Diamond's
{{Short description|Former Arizona based department store}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Diamond's
| logo = Diamond's Department Store Final Logo.png
| former_name = The Boston Store (1897-1947)
| type = Public
| founders = Nathan and Isaac Diamond
| area_served = Southwestern US
| key_people = Nathan and Isaac Diamond
| industry = Retail
| products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products
| parent = Roberts Brothers (1957-1968), Dayton-Hudson Corporation (1968-1984)
| founded = 1897
| defunct = 1984 (Acquired By Dillards)
| hq_location = Phoenix, Arizona
| locations = 12 (1984)
}}
Diamond's was a department store chain headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona that operated from 1897-1984.
Originally named The Boston Store,{{Cite web |title=The Diamond Family of Phoenix, The Boston Store & Diamond’s Department Store – JMAW – Jewish Museum of the American West |url=https://www.jmaw.org/diamonds-jewish-phoenix/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.jmaw.org}} it was founded by brothers Nathan and Isaac Diamond
History
The Boston Store was founded in 1897 by brothers Nathan and Isaac Diamond, Jewish immigrants who had in 1891 begun a dry-goods mercantile in El Paso called The New York Store. Hearing of great potential in Arizona the brothers moved to Phoenix. They set up a store on Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix. by 1941 the Diamond brothers had enlisted the help of family to run the store. Nathan's sons Harold and Bert and Isaac's son Herbert were all involved with management of the store.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 16 Apr 1941, page Page 21 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/116919932/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} The Boston Store was renamed Diamond's in 1947 in honor of the store's 50th anniversary. Harold and Ralph Diamond eventually took over ownership. Roberts Brothers of Portland, Oregon purchased Diamond's in 1957.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 06 Feb 1957, page Page 14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117249891/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} That same year the store opened its first branch location at Park Central Mall, the building on Washington Street was subsequently closed.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 03 Feb 1957, page Page 9 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117247840/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} In 1962 the firm considered expanding into the Tucson market but would hold off on doing so until 1974.{{Cite web |title=Tucson Citizen 09 Aug 1984, page 54 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/578361242/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} In 1968 Diamond's was sold to Dayton Corporation of Minneapolis.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 07 May 1968, page Page 6 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117525629/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} In 1970 Diamond's acquired Las Vegas based Ronzone's and converted its store at The Boulevard Mall to a Diamond's.{{Cite web |title=The Minneapolis Star 21 Jan 1970, page Page 35 |url=https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/189748816/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} On January 14, 1984 Diamond's consolidated its operations in Mesa by closing its Tri-City Mall location due to its close proximity to the newer Fiesta Mall location.{{Cite news |date=1984-01-06 |title=Diamond's to close Tri-City Mall outlet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-diamonds-to-close-tri/58240870/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |work=Arizona Republic |pages=79}} Diamond's had expanded to twelve stores throughout the Southwest when in September 1984 then owner, Dayton-Hudson Corporation, sold the chain to Dillard's.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 10 Aug 1984, page Page 91 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/120129580/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}
Locations
The locations of the former Diamond's department stores.{{Cite web|last=BAK|title=Diamond's, Phoenix, Arizona|url=http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org/2010/11/diamonds-phoenix-arizona.html|access-date=2020-10-21|language=en}}
The Original Flagship Store on Washington Street operated from 1897-1957.
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Mall !Location !Opened !Subsequent use |
| Park Central Mall
|Phoenix, AZ |Converted to Dillard's, now medical offices |
| Thomas Mall
|Phoenix, AZ |September 23, 1963{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 22 Sep 1963, page Page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/116767520/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} |Converted to Dillard's, later demolished |
| Tri-City Mall
|Mesa, AZ |Closed January 14, 1984, later demolished |
| The Boulevard Mall
|Las Vegas, NV |1968 as Ronzone's, 1970 as Diamond's |Converted to Dillard's |
| Metrocenter Mall
|Phoenix, AZ |Converted to Dillard's then Dillard's Clearance, now vacant |
| Scottsdale Fashion Square
|Scottsdale, AZ |Spring 1974 |
| Park Place Mall
|Tucson, AZ |Converted to Dillard's later demolished and replaced with new Dillard's |
| Meadows Mall
|Las Vegas, NV |1978 |Converted to Dillard's, now Dillard's Clearance on upper level and Curacao on lower level. |
| Paradise Valley Mall
|Phoenix, AZ |Converted to Dillard's then Sears, later demolished |
| Fiesta Mall
|Mesa, AZ |Converted to Dillard's then Dillard's Clearance, later demolished |
| Fashion Show Mall
|Las Vegas, NV |February 14, 1981 |Converted to Dillard's, now Forever 21 |
| Tucson Mall
|Tucson, AZ |July 30, 1981 |Now Dillard's |
| Desert Sky Mall
|Phoenix, AZ |December 1981 |Converted to Dillard's, now Dillard's Clearance |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.jewishaz.com/localnews_features/a-pioneer-retailer/article_4207b3f8-afc4-539b-ad56-0e8d22a87f29.html Harold Diamond, A Pioneer Retailer]
{{Dillard's history}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond's}}
Category:Companies based in Phoenix, Arizona
Category:Defunct companies based in Arizona
Category:Defunct department stores based in Arizona
Category:Retail companies established in 1897