Steimatzky
Encyclopedia
Steimatzky is the oldest and largest bookstore chain in Israel
, founded by Yechezkel Steimatzky in 1925.
in Jerusalem by Yechezkel Steimatzky a Russia
n-born immigrant from Germany
. He had originally came to the British Mandate of Palestine on a short visit for the opening of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and decided to stay after he saw the potential in opening a foreign language bookstore that would serve a growing immigrants' market as well as British Army
soldiers serving under the British Mandate. The concept was so successful that he opened an additional store in Haifa
later that year. By 1948, another store opened on Allenby Street
in Tel Aviv
.
and opened a store in Beirut
. The company name was changed to Steimatzky Middle East Agency. During World War II
, a Steimatzky store opened in Baghdad
next to the British Army base, and soon after in Cairo
, Alexandria
, and Damascus
. The expansion came to a halt with the outbreak of the 1948 Arab–Israeli war and the nationalization
of all the bookstores in the Arab countries. The store's branches in Beirut
, Baghdad
, Cairo
and Damascus
were all nationalized after 1948.
The chain's flagship store in the Mamilla
neighborhood of Jerusalem is located in the Stern House
where Theodore Herzl stayed during his 1898 visit to the city. The lower level of the building houses a small, free museum focusing on the history of the bookstore chain and on Herzl's visit to Jerusalem. On display are photographs of Herzl in Jerusalem, Israeli bank notes featuring portraits of Herzl, and the hat that he wore on his visit to Jerusalem. The museum also depicts the history of the Steimatzky chain, including photographs of the long vanished Steimatzky branch in Lebanon.
. In 1995, the Steimatzky company purchased the Sifri chain with seven stores. The chain was a virtual monopoly in Israel until 2002 when two smaller competitors (Tzomet Sfarim, Yerid Hasfarim) and Modan Publishing House united under Tzomet Sfarim brand numbering about forty stores. In 2004, Steimatzky merged with Keter Publishing House
.
In 2005, Markstone Capital Partners purchased the company.
In 2006, Steimatzky operated stores in 68 cities in Israel as well as in London
and Los Angeles
. It is estimated that the company holds a 40% share in the Israeli book retailing market and employs over 700 people worldwide.
In September 2007, Eri Steimatzky announced his retirement from the chain, leaving the company in the hands of Markstone Capital.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, founded by Yechezkel Steimatzky in 1925.
Early history
The first store opened in 1925 on Jaffa RoadJaffa Road
Jaffa Road is one of the longest and oldest streets in Jerusalem. It crosses the city from east to west, from the Old City walls to downtown Jerusalem, the western portal of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. It is lined with shops, businesses and restaurants...
in Jerusalem by Yechezkel Steimatzky a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born immigrant from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He had originally came to the British Mandate of Palestine on a short visit for the opening of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
and decided to stay after he saw the potential in opening a foreign language bookstore that would serve a growing immigrants' market as well as British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldiers serving under the British Mandate. The concept was so successful that he opened an additional store in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
later that year. By 1948, another store opened on Allenby Street
Allenby Street
Allenby Street is a major street in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was named in honor of Field Marshal Viscount Allenby.Allenby Street stretches from the Mediterranean sea in the northwest to HaAliya Street in the southeast. It was first paved with concrete in 1914. During the day, it is a commercial street...
in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
Expansion
In 1927, Steimatzky saw the potential for expansion throughout the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and opened a store in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. The company name was changed to Steimatzky Middle East Agency. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a Steimatzky store opened in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
next to the British Army base, and soon after in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, and Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
. The expansion came to a halt with the outbreak of the 1948 Arab–Israeli war and the nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
of all the bookstores in the Arab countries. The store's branches in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
and Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
were all nationalized after 1948.
Modern branches
As of 2010, Steimatzky has over 160 stores across Israel in various formats. These include mall-based stores, stores with coffee shops, extensive non-book offerings, and larger formats.The chain's flagship store in the Mamilla
Mamilla
Mamilla was an early neighbourhood constructed outside Jerusalem's Old City west from the Jaffa Gate, and now refers to the $400 million commercial and housing district developed in selected parts of the area....
neighborhood of Jerusalem is located in the Stern House
Stern House
The Stern House, is a preserved and reconstructed building in Jerusalem, Israel. The house was built under Ottoman rule in 1877 in the early neighborhood of Mamilla, outside Jerusalem's Old City west from the Jaffa Gate and was rescued during a major reconstruction of the neighborhood in the late...
where Theodore Herzl stayed during his 1898 visit to the city. The lower level of the building houses a small, free museum focusing on the history of the bookstore chain and on Herzl's visit to Jerusalem. On display are photographs of Herzl in Jerusalem, Israeli bank notes featuring portraits of Herzl, and the hat that he wore on his visit to Jerusalem. The museum also depicts the history of the Steimatzky chain, including photographs of the long vanished Steimatzky branch in Lebanon.
Mergers and partnerships
In 1963, the son of founder Yechezkel, Eri Steimatzky, joined the company and became its general managerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
. In 1995, the Steimatzky company purchased the Sifri chain with seven stores. The chain was a virtual monopoly in Israel until 2002 when two smaller competitors (Tzomet Sfarim, Yerid Hasfarim) and Modan Publishing House united under Tzomet Sfarim brand numbering about forty stores. In 2004, Steimatzky merged with Keter Publishing House
Keter Publishing House
Keter Publishing House is one of the largest publishers in Israel. It was formed in 2005 through a merger of Keter Publishing and Steimatzky. Keter has a large book marketing and distribution network, as well print services and book production for the Israeli domestic and export market. Keter is...
.
In 2005, Markstone Capital Partners purchased the company.
In 2006, Steimatzky operated stores in 68 cities in Israel as well as in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It is estimated that the company holds a 40% share in the Israeli book retailing market and employs over 700 people worldwide.
In September 2007, Eri Steimatzky announced his retirement from the chain, leaving the company in the hands of Markstone Capital.