502-506 Felix - Einbenders, Bailey Townsend & Co., TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS, HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY, SEARS ROEBUCK & COMPANY DEPT STORE, ....

Photograph

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St. Joseph Museums

Einbender's Storefront

Einbender's Storefront

Name/Title

502-506 Felix - Einbenders, Bailey Townsend & Co., TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS, HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY, SEARS ROEBUCK & COMPANY DEPT STORE, ....

Entry/Object ID

2020.25.657

Description

502-506 Felix - Einbenders, Bailey Townsend & Co., TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS, HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY, SEARS ROEBUCK & COMPANY DEPT STORE, .... Einbender's was the classy store where the 'rich' shopped. If you were a regular customer Einbenders knew you wants, needs and shopping habits. When stock arrived employees would identify customers that might be interested in an item and notify them that the item may be just what were looking for. There was a floor with minks and other furs. The womens dresses were on the second floor. If you couldn't find what you wanted on the floor, the sales staff would show you the 'back room'. where all the good stuff was. It was huge. You would pick out a couple of dresses to try on and she would keep going back to the 'back room' and bring you more and more. If you were a really good customer Sylvia Einbender and/or her staff would come to your home with stock you may be interested in. I have a friend whos fraternity had a convention nearby. Sylvia and her staff came to their hotel, did a fashion show for them, and would sell an item on the spot. If it didnt fit adjustments could be made on the spot. The store was known world wide, people came from around the USA to shop there. The current four story building has non-original metal and fiberboard sheathing installed to give the building a more modern look. It been on the building for 1/2 century. Maybe someday someone will buy the building and removed the exterior covering and we can see the real building. Einbenders and Before Einbenders 2 0f 2 (2020.25.567 & 2020.25.657) Circa 1868 ODD FELLOWS HALL 502 Felix Circa 1874 BAILEY, TOWNSEND & COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1880 TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS 502-506 Felix Circa 1900 TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS 502-506 Felix Circa 1918 TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS 502-508 Felix Circa 1920 HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1920 HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1924 MOUNTAIN FLOWER GOLD MINING, MILLING & PROSPECTING COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1930 REGNIER & SHOUP MERCHANDISING COMPANY 502 Felix Street Circa 1936 HAX-SMITH RETAIL FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Street Circa 1937 HAX-FORMAN FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1937 HAX-FORMAN FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1939 SEARS & ROEBUCK 502 Felix Circa 1942 SEARS ROEBUCK & COMPANY DEPT STORE 502 Felix Street TOWNSEND,WYATT & WALL DRY GOODS 502-506 Felix EINBENDER'S 502-506 Felix https://www.stjosephmemorylane.com/5thstreet/north5th.html

Photograph Details

Subject

Photograph

Subject Person or Organization

Einbenders

Subject Place

Location

502-506 Felix Street

City

St. Joseph

State/Province

Missouri

Context

Circa 1868 ODD FELLOWS HALL 502 Felix Circa 1874 BAILEY, TOWNSEND & COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1880 TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS 502-506 Felix Circa 1900 TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS 502-506 Felix Circa 1918 TOWNSEND & WYATT DRY GOODS 502-508 Felix Circa 1920 HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1920 HAX-SMITH FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1924 MOUNTAIN FLOWER GOLD MINING, MILLING & PROSPECTING COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1930 REGNIER & SHOUP MERCHANDISING COMPANY 502 Felix Street Circa 1936 HAX-SMITH RETAIL FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Street Circa 1937 HAX-FORMAN FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1937 HAX-FORMAN FURNITURE COMPANY 502 Felix Circa 1939 SEARS & ROEBUCK 502 Felix Circa 1942 SEARS ROEBUCK & COMPANY DEPT STORE 502 Felix Street TOWNSEND,WYATT & WALL DRY GOODS 502-506 Felix EINBENDER'S 502-506 Felix Building Circa 1880 Originally this was the Townsend & Wyatt Dry Goods building In 1939, Sears and Roebuck had a grand opening of a new Sears store in the old Townsend & Wyatt Dry Goods building Sears would later move to 22nd & Messanie Street This building has been altered thus hiding it's original features The four story building currently has non-original metal and fiberboard sheathing Maybe someday someone will buy the building and removed the exterior covering The last tenant was Einbender's women's apparel store owned by Lester Einbender The store was known world wide, people came from around the USA to shop here Odd Fellows Hall was located on the Southeast corner 5th and Felix In 1874, the building was occupied by Bailey, Townsend and Co. Dry Goods The building was destroyed by fire in 1879 A new building was constructed in 1880 This began in 1880 as Townsend & Wyatt Dry Goods The building suffered a great fire in 1893 The name was changed when Mr Wall became an associate The Einbender building occupies this address The original building has been modified Listed as Regnier & Shoup in the 1930 City Directory at 502 Felix Street Listed as Hax-Smith in the 1936 City Directory Photo #7 depicts it as it looked in 1868 Photo #8 is a photo from 1875 Photo #11 - 1930 St Joseph News Press Advertisement Photo #17 - 1939 newspaper advertisement for new store Photo #18 - 1936 St Joseph News Press advertisement Photo #19 - kiddy play toys added to the mall Photo #1 - Circa: 1910 at 5th & Felix Photo #2 - Early location at 5th & Felix Photo #3 - A very old T&W advertisement Photo #4 - 1921 T&W advertisement Photo #5 - 1893 Townsend & Wyatt fire Photo #6 - This is what the building looks like now Photo #7 - Artist conception of the Odd Fellows Hall Photo #8 - 1875 photo of the Bailey & Townsend building Photo #13 - 1937 Hax-Forman St Joseph News Press advertisement Photos #7 & 8 submitted by Andrew Poage