| Biography/History: |
I.Magnin (Department Store, active 1876-1995) The story of I. Magnin department store, with its ascension from a simple notion store of modest investment to a multi-million-dollar Pacific coast store chain, as well as its financial decline in its last decades, signifies one of the great romances of the retail trade world. Established in 1876 by Mary Magnin, I. Magnin became a corporation in 1900, and incorporated under the same name in 1919. The I. Magnin operation consisted of a chain of stores, located mostly on the West Coast, that initially dealt in clothing and accessories for women and children. In its latter decades, merchandise included men's apparel. I. Magnin & Company was renowned for its exclusive selection of clothing and merchandise, its delivery of haute couture to the West, and the lavish attention paid to the design of its stores. http://pdf.oac.cdlib.org/pdf/csf/sfpl/imagnin.pdf 1876 founded in San Francisco by Mary Ann Magnin and named for her husband Isaac; initially sold clothing and accessories for women and children 1905 son E. John opened a NYC office with connections to European designers 1906 re-built after 1906 earthquake at Grant Ave and Geary Blvd. Expanded into high-end hotels. 1944 purchased by Bullocks 1943 -1967 West Coast stores proliferated 1964 merged into Federated Dept Stores which was acquired by in 1988 1988 Campeau Corp. acquired Federated and sold I. Magnin and Bullock's Wilshire to R.H. Macy & Company, who kept I. Magnin name 1994 Macy’s merged with Federated, and I. Magnin chain closed https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/i-magnin |