"The Store with the Friendly Spirit"
1960s ad illustrating Hahne & Co. on Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey
Hahne & Co. (1862)
609 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey
MArket 3-4100
NEWARK STORE DIRECTORY (441,000 sq. ft.)
Basement
Toyland • Housewares • Small Electrics • Notions • Sporting• Luggage • Televisions and Stereos • Records • Maple Room Restaurant
Hahne & Company Budget Store
Street Floor
Fine Jewelry • Costume Jewelry • Silverware • Handbags • Gloves • Small Leather Goods • Fashion Accessories • Hosiery • Blouses • Sweaters • Street Floor Sportswear • Street Floor Shoes • Cosmetics • Fragrance Bar • Home Sewing and Needlework Center • Sewing Machines • Stationery • Candy • Gourmet Shop • Books • Greeting Cards • Camera Shop • Portrait Studio • Fabrics • Domestics • Table Linens • Pine Room Restyaurant • Watch and Jewelry Repair
Store for Men Men's Furnishings • Men's Sport Furnishings • Men's Sportswear • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats • Men's Designer Shop • University Shop • Young Men's Shop
Second Floor - Hahne & Co. Fashion Floor
Misses' Sportswear • Active Sportswear • Daytime Dresses • Casual Shop • Misses' Dresses • Better Dresses • Town & Country Shop • The Villager Shop • Evening Shop • Little Price Dresses • Young Idea Shops • Coats • Town & Country Coats • Suits • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Millinery • Beauty Salon • Lingerie • Loungewear • Silhouette Shop • Sleepwear • Shoe Salon • Etienne Aigner Shop • The Shop for Pappagallo • Auditorium
Designer Collections Designer Dresses • Designer Shoes • Designer Coats • Designer Room
College Shops Junior Miss Dresses • Junior Miss Sportswear • Junior Miss Coats • Young Juniors' Shop
Young World Infants' Shop • Tots' Shop • Girls' Shop • Boys' Shop • Pre-Teens' Shop • Teen Shop • Children's Shoes
Third Floor
Home Decorating Floor Fine Furniture • Furniture Model Rooms • Sleep Shop • Interior Design Studio • Broadloom • Area Rugs • China • Crystal Gallery • Williamsburg Shop • Gifts • Century Gift Shop • Lamps • Picture Gallery • Mirrors
Fourth Floor
Lawn and Leisure Center • Town and Terrace • Draperies • Curtains • Major Appliances • Paint and Wallpaper • Trim the Tree Shop • Customer Service • Credit Office • Executive Offices
BRANCH STORES
Montclair (1929/1951)
Westfield (1963)
Livingston Mall (1972)
Eatontown
160,000 sq.ft.
Quaker Bridge Mall (1976)
Lawrenceville
Woodbridge Center (1979)
Hahne's Restaurant
Rockaway Town Square (1980)
Hahne's Restaurant
Here is the full directory for Hahne & Co.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for the help with the Hahne & Company directory. I was struggling wits ads from 1937-1947, my own notes from the early '80s, and some ads for the Quaker Bridge store. Your information has helped me zero in on the "true" Hahne's of the 1960's and early 1970's, when it was obviously a unique and magnificent store.
ReplyDeleteThis research makes me question what happened to it . . . in the 1980's the store's ads were nondescript, and I have t believe that Associated Dry Goods, which appeared to have many top-of-the-line stores in its chain, downgraded Hahne's into oblivion. A true shame and no wonder, given this approach. It makes me sad to know many of our fine stores were so degraded, that there was no way for them to survive into the future.
I will be adding some other ad illustrations soon.
Again, thank you for your (quick!) help.
BAK
BAK: What happened to Hahne's? I had friends who worked for Hahne's as Buyers when I was a Buyer at Bamberger's down the street (and around the block). Hahne's, along with Lord&Taylor and Stewart's were the founding stores for ADG. These stores, primarily L&T set a great standard for ADG. Hahne's, as I was told by so many friends that worked there, in a nutshell, "never met a mall in New jersey it liked." While Bamberger's expanded, Hahne's truly believed people would still flock to Newark, which by 1970 was a completely gutted mess due to the 1968 riots. Yes, they had Montclair, Westfield and Monmouth but that was it. Newark dropped quickly and Hahne's management, not ADG, resisted expansion...again, people will come back to Newark any day now (they never did). By the time they did expand, it was too late. Bamberger's (who never saw a mall it did not like) was intrenched in the psyche of the New jersey shopper. With very few exceptions (mostly Short Hills, because they had Livingston down the street and Riverside Square, Garden State Plaza down the street) Bamberger's was in every mall. Hahne's realized it lacked of branches cost it dearly and hired a new CEO in 1981, but at that point it was too late. When May bought ADG, and I hate to say this, believe me I do, it made logical sense to convert the Hahne's stores to the L&T nameplate. However what May Co did to my beloved L&T for years is another story, and at least under current ownership they have found a path. In the end Hahne's management was to blame and no one else.
DeleteI have four pieces of furniture from Hahne & Co.. Possibly from the Maple room or the third floor fine furniture. I would like to send you some pictures of them. They're in great shape and compliment our 1912 Victor Victrola.
DeleteI have four pieces of furniture from Hahne & Co.. Possibly from the Maple room or the third floor fine furniture. I would like to send you some pictures of them. They're in great shape and compliment our 1912 Victor Victrola.
DeleteIn the 1980's some of the suburban stores like Woodbridge got a heavy renovations to make them relevant again. Surprising, since by that time, their clientele had moved onto the competition and merchandise was not as upscale as their 'new' store image. By the end of the 80's it was hopeless.
