Neisner's
{{Infobox company
| name = Neisner's
| logo = Neisner's Discount Store Final Logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| brands = Neisner's
Neisner Brothers
Big N
| type = Variety store
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1911}}
| founder = Abraham and Joseph Neisner
| defunct = {{End date and age|1978}}
| location = Rochester, New York, United States
| key_people =
| industry = Retail
| products =
}}
Neisner's or Neisner Brothers was a chain of variety stores in North America.
History
The brothers Abraham and Joseph Neisner opened their first variety store in Rochester, New York, in 1911. They incorporated the company in New York in 1916, by which time they had five stores, selling merchandise from 5 cents to one dollar.{{cite web| title=Neisner Brothers, Inc.| url=http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/chrono.html?company=neisner_brothers_inc| publisher=Baker Library Lehman Brothers Collection| accessdate=2014-02-06}} The company acquired a large interest in British Home Stores, a chain of similar stores in the United Kingdom in 1929, but sold its interest in the late 1930s.
The company prospered during the Depression, and by 1935, Neisner's had 103 stores in 63 cities in 16 states.{{cite book| page=147| last=Elvins| first=Sarah| title=Sales and Celebrations: Retailing and Regional Identity in Western New York| date=28 May 2004| publisher=Ohio University Press| url=https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Celebrations-Retailing-Regional-Identity/dp/B005ZOHH1G#reader_B005ZOHH1G| isbn=0821415492}}
Abraham Neisner died in 1933, whilst travelling aboard the {{SS|Rex}}. Neisner's was later headed by Joseph's son Fred Neisner, who became chairman of the board, with Abraham's son Melvin Neisner, as company president.{{cite book| page=210| last=Drew-Bear| first=Robert| title=Mass Merchandising; Revolution and Evolution| year=1970| publisher=Fairchild Publishing}}
During the 1960s and '70s, the company created the Big N division, a format which resembled the big box stores of today. These were located primarily in New York and several other northeastern states.
Neisner's petitioned for bankruptcy protection on 1 December 1977{{cite court| url=http://cases.justia.com/us-court-of-appeals/F2/866/38/205176/| litigants=Greater Buffalo Press v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York| reporter=U.S.| volume=866| opinion=F.2d 38| court=2nd Circuit| date=18 January 1989| accessdate=2014-02-06}} and the Ames Department Stores acquired the chain in November 1978.{{cite web| title=Ames Department Stores, Inc. History| url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Ames-Department-Stores-Inc-Company-History.html| publisher=Funding Universe| accessdate=2014-02-06}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/chrono.html?company=neisner_brothers_inc Lehman Brothers 20th Century Business Archives]
Category:Defunct discount stores of the United States
Category:Retail companies established in 1911
Category:Retail companies disestablished in 1978
Category:Companies based in Rochester, New York