Kaufman-Straus

Kaufman-Straus was a local department store that operated in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1879 to 1969. In 1879, local retail clerk Henry Kaufman opened the first store on Jefferson between 7th and 8th. Four years later, Benjamin Straus entered into partnership with Kaufman. In 1887, the Kaufman-Straus store moved to South 4th Street in space leased from the Polytechnic Society of Kentucky. The new flagship store opened in 1903, at 533-49 South 4th Street, designed by local architect Mason Maury.[2] In 1924, Kaufman-Straus was acquired by City Stores Company and the following year the flagship store underwent extensive renovations. City Stores rebranded the company as Kaufman's in 1960. It operated two stores in suburban Louisville at The Mall and Dixie Manor. In 1969, Kaufman's was acquired by L. S. Ayres, and the downtown Louisville store was subsequently closed in 1971.[3][4]

"Kaufman's" redirects here. For the Pittsburgh-based chain, see Kaufmann's.
Kaufman-Straus Building
Kaufman-Straus is located in Kentucky
Kaufman-Straus
Kaufman-Straus is located in the United States
Kaufman-Straus
Location427-437 S. 4th St., Louisville, Kentucky
Coordinates38°15′7″N 85°45′26″W
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built1902
ArchitectMaury, Mason
Architectural styleLate 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements
NRHP reference No.78001357[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 14, 1978

The flagship store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1] It is a six-story building.[5]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Design Accepted for the New Polytechnic Library Building". Courier-Journal. 4 June 1901. p. 3. ProQuest 1015901380.
  3. Department Store history website. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  4. Kleber, John E. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University of Kentucky Press. ISBN 978-0-8131-2100-0.
  5. Tooba K. Latham (February 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Kaufman-Straus / Ayr-Way Department Store". National Park Service. Retrieved March 1, 2018. With four photos from 1976.


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