Hecht's

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Hecht's

Type	Department store
Founded	1857
Headquarters	Arlington, Virginia
Industry	Retail
Products	Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
Website	None

Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

As of 2005, Hecht's had some 81 stores in 19 markets in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Its locations in New Jersey, Delaware, and the majority of those in Pennsylvania were operated under the name of Strawbridge's. Hecht's headquarters was in Arlington, Virginia.

Hecht's was founded and was long operated as a family firm. It was purchased in 1959 by May Department Stores which in turn, was acquired by Federated Department Stores on August 30, 2005. On February 1, 2006, Federated dissolved the former May Company divisions, and the existing Hecht's stores were divided between Macy's East and Macy's South. The replacement Hecht's store in Chevy Chase, Maryland, scheduled to open in 2007, will take the Bloomingdale's name. On September 9, 2006, the Hecht's name was phased out in favor of the nationally known Macy's.

1 History
2 Former locations
3 Competitors
4 References

[edit] History

A typical Hecht's storefront

The Hecht Company was founded in 1857 by Samuel Hecht, Jr. The Hecht family was Jewish and came from near Heidelberg, Germany. Samuel's father was murdered in Germany. His widow and children, including Samuel, left Germany and immigrated to the United States during the 1840s. Samuel himself arrived by ship in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 at the age of 17.

Samuel Hecht became an itinerant peddler selling his goods in and around Baltimore and on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. After a decade of itinerant peddling, he settled down and started what would become the Hecht stores.

[edit] Baltimore stores

In 1857 Samuel Hecht opened a used furniture store on Aliceanna Street (near South Broadway) in Baltimore.

By 1870 this venture had moved to a more auspicious location at 412 South Broadway where the name "HECHT" can still be seen, carved in foot-high letters into the granite lintel over the doorway. Clothing was added to the lineup in 1879 under the name of Hecht's Reliable. Shortly thereafter, a carpet and matting establishment was opened in Baltimore at 310 West Lexington Street.

Over the front of the new store on Lexington Street was a sign reading "Samuel Hecht, Jr. & Sons," reflecting the development of the firm as a family enterprise. Four of Samuel's sons eventually joined him in business. They were, in order of age: Emanuel (Manny), Albert S., Alexander (Alex), and Moses S. Hecht.

Emanuel Hecht joined his father in business in 1880. In 1886 he and Albert were listed as partners with their father. Alex and Moses came into the firm later and contributed to its success. Samuel Hecht died in 1907. His sons and, later, his grandsons carried on the business.

The growth of the firm continued in Baltimore with the opening of the Hecht Brothers store on Baltimore and Pine streets in 1885, the Hub (store)|Hub store in Baltimore in 1897, and Hecht Brothers at Howard and Franklin streets in 1926. Hecht stores were also established in New York City and Easton, Maryland. There was also a branch in Annapolis, Maryland. However, the most important move was into Washington, D.C.

[edit] Washington stores

The Hechts opened a store in Washington on March 20, 1896, which moved to a grand glass and marble store at the corner of 7th and F Streets Northwest in November of 1925. Alexander Hecht directed the Washington part of the business for the family.

Hecht's was the first store in Washington to offer national brands. It also boasted the first parking garage and first elevator. Its relatively open policies made it popular among African-Americans as well as the white populace. [1]

A tour of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms paintings, intended to rally support for the Allied cause in World War II and the purchase of war bonds, premiered at the store in 1943.

In July, 1951 a mixed race group began to picket outside the store, protesting racial segregation in the store's cafeteria. The offending policy was changed in January of the following year.

The vacated building, now across from the Verizon Center, was extensively renovated and reopened in 2003 as Terrell Place, honoring Mary Church Terrell's role in desegregating that and other public accommodations in Washington.

Hecht's operates the last department store in downtown Washington, a structure at the corner of 12th and G Streets NW built in 1985 and renovated in 2003. The building has a direct entrance to the Metro Center station of the Washington Metro.

[edit] Into the suburbs

After World War II, Hecht Company began to build new stores in the suburbs around Washington and Baltimore. In 1947 they opened a large three-story department store in a cornfield in Silver Spring, Maryland, just north of Washington, D.C. The wisdom of this move was initially questioned; however, within a few years, more room was needed, and a fourth story was added to the building. Outside the center of Baltimore, Hecht's opened a store in Edmondson Village in 1955, followed by another in Northwood in 1956.

