Burdines
Encyclopedia
Burdines was a leading department store
chain in the state of Florida
. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida
in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc (now Macy's, Inc.) in 1956. On January 30, 2004 it was renamed Burdines-Macy's, and only one year later on March 6, 2005 the Burdines name was dropped altogether and the division and its stores were renamed as Macy's Florida. Historically Burdines was known as the carriage-trade store in Florida and at times it operated with the slogan "the Florida store". Many of its stores were decorated with pink walls, blue ceilings with streaks of clouds, and large plastic palm trees circling the center of the store. These icons still remain throughout Macy's stores in Florida.
. A year later, Payne left the company and William Burdine brought in his son John Burdine as a partner and the company became Burdine and Son. In 1898 the elder Burdine bought an entire block on South Miami Avenue one block south of Flagler Street. William M. Burdine opened the first W.M. Burdine & Son store in 1898 in the fledgling community of Miami, just two years after the first passengers had stepped off the newly completed Florida East Coast Railroad to incorporate the city. His tiny store held only a few shelves of clothing, which he sold to construction workers, soldiers from the Spanish-American War
and the local Miccosukee
and Seminole
Native Americans
. William Burdine was amazed at the business he did in Miami, and decided to close the location in Bartow and move his base of operations to Miami and the business changed its name to Burdines and Sons.
By 1912, under the leadership of Roddy Burdine
, Burdines had grown into a full-fledged department store and continued expanding. The large land-boom of the 1920s helped the store launch its first branch in Miami Beach
. As Florida's population soared, growth of Burdines did too. Over the next 30 years, four other branches opened across the state of Florida.
Burdines prospered in the late 1940s by opening an international mail order program that serviced the countries of Latin America
. These actions made it become so popular that military personnel stationed in Cuba
would send a supply ship to Miami every 6 months with orders for Burdines.
, Tampa
, Sarasota
, and St. Petersburg
markets. The Dadeland store in Miami became the largest volume suburb
an department store south of New York
in 1971.
In 1991, following Federated's 1988 merger with the Allied Stores Corporation and subsequent bankruptcy reorganization, Burdines absorbed Allied's Tampa-based Maas Brothers
/Jordan Marsh Florida division, converting many to Burdines and shuttering the rest. After this, there were fifty-eight stores in Florida.
Celebrating its 100th year of operation in 1998, Burdines sold custom-made FIESTAWARE pitchers by The Homer Laughlin China Company
. The pitchers held 67.5 ounces of liquid and stood seven inches tall.
in Orlando
, Aventura Mall
in Aventura
(a suburb of Miami), Citrus Park Town Center in Tampa
, Oviedo Marketplace in Oviedo
(a suburb of Orlando), and The Mall at Wellington Green
in Wellington
(a suburb of West Palm Beach
).
Burdines then tried another new layout to test convenience at St. Petersburg's
Tyrone Square Mall. The store used a central checkout system that was expected to be more popular among shoppers since they would only need a cashier once before leaving. The design however failed since an employee had to manually apply a coded sticker (identifying who made the sale) to the price tag of each item before customers left the store. Burdines quickly abandoned this plan and resumed with traditional cashier layouts.
The company donated $75,000 to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund on August 9, 2002. The Fund provided education assistance to the families of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack victims. Tim Adams, Burdines chairman and CEO presented the check to J. Stephen Putnam, board member and former chairman of the Fund’s parent organization, Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of AmericaSM (CSFA).
. As such, on January 30, 2004, the Burdines store were renamed Burdines-Macy's. Only a year later, on March 6, 2005, the regional names, including Burdines were dropped altogether and converted to Macy's
.
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...
chain in the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc (now Macy's, Inc.) in 1956. On January 30, 2004 it was renamed Burdines-Macy's, and only one year later on March 6, 2005 the Burdines name was dropped altogether and the division and its stores were renamed as Macy's Florida. Historically Burdines was known as the carriage-trade store in Florida and at times it operated with the slogan "the Florida store". Many of its stores were decorated with pink walls, blue ceilings with streaks of clouds, and large plastic palm trees circling the center of the store. These icons still remain throughout Macy's stores in Florida.
History
Beginning
In 1896, Henry Payne and William M. Burdine opened a dry goods store in the central Florida city of BartowBartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
. A year later, Payne left the company and William Burdine brought in his son John Burdine as a partner and the company became Burdine and Son. In 1898 the elder Burdine bought an entire block on South Miami Avenue one block south of Flagler Street. William M. Burdine opened the first W.M. Burdine & Son store in 1898 in the fledgling community of Miami, just two years after the first passengers had stepped off the newly completed Florida East Coast Railroad to incorporate the city. His tiny store held only a few shelves of clothing, which he sold to construction workers, soldiers from the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
and the local Miccosukee
Miccosukee
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are a federally recognized Native American tribe in the U.S. state of Florida. They were part of the Seminole nation until the mid-20th century, when they organized as an independent tribe, receiving federal recognition in 1962...
and Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. William Burdine was amazed at the business he did in Miami, and decided to close the location in Bartow and move his base of operations to Miami and the business changed its name to Burdines and Sons.
