Martin's (New York)
Encyclopedia
Martin's was a specialty apparel retailer in the New York
metropolitan area, with its flagship location on Fulton Street
in Brooklyn
. It grew to six stores by the mid 1970s, before being sold to the operator of Times Square Stores
in 1977.
In 1947, a modernized entrance to the Offerman Building, designed by architect Morris Lapidus
, was completed, replacing the "gimcracks of the victorian era" with modern "simplicity."
location in Nassau County
, at Franklin and Ninth Street, which opened in April 1952. A Babylon store in Suffolk County
opened in August 1956, in the Great South Bay Shopping Center, followed by a Huntington
location (in the Big H Shopping Center) in August 1962. At 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) and containing a 500 seat community room for civic meetings, the Huntington location was the largest branch store at the time, though still much smaller than the 225000 square feet (20,903.2 m²) of the Brooklyn store.
In 1966, Hyman Zeitz' grandson Wilbur Levin took over as president of the chain, though Fred and brother Harry remained active in senior roles. In a profile of the store done that year by The New York Times
, Martin's was described as an "oasis of calm, even understatement" in the "hubbub" of Fulton Street, located almost directly across the street from Abraham & Straus
, and discount stores J.W. Mays
and E. J. Korvette
also nearby. The business was reported to have annual sales of $25 million, $15 million from the Fulton Street location. In 1968, the Times glowingly described the store: "(Fulton) street’s most prestigious unit, not only does more bridal business than any other store in the United States, but it is today one of the largest family-owned specialty stores in the country," and "which many consider a Fifth Avenue outpost because of its emphasis on better price and high quality."
In August 1969, Martin's opened its fifth store in the Smith Haven Mall
in the more eastern suburbs of Suffolk County, its first interior mall
location.
Although a sixth location was opened in the new Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack
, New Jersey
in early 1977, profits for the still family-held company had steadily declined during the 1970s. In October 1977, with reported annual sales of $30 million, Martin's was sold for an undisclosed amount of cash to the Seedman Merchandising Group, operator of Times Square Stores
. Rosenthal was announced to be continuing as president, but left the next year.
In 1979, the Fulton Street store was closed as a result of the "long term unprofitability" of the location. Obliquely referencing the change in fortunes in the shopping district, it was reported that "the Martin's store in Brooklyn, which for many years had catered to the borough's affluent, 'was no longer related to the surrounding shopping area.'" After that pivotal event, within a few years, the remaining Martin's closed or changed names.
The Offerman Building in Brooklyn was designated as a New York City Landmark in 2005.
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...
metropolitan area, with its flagship location on Fulton Street
Fulton Street (Brooklyn)
Fulton Street, named after engineer Robert Fulton, exists mainly in two parts in what are today two boroughs of New York City which Fulton linked by his steam ferries, and each segment has its own distinct identity. This entry deals with Fulton Street in Brooklyn, which now begins at the...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. It grew to six stores by the mid 1970s, before being sold to the operator of Times Square Stores
Times Square Stores
Times Square Stores was an American department store chain based in New York that operated from 1929 to 1989. By the late 1980s the chain operated 12 stores in New York and 6 in Puerto Rico, and an off-price ladies' apparel chain, Finders Keepers, which had 15 locations. The New York department...
in 1977.
A Store Grows In Brooklyn
The history of Martin's dates back to at least 1903. Hyman Zeitz (c. 1860-1930), who emigrated to the United States in 1882, opened a coat and suit department in an existing blouse shop called Martin's at the corner of Fulton and Bridge Street in Brooklyn, New York. He eventually bought out the owner. The business gradually expanded, and in 1924 moved next door into the seven-story Offerman Building. In 1930, Hyman Zeitz died, and his son Fred. J. Zeitz took over as president (a position he held for over 35 years).In 1947, a modernized entrance to the Offerman Building, designed by architect Morris Lapidus
Morris Lapidus
Morris Lapidus was the architect of Neo-baroque Miami Modern hotels that has since come to define the 1950s resort-hotel style synonymous with Miami and Miami Beach....