[edit] May Company

The Hecht chain was acquired by the May Company in 1959. At this time, the historic 1924 Bernheim-Leader store on the corner of Howard and Lexington Streets in Baltimore was renamed Hecht's, becoming its flagship store in the Baltimore area. It closed in 1988, one of the last department stores to remain in the downtown district. In 1998 it was declared a city landmark, and has since been renovated into condominiums.

Many other stores acquired later were also rebranded as Hecht's. Hecht's acquiredMiller & Rhoads, based in Richmond, Virginia, by cherry-picking the best locations when this venerable chain dissolved in 1990. Thalhimer's, based in Richmond, Virginia, was acquired from Carter Hawley Hale Stores in 1990 and consolidated under Hecht's name in 1992. Hecht's took over Hess's, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, acquiring ten stores in 1994. Three of those re-opened as Hecht's and the others were operated by corporate siblings Kaufmann's and Filene's Hecht's acquired Wanamaker's, based in Philadelphia, and Woodward & Lothrop, based in Washington, D.C., taking over 17 stores acquired in 1995 in joint acquisition with JCPenney. Fourteen stores were consolidated the same year. Thirteen of Strawbridge and Clothier's stores, based in the Philadelphia area, were acquired in 1996. Their management consolidated with Hecht's the same year, but the Strawbridge name was retained and expanded to all the Philadelphia locations. Hecht's took over Castner Knott, with stores in the Nashville area. The chain was purchased from Proffitt's in 2001. Proffitts previously acquired them as a result of the Mercantile Stores/Dillard's merger in 1998.

[edit] Former locations

[edit] District of Columbia

Washington, D.C. - Metro Center (Downtown at the corner of 12th and G Streets NW) (opened 1985, converted to Macy's 2006)

[edit] Maryland

Baltimore MSA/Annapolis - Westfield Annapolis (formerly Annapolis Mall) (opened 1979, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/Bel Air - Harford Mall (opened 1981, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/Columbia - The Mall in Columbia (opened 1975, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/Glen Burnie - Marley Station (opened 1987, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/Owings Mills - Owings Mills Mall (opened 1986, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/Towson - Towson Town Center (opened 1982, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/White Marsh - White Marsh Mall (opened 1991, converted to Macy's 2006)
Baltimore MSA/Woodlawn - Security Square Mall (opened 1979, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hagerstown - Valley Mall (opened 1999, converted to Macy's 2006)
Salisbury - The Centre at Salisbury (opened 1991, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Bethesda - Westfield Montgomery (Montgomery Mall) (2 locations) (opened 1968, home store opened 2001, both locations converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Bowie - Bowie Town Center (opened 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Chevy Chase - Wisconsin Avenue (freestanding) (opened 1995 in former W&L location, closing 2006, being demolished for Bloomingdale's)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Frederick - Francis Scott Key Mall (opened 1993, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Gaithersburg - Lakeforest Mall (opened 1978, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Hyattsville - The Mall at Prince George's (formerly Prince George's Plaza) (opened 1958, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Laurel - Laurel Mall (formerly Laurel Center Mall) (opened 1981, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Marlow Heights - Marlow Heights Shopping Center (opened 1960, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Waldorf - St. Charles Towne Center (2 locations) (opened 1990, home store opened 2004, both locations converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Wheaton - Westfield Wheaton (formerly Wheaton Plaza) (opened 1987, closed 2006)

[edit] North Carolina

Charlotte - Northlake Mall (opened 2005, converted to Macy's 2006)
Charlotte - SouthPark (opened 1988 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Charlotte MSA/Pineville - Carolina Place (opened 1993, converted to Macy's 2006)
Fayetteville - Cross Creek Mall (opened 1975 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Greensboro - Friendly Center (opened 1958 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Greensboro - Wendover Place (freestanding) (opened 2002, converted to Macy's 2006)
Raleigh-Durham MSA/Cary - Cary Towne Center (opened 1991 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Raleigh-Durham MSA/Durham - Northgate Mall (opened 1994, converted to Macy's 2006)
Raleigh-Durham MSA/Durham - The Streets at Southpoint (opened 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Raleigh-Durham MSA/Raleigh - Crabtree Valley Mall (opened 1995, replacing prior Thalhimer's location, converted to Macy's 2006)
Raleigh-Durham MSA/Raleigh - Triangle Town Center (opened 2002, converted to Macy's 2006)
Winston-Salem - Hanes Mall (opened 1990 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Wilmington - Mayfaire Town Center (opened 2004, converted to Macy's 2006)

