Kaufmann's
Encyclopedia
Kaufmann's was a department store
that originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. It was owned in the early 20th century by Edgar J. Kaufmann
, patron of 'Fallingwater
' and the Kaufmann's Desert House. In the post-war
years the store became a regional chain in the eastern United States
, and was last owned by Federated Department Stores
. At the height of its existence it had some 59 stores in 5 states.
Formerly part of May Department Stores
prior to that company's acquisition by Federated
on Aug. 30, 2005, Kaufmann's operated as part of the Filene's
organization in Boston, Massachusetts.
On Feb. 1, 2006, the Filene's/Kaufmann's organization was dissolved and the management of its stores was assumed by Macy's East
and the new Macy's Midwest
. On Sept 9, 2006, the Kaufmann's name was retired as Federated Department Stores
converted the former May Company
brands to the Macy's
masthead. On August 12, 2006 a sign was installed on the corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue outside the original store in Downtown Pittsburgh reading Kaufmann Way.
founded by cousins of the original 'Kaufmann's' founders; the Gimbel Brothers; Horne's; Boggs & Buhl; Frank & Seder's, and Rosenbaum's; and .
Kaufmann's was founded in Pittsburgh
in 1871 by Jacob and Isaac Kaufmann. In 1877, the brothers moved downtown to a location that became known as The Big Store. In the first half of the 20th century the store was owned by Edgar J. Kaufmann.
Department Stores in 1946. The Kaufmann's division operated stores in Pennsylvania
, New York
, Ohio
and West Virginia
.
The Kaufmann's chain dominated its local region, absorbing several other department stores including Strouss
(1986) based in Youngstown, Ohio
; Sibley's
(1991) based in Rochester, New York
(which had merged with Hengerer's
(1981) of Buffalo, New York
); May Company Ohio
(1992) based in Cleveland, Ohio
(which had merged with O'Neil's (1989) in Akron, Ohio
); and in 1995 the remnants of McCurdy's
stores of Rochester and Hess's
of Allentown, Pennsylvania
.
In 1970, the entire Gimbels chain was purchased by the tobacco comglomerate BATUS
. In 1986, after years of declining sales, BATUS announced that Gimbels chain was for sale. Unable to find a buyer for the entire chain, BATUS closed down the unprofitable Gimbels-Pittsburgh division, closing all of its locations and selling the properties, except for some of the high profit Gimbels locations in shopping mall
s rebranded and kept as Kaufmann's stores.
In October 1986, May Company acquired Joseph Horne Co.
(Horne's), as part of their merger with Associated Dry Goods
. Due to anti-trust concerns and legal action by the City of Pittsburgh, Horne's
was promptly sold in December 1986 to a local investor group. After several years of private ownership, it was announced that Dillard's
Department Stores would buy the Horne's chain to combine it with the Dillard/DeBartolo co-owned Higbee's
stores based in Cleveland. The deal collapsed and was not completed. The Joseph Horne Co. was sold off in parts, with Dillard's acquiring its five Ohio stores in 1992 and Federated Department Stores
's Lazarus
Department Stores division acquiring Kaufmann's remaining nine Pennsylvania
stores in 1995. Federated eventually merged all its divisions (including former 'Horne's/Lazarus store locations) into the Macy's
stores division.
Department Stores in Boston.
and Smithfield St. and became known as The Big Store. It has undergone various expansions and remodelings since then. Architect Charles Bickel
designed the H. and I Kaufman and I. Kaufman stores in 1898. In 1913, the architects Janssen & Abbott designed a larger white terra cotta
-sheathed addition in a Neoclassical revival style
structure with Renaissance Revival style details. and a large ornamental public clock at the corner. In the late 1920s, Edgar G. Kaufmann commissioned a redesign of the main floor of the department store. Local architect Benno Janssen
and his partner William Cocken rose to the challenge and created an art-deco masterpiece. It is remembered for its striking black Carrara glass columns, bronze metalwork, terrazzo floors, a million dollars' worth of new elevators. The building was the largest department store in Pittsburgh with twelve retail floors totaling 750000 square feet (69,677.3 m²), and spanning an entire downtown city block. who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright
to design his executive offices on the top floor of The Big Store, as well as his country house 'Fallingwater
' (1934) at the company's Bear Run retreat in Pennsylvania
. The office interior was saved and reinstalled at an American Museum. He also commissioned renowned architect Richard Neutra
to design the iconic desert Kaufmann House
(1946) in Palm Springs, California
.Kaufmann's started several holiday traditions that were carried on after it was taken over such as animated Christmas windows and Santa Land. Although Macy's has taken over the building, several signs remain in the parking garage and on the building itself that still read Kaufmann's.
on the corner of Fifth Avenue at Smithfield Street beside the building. The clock became a popular downtown meeting place, with the oft used phrase "Meet me under Kaufmann's clock." The clock is a Pittsburgh icon, and often featured in visual materials representing and marketing the city.
