Monday, July 7, 2008

Zahns department store Racine Wi.


















This is how it all began for me Zahns. When I was a small kid my family wood go to downtown Racine every Friday night this was the only nitre the stores were open. i remember how dig Zahns was and how the large post were so big and round and the walkways lined with counters and tables. that look that feeling i knew that retail was for me. and 40 years latter here i am with my own blog on malls and stores who wood have thought such a thing wood be possible.

As for Zahns it began in 1898 with a small shop a move to a much larger store wood happen in 1916. that store at 436 main st. wood latter be come a part of Racine's woolworths.In 1925 the store wood move to 500 monument sq. it wood be its last home and its largest 4 floors and a full basement there wood also be a store next to the main store latter known as the annex it wood house the Zahns food store. the store wood have all the features of its big city revels including a restaurant and budget store in the basement. the store wood be remodeled several times through the years with the most extensive renovation hapening in the 1950s mr. Zahn wood sell the store to the Goldstine fammily. Thay wood then in turn sell the store to Chandlar Copp he wood remodel the store for one last time in the end of the 70s . he also wood eliminate several departments and close the basement and forth floor in 1981 with presher mounting for him to pay back lones to the bank mr Copp wood file bankruptcy and close for good just before Regency Mall wood open it was the start of the end for that era of downtown Racine retail.

5 comments:

Joann sovelenko said...

Before you post something why don't you either learn how to spell;

Ed (Blog Adminstrator) said...

One small correction. The stores were open late (till 9) on both Monday and Friday nights. And between Thanksgving and Christmas, they were open every night until 9, except Saturdays.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

This was back in the good old days, Now the town is completely decrepit

TommyD said...

I Love this blog. I too am a multigenerational Racine native (that now lives in the Boston area) and love getting back home. My folks are still there as is a sister, nephew, nieces, etc. When home, I always drive around to see what's new and relive some old memories and going to Zahn's as a kid is definitely among those fond memories! I used to love it, especially the candy counter on the first floor (loved the "fairy food" candy). I was about 11 or 12 when it closed, which about coincided with downtown's down turn. Great to see the revitalization over the past decade or so of downtown, as it really is a pretty little downtown. And now, I read and hear (from my parents) that the Zahn's building was purchased and will be given a $29 million face lift as they make it into a boutique hotel! Good. Sounds nice and seems fitting. That's about it from me, but I want to close by wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Since we're discussing Zahn's, this too seems fitting. God bless!