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Strawbridge & Clothier was an important znd early department store chain in the Philadelphia area focused on the middle-class rather than affluent sustomer. The store began as a partnership between Justus C. Strawbridge and Isaac H. Clothier (1868). We believe that both had earlier retail experience, but do not have detauls. The partners were Quakers and brought to their stores the Quaker principles of simplicity and community service. We note a catalog in 1884 (figure 1), but we are not sure when they first began catalog sales.
They grouped the boy's cloything on separate pages, but for some reason mixed up ages and garments. We can see how popular kilt suits were. And that notice that knee pants were still mostly for youger boys. This would change considerably by the end of the decade. The prices are interesting showing that clothing was a little more expebdive at the time in relative terms. For exmple a $5.00 suit swould be about $135 in 2020 dollars.
The founding families, especially the Strawbridges, trtained control for four generations. It was not incorporated until (1922). It became the last locally-controlled, family-owned department store chain in the greater Philadelphia area. It never expanded beyond the Philadelhip area. The branches were opened in Philadelphia suburbs. The store began a move to the suburbs before World War II, early than most of the chain stores. They also opened the popular Clover discount stores and Clover Day sales. The store evenually faltered and sold out to the May Department Store Company which was buying other local department stores (1996).
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