Bergdorf Goodman facts for kids
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The Bergdorf Goodman flagship store at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Genre | Department stores |
| Founded | 1899 in New York City, U.S. |
| Founder | Herman Bergdorf |
| Headquarters | 754 5th Ave, New York, NY USA 10019 40°45′48″N 73°58′27″W / 40.7634°N 73.9741°W |
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Number of locations
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2 (both on 700 block 5th Ave, New York City) |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Parent |
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Bergdorf Goodman Inc. is a famous American luxury department store. It started in New York City in 1899. A man named Herman Bergdorf founded it.
Today, Bergdorf Goodman has two main stores. They are located across the street from each other. You can find them on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. One store is for women, and the other is for men. Since 2024, Saks Global has owned Bergdorf Goodman. Saks Global is a company that separated from the Hudson's Bay Company.
Contents
History of Bergdorf Goodman
How it All Began (1899–1951)
The story of Bergdorf Goodman started in 1899. Herman Bergdorf, an immigrant from a place called Alsace, opened a tailor shop. His first shop was in downtown Manhattan, near Union Square.
A young merchant named Edwin Goodman joined Bergdorf. He was 23 years old and came from Lockport, New York. Edwin worked hard as an apprentice. After two years, he saved enough money to buy a part of the business. In 1901, the company's name changed to Bergdorf Goodman.
In 1906, the store moved to a new spot on 32nd Street. This was just west of Fifth Avenue. Herman Bergdorf liked this quieter side street. But Edwin Goodman wanted a more visible location. Edwin bought Herman's share of the company. Herman then retired and moved to Paris.
Edwin Goodman had a successful business as a ladies' tailor. But he decided to move the store even further uptown in 1914. He built a five-story building at 616 Fifth Avenue. This spot is now part of Rockefeller Center. In 1914, Bergdorf Goodman became the first fashion house to offer ready-to-wear clothes. This made the store a top place for American and French fashion.
The store moved to its current location in 1928. This is at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street. They built a beautiful Beaux-Arts style building there. Edwin Goodman was not sure if customers would follow the store so far uptown. So, he designed the new store to be divided into smaller sections. These sections could be rented out if needed.
Even during the Great Depression, Bergdorf Goodman did very well. Edwin Goodman bought the entire building. He also bought the mortgages of nearby businesses. Eventually, he owned the whole city block. During this time, the store was successful enough to open more locations. However, Edwin Goodman preferred to have just one store. This way, he could personally make sure the quality was always excellent.
The Next Generation (1951–1972)
Edwin Goodman's son, Andrew, became president in 1951. He took over the company in 1953 after his father passed away. Andrew helped make Bergdorf's reputation even stronger. He also added more types of products and services.
While Andrew was in charge, Bergdorf opened a fur salon. They also created a popular perfume called Bergdorf Goodman Number Nine. Another new idea was "Miss Bergdorf." This was a line of ready-to-wear clothes for younger customers.
In 1959, the Bergdorf Goodman Building started a big expansion. It grew into two buildings next door. The Boys and Girls gift shop got a whole floor. The beauty salon, bridal, fur, and men's departments also grew. In 1967, another expansion almost doubled the store's size.
New Owners Take Over (1972–1990)
In 1971, a company called Broadway-Hale Stores wanted to merge with Bergdorf Goodman. The government approved this in 1972. Broadway-Hale Stores, later called Carter Hawley Hale Stores, bought Bergdorf Goodman in June 1972. Before this, Bergdorf Goodman was one of the last big, high-quality stores in the U.S. that was still owned independently.
At first, the new owners thought about opening more Bergdorf Goodman stores. But they only built one, in White Plains, New York, in 1974. This store later became a Neiman Marcus branch in 1980. To improve its image, the company hired Dawn Mello in 1975. She was very good at making the store more exciting. She became president in 1984.
In the 1980s, Bergdorf Goodman's parent company faced takeover attempts. To stay independent, the company made big financial changes. In 1987, Bergdorf Goodman became part of a new company. This new company was called Neiman Marcus Group. It included Neiman Marcus and Contempo Casuals. The Neiman Marcus Group was based in Dallas, Texas.
Reaching 100 Years and Beyond (1990–Present)
The leader of the company, Ira Neimark, expanded the women's store three times in the 1990s. In 1990, he moved the men's store across the street. This new location was at 745 Fifth Avenue. This move created more space for women's fashion.
In 1997, the old apartment of the Goodman family on the ninth floor became a salon and spa. In 1999, the Beauty Level opened below the main floor. It offered a luxury spa and a cafe for lunch and tea.
In 2002, the Bergdorf Goodman Building had a big restoration. This included fixing up the main floor of the women's store. In 2003, the store added new special sections for famous brands. These included Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. The Bergdorf Goodman Men's store also has exclusive brands. Some of these are Loro Piana, Kiton, Brunello Cucinelli, and Tom Ford.
In May 2005, two investment firms bought the Neiman Marcus Group. This included Bergdorf Goodman. Then, in December 2024, Bergdorf Goodman was bought by Saks Global. This was part of a larger deal to acquire the Neiman Marcus Group.
See also
In Spanish: Bergdorf Goodman para niños
- Barneys New York
- Artipoppe
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- List of department stores
