Reich and Lièvre was a chain of stores across California in the early 1900s, focusing on upscale women's apparel, a format known at the time as "cloak and suit shops". Founded by Maurice Reich and real estate broker George Lièvre and based in San Francisco, it had multiple branch locations in that city as well as Oakland (1530 Broadway), San José, Sacramento (808 K St.), Stockton, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego.
In 1920, Mr. Reich bought out Mr. Lièvre, but the name was kept.
Locations
The Los Angeles store was located at the Issacs Building, 737-745 S. Broadway.
In Oakland, an expanded store opened in a dedicated, luxurious new building 1922. The architect was William Knowles.
In Sacramento, too Reich and Lièvre was considered a leading women's fashion store along with Weinstock's.
Product lines
As of 1922, the Oakland store, for example carried (for women) gowns, suits, wraps, coats, dresses, informal frocks, millinery, hosiery, veiling, neckwear, handkerchiefs, underwear, petticoats, blouses and sweaters, as well as in new departments sports apparel, shoes, jewelry, handbags, gloves and corsets. The store also carried infants' wear, children's wear, and housed a beauty shop.
Epilogue
The retailer went out of business in 1927. The four-story, 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m) Oakland store became a branch of the Bedell chain.
In San Francisco, the 51 Stockton St. store near Union Square became Reich's.
Reich's grandson, Jay Rich, as of a 1982 report, ran a chain of Rich's Women's Apparel stores in Sacramento, Carmichael, Yuba City and Roseville, California.
References
- "Reich and Lièvre advertisement". Los Angeles Times. March 3, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- Avella, Steven M. (2008). The Good Life: Sacramento's Consumer Culture. p. 31-32. ISBN 9780738525242. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "Reich and lièvre advertisement". Oakland Tribune. March 31, 1922. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "House of Bedell Opens Oakland Unit Tomorrow". Oakland Tribune. February 25, 1927. p. 18. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "Reich's ad". San Francisco Examiner. February 15, 1929. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "Apparel shop rich in history relocates in Roseville Square". July 2, 1982. Retrieved 22 May 2019.