K&B
Encyclopedia
K&B was a drug store chain
headquartered in New Orleans. Founded in 1905, it expanded to have stores in the United States Gulf Coast
region until it was purchased by Rite Aid
in 1997.
Gustave Katz partnered with Sydney J. Besthoff at 732 Canal Street, New Orleans
in 1905, and continually expanded through the 20th century to become a regional chain. It was well known for its unique purple color, with everything in the store (signs, cash registers, employee uniforms, etc.) being "K&B Purple". This color became well known as a descriptive term in the local lexicon
- as one might describe something as "forest green", New Orleanians still describe a particular shade of purple as "K&B purple."
K&B had many of its own private label
items, including household goods such as logo ice chests and garbage cans (in purple), its own liquor line with names typically beginning with the letters K&B and the YENDIS (Sidney spelled backwards)Liquor brand , and for a time a brand of beer
. While the majority of K&B brand products were inexpensive non-descript products locally regarded as just above a generic brand
, the line also included well regarded products such as the much beloved line of K&B ice cream
; the distinctive K&B "Creole Cream Cheese" ice cream and it's "talking ice cream freezer display case" T V commercials were local favorites. K&B had it's own credit card operation too and since it's credit policy was so stringent it became a badge of honor to be awarded a K&B credit card.
K&B's corporate headquarters, K&B Plaza were located at Lee Circle in the New Orleans Central Business District
; a ynagogue- the original Temple Sinai, built in the 1860's,] was torn down on Carondolet Street adjacent to construct a parking lot for the office building in the 1970s. The building built in the mid 1960's, was originally designed by I. M. Pei & Associates and owned and occupied by the John Hancock Insurance Company. Featured on the raised terrazzo plaza that surrounded the building is a large marble column topped with a marble crescent fountain called Mississippi fountain (see: http://www.noguchi.org/noguchi/works/mississippi-fountain) ,done by Isamu Noguchi. The building is still known as K&B Plaza despite the fact that K&B sold its drugstores to Rite Aid in 1997, however the K & B family still own and occupy office space there on the 7th (top) floor from which the family, including 2 of Sydney's daughters Valarie and Jane, manage their significant real estate business. The building is a showcase for some of Sydney's art collection and is open to the public. The older headquarters and warehouse at 900 Camp Street was donated by K&B to become the headquarters of New Orleans' Contemporary Arts Center at the start of the 1980s. After Rite Aid's rebranding of the chain, items from the stores were sold to the public with proceeds benefiting local charities.
Sidney Besthoff III, the grandson of the drugstore founder, and his wife, Walda are well-known local philanthropists and collectors of Museum quality works of art. Their collection includes works by significant contemporary sculptors. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art
in City Park was created from their specifications and donations.
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
headquartered in New Orleans. Founded in 1905, it expanded to have stores in the United States Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
region until it was purchased by Rite Aid
Rite Aid
Rite Aid is a drugstore chain in the United States and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, near Camp Hill. Rite Aid is the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest drugstore chain in the U.S....
in 1997.
Gustave Katz partnered with Sydney J. Besthoff at 732 Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter , it acted as the dividing line between the older French/Spanish Colonial-era city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.The...
in 1905, and continually expanded through the 20th century to become a regional chain. It was well known for its unique purple color, with everything in the store (signs, cash registers, employee uniforms, etc.) being "K&B Purple". This color became well known as a descriptive term in the local lexicon
Yat (New Orleans)
Yat is a dialect of English spoken in the Greater New Orleans Area. The term refers to those people who speak with the Yat accent and dialect of New Orleanians throughout the city...
- as one might describe something as "forest green", New Orleanians still describe a particular shade of purple as "K&B purple."
K&B had many of its own private label
Private label
Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...
items, including household goods such as logo ice chests and garbage cans (in purple), its own liquor line with names typically beginning with the letters K&B and the YENDIS (Sidney spelled backwards)Liquor brand , and for a time a brand of beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
. While the majority of K&B brand products were inexpensive non-descript products locally regarded as just above a generic brand
Generic brand
Generic brands of consumer products are distinguished by the absence of a brand name. It is often inaccurate to describe these products as "lacking a brand name", as they usually are branded, albeit with either the brand of the store in which they are sold or a lesser-known brand name which may...
, the line also included well regarded products such as the much beloved line of K&B ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
; the distinctive K&B "Creole Cream Cheese" ice cream and it's "talking ice cream freezer display case" T V commercials were local favorites. K&B had it's own credit card operation too and since it's credit policy was so stringent it became a badge of honor to be awarded a K&B credit card.
K&B's corporate headquarters, K&B Plaza were located at Lee Circle in the New Orleans Central Business District
New Orleans Central Business District
The Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the French Quarter/CBD Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Iberville, Decatur and Canal Streets to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, the New Orleans Morial...
; a ynagogue- the original Temple Sinai, built in the 1860's,] was torn down on Carondolet Street adjacent to construct a parking lot for the office building in the 1970s. The building built in the mid 1960's, was originally designed by I. M. Pei & Associates and owned and occupied by the John Hancock Insurance Company. Featured on the raised terrazzo plaza that surrounded the building is a large marble column topped with a marble crescent fountain called Mississippi fountain (see: http://www.noguchi.org/noguchi/works/mississippi-fountain) ,done by Isamu Noguchi. The building is still known as K&B Plaza despite the fact that K&B sold its drugstores to Rite Aid in 1997, however the K & B family still own and occupy office space there on the 7th (top) floor from which the family, including 2 of Sydney's daughters Valarie and Jane, manage their significant real estate business. The building is a showcase for some of Sydney's art collection and is open to the public. The older headquarters and warehouse at 900 Camp Street was donated by K&B to become the headquarters of New Orleans' Contemporary Arts Center at the start of the 1980s. After Rite Aid's rebranding of the chain, items from the stores were sold to the public with proceeds benefiting local charities.
Sidney Besthoff III, the grandson of the drugstore founder, and his wife, Walda are well-known local philanthropists and collectors of Museum quality works of art. Their collection includes works by significant contemporary sculptors. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art
New Orleans Museum of Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans. It is situated within City Park, a short distance from the intersection of Carrollton Avenue and Esplanade Avenue, and near the terminus of the "Canal Street - City Park" streetcar line...
in City Park was created from their specifications and donations.