 12 acres (4.9 ha) waterfront mansion at Kings Point
, Long Island
, New York
, which was also designed by Henry Otis Chapman, with its landscaping by Charles Wellford Leavitt
. Bendel sold it in 1923, to automobile maker Walter Chrysler
. Today the property is known as Wiley Hall and serves as an administration building at the United States Merchant Marine Academy
. In 1927, Bendel acquired 213 arpent along the Vermilion River in Louisiana. Formerly the Walnut Grove Plantation, he built a house on the property he called Camellia Lodge. Sold and eventually subdivided for housing, it is known today as Bendel Gardens. In addition, in the late 1920s, Bendel built a mansion on a hill overlooking Laurel Lake in Stamford, Connecticut
, designed by architect Perry Barker.
Henri Bedel died suddenly on March 22, 1936, at his home at 399 Park Avenue
in Manhattan
. A generous employer, in 1923 he had given his employees a forty-five percent equity in the business, a gift with a book value at the time of $1.8 million. In his will, he made A. Beekman Bastedo, a devoted employee who lived with him, one of the principal benefactors of his estate. Bastedo received $200,000 and a large shareholding in the business, plus the use of his country estate.
Bendel Road in Lafayette, Louisiana is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
er, and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who founded an upscale women's fashion company bearing his name in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which more than 100 years later remains in business on Fifth Avenue, one of the premier shopping streets in the world.
Early life
Born on January 22, 1868, in VermillionvilleHistory of Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette and the surrounding area is a mix of American Indian, African American, English, French and Spanish culture. The area is situated in the region known as Southwest Louisiana. The Vermilion River runs through the city. Today, the city and parish are at the heart of Acadiana.-Early...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Henri Bendel's father died when he was six years old. His mother was an astute businesswoman who owned and operated a retail furniture outlet, a drug store, a dry goods store, and an undertaking parlor. She remarried in 1878 to Benjamin Falk, who would become one of the most successful Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
businessmen of his time. They operated a dry goods store above which was Falk's Opera House that provided vaudevillian and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
entertainment.
In 1894, Henri Bendel married Blanche Lehman, a daughter of Aaron Lehman and a member of the Henry Lehman
Henry Lehman
Henry Lehman was a German-American businessman and the founder of Lehman Brothers financial services, which declared bankruptcy in 2008....
family. They lived in Louisiana.
Fashion shops
After a fire burned down a millinery shop which Bendel had established in Morgan City, LouisianaMorgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City is a city in St. Martin and St. Mary parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census....
, he and his wife Blanche moved to New York City. However, Blanche Bendel soon died childless, and Henri never remarried.
Remaining in New York, Henri Bendel was able to use his fashion designing skills to develop a very successful millinery shop on Ninth Street in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, that catered to the city's wealthy. The business expanded into custom-made dresses, and the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking Bendel enhanced his store's reputation for exclusivity by importing fashions from Paris, France. In 1913, he built an eight-story women's store at number 10 West 57th Street
57th Street (Manhattan)
57th Street is one of New York City's major east-west thoroughfares, which runs east-west in the Midtown section of the borough of Manhattan, from the New York City Department of Sanitation's dock on the Hudson River at the West Side Highway to a small park overlooking the East River built on a...
, designed by architect Henry Otis Chapman. Other fashion houses soon opened nearby, and West 57th Street became known as "La Rue de la Paix
Rue de la Paix, Paris
The rue de la Paix is a fashionable shopping street in the center of Paris. Located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, running north from Place Vendôme and ending at the Opéra Garnier, it is best known for its jewellers, such as the shop opened by Cartier SA in 1898...
of New York".
In 1916, Henri Bendel build a 12 acres (4.9 ha) waterfront mansion at Kings Point
Kings Point, New York
Kings Point is a village and a part of Great Neck in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 5,005.The Village of Kings Point is in the Town of North Hempstead...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which was also designed by Henry Otis Chapman, with its landscaping by Charles Wellford Leavitt
Charles Wellford Leavitt
Charles Wellford Leavitt was an American landscape architect, urban planner, and civil engineer who designed everything from elaborate gardens on Long Island, New York and New Jersey estates to federal parks in Cuba, hotels in Puerto Rico, plans of towns in Florida, New York and elsewhere...
. Bendel sold it in 1923, to automobile maker Walter Chrysler
Walter Chrysler
Walter Percy Chrysler was an American machinist, railroad mechanic and manager, automotive industry executive, Freemason, and founder of the Chrysler Corporation.- Railroad career :...
. Today the property is known as Wiley Hall and serves as an administration building at the United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
. In 1927, Bendel acquired 213 arpent along the Vermilion River in Louisiana. Formerly the Walnut Grove Plantation, he built a house on the property he called Camellia Lodge. Sold and eventually subdivided for housing, it is known today as Bendel Gardens. In addition, in the late 1920s, Bendel built a mansion on a hill overlooking Laurel Lake in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, designed by architect Perry Barker.
Henri Bedel died suddenly on March 22, 1936, at his home at 399 Park Avenue
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. A generous employer, in 1923 he had given his employees a forty-five percent equity in the business, a gift with a book value at the time of $1.8 million. In his will, he made A. Beekman Bastedo, a devoted employee who lived with him, one of the principal benefactors of his estate. Bastedo received $200,000 and a large shareholding in the business, plus the use of his country estate.
Bendel Road in Lafayette, Louisiana is named in his honor.