Famous Department Store
The Famous Department Store (not to be confused with the "Famous Clothing Store", precursor to Famous-Barr and the May Department Stores Co.) was a department store in Los Angeles, California.
Blackstone's Department Store building on Broadway, site of the main branch of Los Angeles' Famous Department Store | |
| Predecessor | Cal Hirsch & Sons Mercantile Co. |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1950 |
| Fate | Stores sold to J. J. Sugarman Co., brand subsequently retired |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Number of locations | 8 (1950) |
Famous had its origins with the Cal Hirsch & Sons Mercantile Co., founded in 1860 or 1871 depending on the source, which ran Army and Navy surplus stores in St. Louis.
After opening stores in Los Angeles starting in 1913 and later moved its headquarters there. As Cal. Hirsch & Sons, it operated the generically named "Army and Navy Store" at 526 S. Main St. then moved to a larger space next door, what it advertised as the "world's largest Army and navy store" at 530-532 S. Main St. starting in December, 1916. In 1917 it advertised a branch store in San Diego.
U.S. Hirsch was president of the company during the 1930s. By 1948, Urban Hirsch, Jr. was president.