By 1912, under the leadership of Roddy Burdine
Roddy Burdine
Roddy B. Burdine was the head of the Burdines department store chain from 1911 - 1936. A leading citizen of Miami in the early 20th century, Burdine was the son of William Burdine, who founded Burdines as a dry goods store in 1898...
, Burdines had grown into a full-fledged department store and continued expanding. The large land-boom of the 1920s helped the store launch its first branch in Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. As Florida's population soared, growth of Burdines did too. Over the next 30 years, four other branches opened across the state of Florida.
Burdines prospered in the late 1940s by opening an international mail order program that serviced the countries of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. These actions made it become so popular that military personnel stationed in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
would send a supply ship to Miami every 6 months with orders for Burdines.
Merger with Federated
In 1956, Burdines merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc.. The financial support given by Federated allowed Burdines to push northward and westward in the 1970s and 1980s, entering the OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, and St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
markets. The Dadeland store in Miami became the largest volume suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an department store south of 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...
in 1971.
In 1991, following Federated's 1988 merger with the Allied Stores Corporation and subsequent bankruptcy reorganization, Burdines absorbed Allied's Tampa-based Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers was a leading Tampa, Florida, department store founded by Abe and Isaac Maas in 1886. It grew from a small 23' by 90' store to a chain of 39 stores across the state of Florida...
/Jordan Marsh Florida division, converting many to Burdines and shuttering the rest. After this, there were fifty-eight stores in Florida.
Celebrating its 100th year of operation in 1998, Burdines sold custom-made FIESTAWARE pitchers by The Homer Laughlin China Company
Homer Laughlin China Company
The Homer Laughlin China Company is an American pottery company based in Newell, West Virginia, which is best known for producing the Fiesta line of dinnerware.-History:...
. The pitchers held 67.5 ounces of liquid and stood seven inches tall.
1999-2000
In 1999 and 2000, Burdines experienced major growth with seven new locations and major renovations of their existing stores. These new stores were unique with more lighter colors and upgraded decor. The most anticipated stores that opened were at The Florida MallThe Florida Mall
The Florida Mall is a large enclosed shopping mall in Orlando, Florida. It opened its doors in 1986. It is located on the southeast corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road. The mall has over 250 stores...
in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Aventura Mall
Aventura Mall
The Aventura Mall is an upscale super-regional shopping mall in Aventura, Florida, a northern suburb of Miami. It is the largest conventional shopping mall in Florida, having a gross leasable area of , and is the fifth largest shopping center in the United States. The mall has three floors of...
in Aventura
Aventura, Florida
Aventura is a planned, suburban city located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name is from the Spanish word for "adventure", and was named "Aventura" after one of the developers of the original group of condominiums in the area remarked to the others, "What an adventure this is...
(a suburb of Miami), Citrus Park Town Center in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Oviedo Marketplace in Oviedo
Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,316 as of the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 32,961...
(a suburb of Orlando), and The Mall at Wellington Green
The Mall at Wellington Green
The Mall at Wellington Green is a super-regional shopping mall in Wellington, Florida. The mall features Macy's, Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Nordstrom, and City Furniture, Ashley Furniture Home Store, and La-Z-Boy Furniture galleries. In addition, the mall has over 170 stores and eateries...
in Wellington
Wellington, Florida
Wellington is a village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the village had a population of 55,584 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Wellington is part of the South Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
(a suburb of West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
).
Burdines then tried another new layout to test convenience at St. Petersburg's
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
Tyrone Square Mall. The store used a central checkout system that was expected to be more popular among shoppers since they would only need a cashier once before leaving. The design however failed since an employee had to manually apply a coded sticker (identifying who made the sale) to the price tag of each item before customers left the store. Burdines quickly abandoned this plan and resumed with traditional cashier layouts.
The company donated $75,000 to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund on August 9, 2002. The Fund provided education assistance to the families of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack victims. Tim Adams, Burdines chairman and CEO presented the check to J. Stephen Putnam, board member and former chairman of the Fund’s parent organization, Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of AmericaSM (CSFA).
Name changes
In 2003, Federated began co-branding its regional department store chains with its nationally known Macy'sMacy'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...
. As such, on January 30, 2004, the Burdines store were renamed Burdines-Macy's. Only a year later, on March 6, 2005, the regional names, including Burdines were dropped altogether and converted to 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...
.