Bergdorf Goodman facts for kids
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The first Bergdorf Goodman store
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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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Bergdorf Goodman Inc. is a very fancy department store located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It sells expensive and high-quality items like clothes, shoes, and jewelry.
The company was started in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf. Later, Edwin Goodman and his son, Andrew Goodman, owned and managed it.
Today, Bergdorf Goodman has two stores. They are right across the street from each other on Fifth Avenue. The main store for women opened in 1928. The men's store opened in 1990.
Since the early 2010s, Bergdorf Goodman has been part of Neiman Marcus.
Contents
History of Bergdorf Goodman
How it Started (1899–1951)
The story of Bergdorf Goodman began in 1899. Herman Bergdorf, who came from Alsace, opened a tailor shop in downtown Manhattan.
Edwin Goodman, a 23-year-old merchant, came to New York City. He worked as an apprentice for Bergdorf. After two years, Goodman had saved enough money to buy part of the business. In 1901, the company was renamed Bergdorf Goodman.
In 1906, Bergdorf Goodman moved to a new spot on 32nd Street. Bergdorf liked this cheaper location. But Goodman wanted a better spot and bought Bergdorf's share of the company. Herman Bergdorf then retired and moved to Paris.
Even though Goodman had a good business as a ladies' tailor, he decided to move the store again in 1914. He built a five-story building on Fifth Avenue. In 1914, he was the first fashion designer to offer "ready-to-wear" clothes. This meant clothes were made in standard sizes, not just custom-made. This made Bergdorf Goodman a popular place for American and French fashion.
The store moved to its current famous location on Fifth Avenue and 58th Street in 1928. It was built on the site of a very grand old house. Goodman was not sure if customers would follow the store so far uptown. So, he designed the new store to be easily divided into smaller shops if needed. But during the Great Depression, the store did very well. Goodman bought the entire building. He even bought the land around it, owning the whole block. He preferred to have one main store. This allowed him to personally make sure everything sold was of the best quality.
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 even more famous. He also added many new products and services.
During Andrew's time, Bergdorf opened a fur salon. They also created a popular perfume called Bergdorf Goodman Number Nine. He also started "Miss Bergdorf," which was a line of ready-to-wear clothes for younger customers.
The Bergdorf Goodman Building grew bigger in 1959. It expanded into two buildings next door. The boys and girls gift shop became a whole floor. The beauty salon, bridal, fur, and men's departments also got larger. Eight years later, in 1967, another big expansion almost doubled the store's size.
New Owners (1972–1990)
In 1972, Andrew Goodman sold Bergdorf Goodman to Broadway-Hale Stores. This company later became Carter Hawley Hale Stores (CHH). CHH had also bought Neiman Marcus a few years earlier. At the time of the sale, Bergdorf Goodman was one of the last big, high-quality stores that was still independently owned. Goodman remained the landlord of the store. He even kept a fancy apartment on the top floor of the building.
At first, the new owners thought about opening more Bergdorf Goodman stores. But they only built one other location in White Plains, New York. This store later became a Neiman Marcus. To help the store's image, they hired Dawn Mello in 1975. She helped make the store more exciting and became president in 1984.
In the 1980s, the parent company of Bergdorf Goodman faced attempts by other companies to buy it. To stay independent, Carter Hawley made some big financial changes. In 1987, Bergdorf Goodman, along with Neiman Marcus, became part of a new company called Neiman Marcus Group. This new company was based in Dallas, Texas.
Reaching the Centennial (1990–Present)
Ira Neimark, who was the Chairman and CEO, made the women's store bigger three times in the 1990s. He moved the men's store across the street in 1990. This gave more room for women's fashion. In 1997, the old Goodman family apartment on the ninth floor became a fancy 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 was restored. This included fixing up the main floor of the women's store. In 2003, the store added new sections for famous brands like Chanel, Gucci, and Versace. The Bergdorf Goodman Men's store also has special brands.
In 2005, two investment companies bought the Neiman Marcus Group. This included Bergdorf Goodman.
See also
In Spanish: Bergdorf Goodman para niños
