Henri Bendel
Henri Bendel, Inc. (pronounced BEN-del), established in 1895, was a women's department store based in New York City which in its later history sold women's handbags, jewelry, luxury fashion accessories, home fragrances, chocolate and gifts. Its New York City store was located at 10 West 57th street. In 1985, when purchased by Limited, the new owner moved the store to 712 Fifth Avenue.
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Founder | Henri Willis Bendel |
| Defunct | January 28, 2019 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | 712 Fifth Avenue , New York City United States |
Number of locations | 29 stores (Jan 2015) |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Women's clothing |
| Parent | L Brands |
| Website | Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index) |
Henri Bendel was the first retailer to have its own fragrance, to offer in-store makeovers, and to stage its own fashion show. The retailer is credited with developing the concession, or shop-within-a-shop merchandising concept that is in use in some department stores today. In the Cole Porter song from 1934 "You're the Top" made famous by Ethel Merman, Porter incorporates the line "You're a Bendel Bonnet / a Shakespeare Sonnet", immortalising the brand.
In September 2018, it was announced that the owner, L Brands would close all 23 stores and end the brand. In January 2019, its physical stores and website were closed.