, was completed, replacing the "gimcracks of the victorian era" with modern "simplicity."
Suburban Expansion
In the 1950s, Martin's began to expand and open additional locations in the New York suburbs. The first was a Garden CityGarden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
location in Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, at Franklin and Ninth Street, which opened in April 1952. A Babylon store in Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
opened in August 1956, in the Great South Bay Shopping Center, followed by a Huntington
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
location (in the Big H Shopping Center) in August 1962. At 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) and containing a 500 seat community room for civic meetings, the Huntington location was the largest branch store at the time, though still much smaller than the 225000 square feet (20,903.2 m²) of the Brooklyn store.
In 1966, Hyman Zeitz' grandson Wilbur Levin took over as president of the chain, though Fred and brother Harry remained active in senior roles. In a profile of the store done that year by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Martin's was described as an "oasis of calm, even understatement" in the "hubbub" of Fulton Street, located almost directly across the street from Abraham & Straus
Abraham & Straus
Abraham & Straus was a major New York City department store, based in Brooklyn. Founded in 1865, in 1929 it became part of Federated Department Stores, which eliminated the A&S brand shortly after its 1994 acquisition of R.H. Macy & Company...
, and discount stores J.W. Mays
J.W. Mays
J.W. Mays, Inc. is a real estate firm based in Brooklyn, New York, United States. From 1927 until 1988 the company ran a chain of discount department stores in the area surrounding New York City referred to as simply Mays, with stores located in three of New York City's five boroughs and Long...
and E. J. Korvette
E. J. Korvette
E. J. Korvette, also known as Korvette's, was an American chain of discount department stores, founded in 1948 in New York City. It is notable as one of the first department stores to challenge the suggested retail price provisions of anti-discounting statutes. Founded by World War II veteran...
also nearby. The business was reported to have annual sales of $25 million, $15 million from the Fulton Street location. In 1968, the Times glowingly described the store: "(Fulton) street’s most prestigious unit, not only does more bridal business than any other store in the United States, but it is today one of the largest family-owned specialty stores in the country," and "which many consider a Fifth Avenue outpost because of its emphasis on better price and high quality."
In August 1969, Martin's opened its fifth store in the Smith Haven Mall
Smith Haven Mall
Smith Haven Mall is a shopping mall located in Lake Grove, New York and is the main mall for the "Mid Island" area of Long Island. It is also the eastern most enclosed mall on Long Island, and thus draws shoppers from the towns that make up...
in the more eastern suburbs of Suffolk County, its first interior 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...
location.
Decline and Sale
In 1972, president Wilbur Levin left Martin's to move into the banking industry, and another Zeitz grandson, Robert Rosenthal, took the reins. At the time, Levin reported that the stores "were doing well" and that his career change could be made "without disrupting Martin's."Although a sixth location was opened in the new Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in early 1977, profits for the still family-held company had steadily declined during the 1970s. In October 1977, with reported annual sales of $30 million, Martin's was sold for an undisclosed amount of cash to the Seedman Merchandising Group, operator of Times Square Stores
Times Square Stores
Times Square Stores was an American department store chain based in New York that operated from 1929 to 1989. By the late 1980s the chain operated 12 stores in New York and 6 in Puerto Rico, and an off-price ladies' apparel chain, Finders Keepers, which had 15 locations. The New York department...
. Rosenthal was announced to be continuing as president, but left the next year.
In 1979, the Fulton Street store was closed as a result of the "long term unprofitability" of the location. Obliquely referencing the change in fortunes in the shopping district, it was reported that "the Martin's store in Brooklyn, which for many years had catered to the borough's affluent, 'was no longer related to the surrounding shopping area.'" After that pivotal event, within a few years, the remaining Martin's closed or changed names.
The Offerman Building in Brooklyn was designated as a New York City Landmark in 2005.