Both the Kaufmann's flagship building and the clock are registered National Historic Landmarks. Upon announcing the 2006 end of the Kaufmann's name and becoming Macy's, the store gave out tote bags printed with the Clock's image and its phrase "Meet me under the Kaufmann's clock" to honor the store's One Hundred and thirty five year history. Also in 2006, USA Today
ran an article about the regional chains being merged into Macy's, and the piece featured memories from Pittsburghers about the store and the clock: "As girls in their best dresses and Mary Jane shoes, they rode streetcars downtown to the 11-story Kaufmann's department store here. Jean Wenner, 81 [in 2006], and her friends grew up on Kaufmann's, meeting under the store's ornate clock, lunching at the Tic Toc restaurant and bringing their own children to the Secret Santa." http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-06-08-macys-shopping_x.htm:
in 1981, Kaufmann's continued sponsoring the parade for twenty-five years. The Parade had included balloons, musical acts, and celebrities for the main acts in front of the Kaufmann's Fifth Avenue flagship store. The local NBC-affiliated station
, WIIC (now WPXI
) broadcasts live 'Celebrate the Season Parade' coverage, with hosts Mike Hambrick-Edye Tarbox (1980–1991) and David Johnson-Peggy Finnegan (1991–present). After the Macy's merger with Kaufmann's in 2006, Macy's has sponsored the parade.
Although Kaufmann's was renamed Macy's, some of its namesake signs remain. There are several terra cotta plaques on the flagship store's facade
still reading Kaufmann's, including above the original store entrance. The parking garage also has old signage still in place.
The phrase "Does Horne's tell Kaufmann's its business?" was used in Western Pennsylvania to put-off to inquiring people, with the meaning that a company does not give proprietary information out to its competitors.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
that originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It was owned in the early 20th century by Edgar J. Kaufmann
Edgar J. Kaufmann
Edgar J. Kaufmann was a prominent Jewish German-American businessman and philanthropist. He owned and directed Kaufmann's Department Store, the most prominent one in 20th century Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania...
, patron of 'Fallingwater
Fallingwater
Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh...
' and the Kaufmann's Desert House. In the post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
years the store became a regional chain in the eastern United States
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
, and was last owned by Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
. At the height of its existence it had some 59 stores in 5 states.
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
prior to that company's acquisition by Federated
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
on Aug. 30, 2005, Kaufmann's operated as part of the Filene's
Filene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
organization in Boston, Massachusetts.
On Feb. 1, 2006, the Filene's/Kaufmann's organization was dissolved and the management of its stores was assumed by Macy's East
Macy's East
Macy's East, New York, New York is a division of Macy's, Inc.. It is the operating successor to the original R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. and operates the Macy's department stores in the northeast U.S. and Puerto Rico. Over the years it has been known as Macy's New York and Macy's Northeast...
and the new Macy's Midwest
Macy's Midwest
Macy's Midwest, St. Louis, Missouri, is a former division of Macy's, Inc. It had operations in New York, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It was created February 1, 2006 from a reorganization of the Famous-Barr division acquired August 30, 2005...
. On Sept 9, 2006, the Kaufmann's name was retired as Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
converted the former May Company
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
brands to the Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
masthead. On August 12, 2006 a sign was installed on the corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue outside the original store in Downtown Pittsburgh reading Kaufmann Way.
History
For a time Kaufmann's was the prominent one with seven other department stores in downtown Pittsburgh including Kaufmann & BaerAssociated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods was a chain of department stores that merged with May Department Stores in 1986. It was founded in 1916 as an association of independent stores called American Dry Goods, based in New York City.-History:...
founded by cousins of the original 'Kaufmann's' founders; the Gimbel Brothers; Horne's; Boggs & Buhl; Frank & Seder's, and Rosenbaum's; and .
Kaufmann's was founded in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in 1871 by Jacob and Isaac Kaufmann. In 1877, the brothers moved downtown to a location that became known as The Big Store. In the first half of the 20th century the store was owned by Edgar J. Kaufmann.
May Company—Regional growth
With Edgar J. Kaufmann remaining as president, the Kaufmann's chain was acquired by the California based May CompanyMay Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
Department Stores in 1946. The Kaufmann's division operated stores in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 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...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
The Kaufmann's chain dominated its local region, absorbing several other department stores including Strouss
Strouss
Strouss was a department store serving the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Originally known as Strouss-Hirshberg Co., it was long the leading department store in the greater Youngstown, Ohio and the Mahoning/Shenango Valleys...
