Andrew Saks
Andrew Saks (June 5, 1847 – April 9, 1912) was an American businessman known as the founder of Saks Fifth Avenue.
Andrew Saks | |
---|---|
Born | June 5, 1847 Baltimore, Maryland |
Died | April 9, 1912 64) New York City | (aged
Occupation | businessman |
Title | founder of Saks Fifth Avenue |
Biography
Saks was born to a German Jewish family, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Helena and William Saks. He worked as a peddler and paper boy before moving to Washington, D.C. where he established a men's clothing store[1] with his brother Isadore[2] in 1867. In 1902, they opened a store in New York on 34th Street 2 as Saks & Company. Andrew Saks ran the New York store as a family affair with his brother Isadore, and his sons Horace and William.
Personal life
Saks married Jennie Rohr with whom he had three children: sons, Horace Andrew Saks and William Andrew Saks; and daughter Leila Saks.[3] He died on April 9, 1912.[4][5] His daughter, Leila Saks Meyer (1886–1957), returning to attend her father's funeral, survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912; her husband, Edgar J. Meyer, son of financier Marc Eugene Meyer and brother of publisher Eugene Meyer, perished.[4]
In 1923, his son Horace sold a majority interest in Saks & Company[1] to Gimbel Brothers, Inc. for $8 million which included Saks & Company's $4.5 million flagship store that was under construction; Horace Saks remained as president.[6] In 1924, Horace Saks and his cousin, Bernard Gimbel, opened Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.
See also
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Saks-34th Street
References
- Gardner, Mark L. "What's in a Name?—A Brief History of Saks Fifth Avenue". Archived from the original on February 12, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
- "Mauranna G. Lynn Is Engaged To Christopher Andrew Saks". The New York Times. February 15, 1976.
- "Jennie R. Saks". geni_family_tree.
- Zottolir, Maureen (June 23, 2016). The R.M.S. Titanic and Washington, D. C.: One Hundred Years: 1912 to 2012 – People, Government Process and Precedent, Investigations, and Locations. p. 103. ISBN 9781468543711.
- "John Andrew Saks '36 - Volume 84". Princeton Alumni Weekly. September 7, 1983.
- Harris, Leon (n.d.). Merchant Prince: An Intimate History of Jewish Families Who Built Great Department Stores. p. 79.
External links
- Saks Fifth Avenue Official website