[edit] Pennsylvania

Harrisburg - Harrisburg Mall (formerly Harrisburg East Mall) (opened 1995 in former Hess's and Gimbel's location, converted to Macy's 2006)
Harrisburg MSA/Camp Hill - Capital City Mall (opened 1995 in former Hess's location, converted to Macy's 2006)
York - West Manchester Mall (opened 1995 in former Hess's location, converted to Macy's 2006)

[edit] Tennessee

Nashville - Bellevue Center (opened 1990 as Castner Knott, became Hecht's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Nashville - The Mall at Green Hills (opened 2004, replacing prior Castner Knott location, converted to Macy's 2006)
Nashville MSA/Antioch - Hickory Hollow Mall (opened 1979 as Castner Knott, became Hecht's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Nashville MSA/Franklin - Cool Spings Galleria (opened 1991 as Castner Knott, became Hecht's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Nashville MSA/Goodlettsville - RiverGate Mall (opened 1971 as Castner Knott, became Hecht's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)

[edit] Virginia

Washington, D.C. MSA/Alexandria - Landmark Mall (opened 1965, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Arlington County - opened as Parkington, later renamed Ballston Common Mall (2 locations) (opened 1959, home store opened 2002, both locations converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Fairfax - Fair Oaks Mall (opened 1980, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Fredericksburg - Spotsylvania Towne Centre (formerly Spotsylvania Mall) (opened 1993, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Loudoun County - Dulles Town Center (opened 1998, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Manassas - Manassas Mall (opened 1996, converted to Macy's 2006)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Tysons Corner - Tysons Corner Center (opened 1968, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hampton Roads MSA/Chesapeake - Chesapeake Square (opened 1999, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hampton Roads MSA/Chesapeake - Greenbrier Mall (opened 1990 in former Miller & Rhoads location, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hampton Roads MSA/Hampton - Coliseum Mall (opened 1977 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hampton Roads MSA/Newport News - Patrick Henry Mall (opened 1998, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hampton Roads MSA/Norfolk - The Gallery at Military Circle (formerly Military Circle Mall) (opened 1976 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Hampton Roads MSA/Virginia Beach - Lynnhaven Mall (opened 1998 replacing former Thalhimer's and Miller & Rhoads locations, converted to Macy's 2006)
Lynchburg - River Ridge Mall (opened 1980 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Richmond - Chesterfield Towne Center (opened 1990 in former Miller & Rhoads location, converted to Macy's 2006)
Richmond - Regency Square (2 locations) (opened 1990 in former Miller & Rhoads and Thalhimer's locations, both locations converted to Macy's 2006)
Richmond - Short Pump Town Center (opened 2003, converted to Macy's 2006)
Richmond MSA/Colonial Heights - Southpark Mall (opened 1989 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, converted to Macy's 2006)
Richmond MSA/Glen Allen - Virginia Center Commons (opened 1993, converted to Macy's 2006)
Roanoke - Valley View Mall (2 locations) (opened 1985 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, both locations converted to Macy's 2006)

[edit] Closed previously

Baltimore - Golden Ring Mall (opened 1974, closed 1980's)
Baltimore - Northtown Plaza (opened 1954, closed 1986)
Baltimore - Reisterstown Road Plaza (opened 1962, closed 1986)
Baltimore - Downtown Baltimore (closed 1988)
Baltimore - Edmondson Plaza (opened 1956, closed 1978)
Washington, D.C. - Downtown Washington all (closed 1986)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Landover - Landover Mall (opened 1972, closed 2001)
Washington, D.C. MSA/Silver Spring - Downtown Silver Spring (freestanding, corner of Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr.) (opened 1947, closed 1987, now City Place Mall)
Richmond, Virginia - Cloverleaf Mall (opened 1973 as Thalhimer's, became Hecht's 1992, closed 2003)

[edit] Competitors

Competitors to The Hecht Company in Baltimore included:

[edit] References

Longstreth, Richard W. "The mixed blessings of success: the Hecht Company and department store branch development after World War II," in Hudgins, Carter L. and Cromley, Elizabeth Collins eds., Shaping Communities: Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, VI: University of Tennessee Press (Knoxville). Originally a 1995 monograph published by the Center for Washington Area Studies at George Washington University.
Cultural Tourism D.C.: Terrell Place / Hecht Company Site
Goethe-Institut: German-American Sites in Washington, D.C., The Hecht Company
National Association of Colored Women's Clubs: "Washington D.C. Dedicates Terrell Place"
Washington Business Journal, "Bottom line bait," October 24, 2003