(1986) based in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
; Sibley's
Sibley's
Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, known informally as Sibley's, was a Rochester, New York-based department store chain with stores located exclusively in the state of New York...
(1991) based in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
(which had merged with Hengerer's
Hengerer's
The William Hengerer Company, known informally as Hengerer's was a Buffalo, New York-based department store chain, with stores exclusively located in the Western New York region.-History:...
(1981) of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
); May Company Ohio
May Company Ohio
The May Company Ohio is a defunct chain of department stores that was based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.-History:In 1899, David May, the founder of May Department Stores, acquired E. R. Hull & Dutton Co. of Cleveland on Ontario Street, renaming it May Company, Cleveland...
(1992) based in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
(which had merged with O'Neil's (1989) in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
); and in 1995 the remnants of McCurdy's
McCurdy's
McCurdy's was a Rochester, New York-based department store. Founded in 1901, the company was acquired by May Department Stores in 1994, but as a result of an antitrust settlement due to both McCurdy's and May's Kaufmann's stores being the predominant anchors in the area shopping malls, its stores...
stores of Rochester and Hess's
Hess's
Hess's was a department store chain based in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in the United States.- History :The department store known as Hess Brothers was founded on February 19, 1897, by Charles and Max Hess. Max Hess came to Allentown in 1896 on a business trip and envisioned a...
of Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
.
Gimbels and Macy's
Ironically, Gimbel Brothers history in Pittsburgh had originated with their purchase of the 'Kaufmann & Baer' department store in 1926, founded by a rival faction of the Kaufmann family.In 1970, the entire Gimbels chain was purchased by the tobacco comglomerate BATUS
BATUS
BATUS may refer to:* BATUS Inc., subsidiary of British American Tobacco* British Army Training Unit Suffield...
. In 1986, after years of declining sales, BATUS announced that Gimbels chain was for sale. Unable to find a buyer for the entire chain, BATUS closed down the unprofitable Gimbels-Pittsburgh division, closing all of its locations and selling the properties, except for some of the high profit Gimbels locations in shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s rebranded and kept as Kaufmann's stores.
In October 1986, May Company acquired Joseph Horne Co.
Horne's
The Joseph Horne Company, often referred to simply as Joseph Horne's or Horne's, was an iconic, regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The store was one of the oldest in the country being founded on February 22, 1849 but due to its regional presence in the country, it...
(Horne's), as part of their merger with Associated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods was a chain of department stores that merged with May Department Stores in 1986. It was founded in 1916 as an association of independent stores called American Dry Goods, based in New York City.-History:...
. Due to anti-trust concerns and legal action by the City of Pittsburgh, Horne's
Horne's
The Joseph Horne Company, often referred to simply as Joseph Horne's or Horne's, was an iconic, regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The store was one of the oldest in the country being founded on February 22, 1849 but due to its regional presence in the country, it...
was promptly sold in December 1986 to a local investor group. After several years of private ownership, it was announced that Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
Department Stores would buy the Horne's chain to combine it with the Dillard/DeBartolo co-owned Higbee's
Higbee's
Higbee's was a department store founded 1860 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1992, Higbee's stores were re-branded as part of Dillard's.-History:Higbee's was founded by Edwin Converse Higbee and John G. Hower on September 10, 1860 as Higbee & Hower Dry Goods. The first day of business saw $100 in sales. ...
stores based in Cleveland. The deal collapsed and was not completed. The Joseph Horne Co. was sold off in parts, with Dillard's acquiring its five Ohio stores in 1992 and Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
's Lazarus
Lazarus (department store)
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...
Department Stores division acquiring Kaufmann's remaining nine Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
stores in 1995. Federated eventually merged all its divisions (including former 'Horne's/Lazarus store locations) into the Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
stores division.
Into the 21st century
In 2002, the Kaufmann's stores' Pittsburgh business headquarters was closed, and its back-office operations were consolidated into those of Filene'sFilene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
Department Stores in Boston.
Kaufmann's flagship store
The original Flagship store in downtown Pittsburgh was built in 1887 on the corner of Fifth Ave.Fifth Avenue (Pittsburgh)
Fifth Avenue is one of the longest streets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It begins downtown and moves eastward for about seven or eight miles...
and Smithfield St. and became known as The Big Store. It has undergone various expansions and remodelings since then. Architect Charles Bickel
Charles Bickel
Charles A. Bickel was a prominent architect practicing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Bickel was born to a well-to-do family of Columbus, Ohio who sent him to Europe for six years to prepare him for a career in architecture. On his return in 1875, he settled in Pittsburgh, apprenticed with an...
designed the H. and I Kaufman and I. Kaufman stores in 1898. In 1913, the architects Janssen & Abbott designed a larger white terra cotta
Glazed architectural terra-cotta
Glazed architectural terra-cotta is a ceramic masonry building material popular in the United States from the late 19th century until the 1930s, and still one of the most common building materials found in U.S. urban environments...
