Kroch’s and Brentano’s
Encyclopedia
Kroch's and Brentano's was the largest bookstore
in Chicago
, and at one time the largest privately owned bookstore chain
in the United States
. It closed in 1995.
Adolph Kroch, an Austria
n immigrant to Chicago, founded a German-language bookstore in 1907. He switched to English-language books during World War I
. Later he bought out Brentano's
bookstore and merged them into Kroch's & Brentano's.
Adolph Kroch's son, Carl Kroch, opened a Super Book Mart in 1952 and called it the "World's Largest Bookstore." Carl Kroch later took over the Kroch's & Brentano's business, at a large location on South Wabash Avenue
. He is credited with being the first bookseller to open outlets in suburban mall
s and a major developer of the market for paperback
books, as well as a pioneer in book display concepts and store design.
Kroch's and Brentano's was said to have the finest selection of art books in the region, and its sales clerks were famously knowledgeable. One such individual was Henry Tabor, who ran the art department. There was seemingly nothing he didn't know in the world of art. The flagship store at 29 S. Wabash had several distinct departments including a mail order center that tracked down obscure out-of-print titles for customers around the world. The store frequently exhibited noted painters' and photographers' work on the walls, and regularly hosted book signings by major authors.
At its peak Kroch's had a total of 22 stores in the Chicago metropolitan area. Perhaps the most noteworthy was the bookstore at the Oak Brook shopping center, managed by Don Hailman, known as the Dean of the western suburbs. Within the bookstore chain Don's book knowledge was second to none. When once asked "who was the Red Fox of Kinderhook" he responded immediately, "Martin Van Buren, our eighth President." He, of course, had learned this from one of the many American history books he had devoured over the years. Don has not been heard from for some time. One of his good friends from the company, Bill Skoda, confirmed that Don has been in training for many years to become a Tibetan Monk (even though Don is not Tibetan).
Kroch refused to offer the sorts of discounts that other book chains did, even though the store suffered when large discount chains, such as Crown Books
, opened up nearby. When Crown opened its downtown Chicago store a few blocks north of the 29 S. Wabash location, Kroch's management felt that it wasn't a serious threat, since it didn't offer "full service." However, unable to compete with the discount bookstores, Kroch's and Brentano's closed its doors in 1995. Always known for major book signings through its entire history. Its final major book signing was with Heavyweight Boxing Champion George Foreman
who was promoting his autobiography 'By George". Employee Hans Summers waited on the store's final customer at its flagship store on Wabash in downtown Chicago.
Bookselling
Bookselling is the commercial trading of books, the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers or bookmen.-Bookstores today:...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and at one time the largest privately owned bookstore chain
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It closed in 1995.
Adolph Kroch, an Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n immigrant to Chicago, founded a German-language bookstore in 1907. He switched to English-language books during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Later he bought out Brentano's
Brentano's
Brentano's was an American bookstore. In addition to the numerous locations in the United States, there was a Brentano's on Avenue de l'Opéra in Paris, at the same location for 114 years....
bookstore and merged them into Kroch's & Brentano's.
Adolph Kroch's son, Carl Kroch, opened a Super Book Mart in 1952 and called it the "World's Largest Bookstore." Carl Kroch later took over the Kroch's & Brentano's business, at a large location on South Wabash Avenue
Wabash Avenue
Wabash Avenue is a six-lane Boulevard in northwest Baltimore, Maryland, that runs from Patterson Avenue to Hilton Street, mostly through the Arlington community, crossing over Northern Parkway and Cold Spring Lane along the way...
. He is credited with being the first bookseller to open outlets in suburban 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 and a major developer of the market for paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
books, as well as a pioneer in book display concepts and store design.
Kroch's and Brentano's was said to have the finest selection of art books in the region, and its sales clerks were famously knowledgeable. One such individual was Henry Tabor, who ran the art department. There was seemingly nothing he didn't know in the world of art. The flagship store at 29 S. Wabash had several distinct departments including a mail order center that tracked down obscure out-of-print titles for customers around the world. The store frequently exhibited noted painters' and photographers' work on the walls, and regularly hosted book signings by major authors.
At its peak Kroch's had a total of 22 stores in the Chicago metropolitan area. Perhaps the most noteworthy was the bookstore at the Oak Brook shopping center, managed by Don Hailman, known as the Dean of the western suburbs. Within the bookstore chain Don's book knowledge was second to none. When once asked "who was the Red Fox of Kinderhook" he responded immediately, "Martin Van Buren, our eighth President." He, of course, had learned this from one of the many American history books he had devoured over the years. Don has not been heard from for some time. One of his good friends from the company, Bill Skoda, confirmed that Don has been in training for many years to become a Tibetan Monk (even though Don is not Tibetan).
Kroch refused to offer the sorts of discounts that other book chains did, even though the store suffered when large discount chains, such as Crown Books
Crown Books
Crown Books Corporation was a bookseller headquartered in Lake Arbor, an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, near Largo and Upper Marlboro. It was founded in the Washington, D.C., metro area by Robert Haft in 1977...
, opened up nearby. When Crown opened its downtown Chicago store a few blocks north of the 29 S. Wabash location, Kroch's management felt that it wasn't a serious threat, since it didn't offer "full service." However, unable to compete with the discount bookstores, Kroch's and Brentano's closed its doors in 1995. Always known for major book signings through its entire history. Its final major book signing was with Heavyweight Boxing Champion George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
who was promoting his autobiography 'By George". Employee Hans Summers waited on the store's final customer at its flagship store on Wabash in downtown Chicago.