-sheathed addition in a Neoclassical revival style
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
structure with Renaissance Revival style details. and a large ornamental public clock at the corner. In the late 1920s, Edgar G. Kaufmann commissioned a redesign of the main floor of the department store. Local architect Benno Janssen
Benno Janssen
Benno Janssen was an American architect.-Childhood, Education and Career:Benno Janssen was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Oscar Janssen and Thekla Susenbeth. Janssen studied at the University of Kansas. In 1899, he began working in architecture in Boston, Massachusetts. He also continued...
and his partner William Cocken rose to the challenge and created an art-deco masterpiece. It is remembered for its striking black Carrara glass columns, bronze metalwork, terrazzo floors, a million dollars' worth of new elevators. The building was the largest department store in Pittsburgh with twelve retail floors totaling 750000 square feet (69,677.3 m²), and spanning an entire downtown city block. who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
to design his executive offices on the top floor of The Big Store, as well as his country house 'Fallingwater
Fallingwater
Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh...
' (1934) at the company's Bear Run retreat in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The office interior was saved and reinstalled at an American Museum. He also commissioned renowned architect Richard Neutra
Richard Neutra
Richard Joseph Neutra is considered one of modernism's most important architects.- Biography :Neutra was born in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna, Austria Hungary, on April 8, 1892. He was born into both-Jewish wealthy family...
to design the iconic desert Kaufmann House
Kaufmann Desert House
The Kaufmann House is a house located in Palm Springs, California that was designed by architect Richard Neutra in 1946....
(1946) in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
.Kaufmann's started several holiday traditions that were carried on after it was taken over such as animated Christmas windows and Santa Land. Although Macy's has taken over the building, several signs remain in the parking garage and on the building itself that still read Kaufmann's.
Meet me under Kaufmann's clock
Kaufmann's flagship "The Big Store" has a large landmark outdoor ClockClock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
on the corner of Fifth Avenue at Smithfield Street beside the building. The clock became a popular downtown meeting place, with the oft used phrase "Meet me under Kaufmann's clock." The clock is a Pittsburgh icon, and often featured in visual materials representing and marketing the city.
Both the Kaufmann's flagship building and the clock are registered National Historic Landmarks. Upon announcing the 2006 end of the Kaufmann's name and becoming Macy's, the store gave out tote bags printed with the Clock's image and its phrase "Meet me under the Kaufmann's clock" to honor the store's One Hundred and thirty five year history. Also in 2006, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
ran an article about the regional chains being merged into Macy's, and the piece featured memories from Pittsburghers about the store and the clock: "As girls in their best dresses and Mary Jane shoes, they rode streetcars downtown to the 11-story Kaufmann's department store here. Jean Wenner, 81 [in 2006], and her friends grew up on Kaufmann's, meeting under the store's ornate clock, lunching at the Tic Toc restaurant and bringing their own children to the Secret Santa." http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-06-08-macys-shopping_x.htm:
The Kaufmann's Parade
Since the first Pittsburgh Celebrate the Season ParadeCelebrate the Season Parade
My Macy's Holiday Parade, formerly the Celebrate the Season Parade, is one of the traditional parades held each year in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Macy's, it is held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day; that is, the last Saturday in November...
in 1981, Kaufmann's continued sponsoring the parade for twenty-five years. The Parade had included balloons, musical acts, and celebrities for the main acts in front of the Kaufmann's Fifth Avenue flagship store. The local NBC-affiliated station
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, WIIC (now WPXI
WPXI
WPXI, channel 11, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter located on the north side of Pittsburgh. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in the...
) broadcasts live 'Celebrate the Season Parade' coverage, with hosts Mike Hambrick-Edye Tarbox (1980–1991) and David Johnson-Peggy Finnegan (1991–present). After the Macy's merger with Kaufmann's in 2006, Macy's has sponsored the parade.
Kaufmann's artifacts
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
still reading Kaufmann's, including above the original store entrance. The parking garage also has old signage still in place.
The phrase "Does Horne's tell Kaufmann's its business?" was used in Western Pennsylvania to put-off to inquiring people, with the meaning that a company does not give proprietary information out to its competitors.