ReplyDeleteI visited the Newark store in the early 80's and, unlike Bamberger's which by that time had become tired and frowzy, Hahne's was still a beautiful store. Considering how bad downtown Newark was, stepping through the front door was like being transported into another world. I particularly remember the glittering chandeliers.
ReplyDeleteI remember going "downtown" to Hahne's as a child and pre-teen and just loving that store. There was actually a merry-go-round in the basement with an unbelievable toy store. There's just nothing like it anywhere now and I wish my kids could have seen what a great place is was to shop!
ReplyDeleteThe Montclair store is a landmark building and has been reconfigured as condo's. Built by Raymond Lowry Associates, it was the store we would shop in. A beautiful; store that at Christmas was so special. And in its day of the 50's and 60's it was the center stone of shopping in Downtown Montclair.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the Hahne's Newark advertising department from 75' to 81' and It was a store like no other. High end everything from furniture to designer clothes. The Oak Room was a fine place to have have lunch and I have fond memories of my time there and the learning experience at the start of my career!
ReplyDeleteExcellent summary. Hahne's last (I believe) store opened in the late 1980s in Garden State Plaza, on the site of Gimbel's. A beautiful store, later gutted for Nordstrom.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Macy's down the mall when Hahne's opened at Garden State Plaza -- a beautiful store in every detail. Was replaced later by Nordstrom.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Tuna on white sandwiches (would drive my mother nuts cause I would order the same thing every time///and I'm still trying to replicate the taste) in the basement luncheonette in their Newark, NJ store in the fifties and sixties. Then the riots happened and it was all over.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to read the stories about Hahne & Co.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great store, and as a kid I swore that the Maple Room (in the basement) had the best hamburgers anywhere !
As was mentioned they had a merry go round in the basement along with a unique, large, Toy Department.
Although downtown Newark deteriorated badly from the mid-70's on, and Hahne's may have cut back on selling space and departments, but they maintained the selling areas well right to the end.
Ken
Ken
I agree. The store was beautiful right to the end. The issue was, unlike Bamberger's, they never saw a mall they liked, and did not see the expansion into the suburban NJ areas in the 50s, 60s, and especially the 70s. Their demise, will obvious, was still a sad story. We shopped, mainly, the Montclair store, and it was so beautiful and so civilized. Ladies with white gloves and all that. I always found it odd that ADG, who owned them (along with Lord and Taylor) never saw the need to expand them, and when they did, it was too late. Lord and Taylor had only two NJ stores at the time (Millburn and Ridgewood) so there was no overlap. The mentality, especially after the Newark riots in '68, to still focus on Newark was short sighted at best.
Deletei worked as a gift wrapper at the Livingston store. So much fun, shoppers gave us tips!(1973
ReplyDeleteI lived in Flushing,Queens early 80s; I definitely remember visiting a Hahne's store but cannot find any reference to one on internet. Anyone help please
ReplyDeleteIf you mean a Hahne's in Queens,there never was one. They were only in NJ and very limited in scope. You can google Hahne's Department Store and it will give you a history of the store.
DeleteMy mother took me shopping to the branch in Montclair throughout my childhood in the 1960s. It was a great store. I also remember the bargain outlet they had across the street. It had the ground floor and the basement. To get downstairs was a long set of steps which were longer than normal ones and on a curve. It stands out because my mom wanted to check out the bargains on the day after I badly sprained my ankle. I gentlemanly endured the descent but will never forget them.
ReplyDeleteThere's still a Hahne & Company sign painted on a building in Halsey Street in Newark. I always pass by it on my way to work and it made me want to research the history of this store. It is wonderful to read everyone's memories.
ReplyDeleteLiz,
ReplyDeleteIs that you, my old friend from Hahne's advertising dept?
Hey Liz-
ReplyDeleteBeen a long time-I've been thinking about the early days at Hahne's and how much fun we had in the advertising department - wondering whatever happened to everybody there, but especially my maid of honor. I finally have my "condo at the beach," (a townhouse) - been down the shore for 18 years now. Remmebe all those crazy bars?
Omg I'm finally reading this! How have u been? I'm in Florida, glad u are on the beach!!!! Going to find u! Miss those jersey bars, but Holme is still playing in Belmar
DeleteA great place gone!
ReplyDeleteI remember the store so well. My grandmother worked in the restaurant most of her adult life and retired from Hahnes,probably in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteI worked in Bambergers a few blocks away and would visit (for a free lunch) all the time!
So happy to have found this site. I worked at Hahne's, street floor, womens sportswear and blouses in 1975 thru 1977. It was so beautiful and i remember how strict they were with employees...the customer always was top priorty and treated with respect. I learned so much there, was sorry to see it go. Plus, their employee discount was fabulous, I was one of the best dressed high school students in Newark!
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC site!!! I lives a few block away from the Montclair branch in the 70's/80's. It was a great store, and I would always pop in to buy various presents and Christmas shop. A friend of mine had a job being a window dresser in that location. I remember once buying a scarf for mothers Day, and Olympia Dukakis, who lived in town, was behind me and remarked "how lovely" regarding my purchase. At the time and her husband were running a theater "The Whole Theater Company". She wa delightful. The building was also a truly stylish Mid Century Modern building with circular staircases and a roundish front. Truly well designed. A shame the building has been torn down and replaced by condos. I remember my mother taking us there as a child in the 60's and it seemed so elegant, like something you would see in the movies. Sorry to digress, just lot's of memories coming back! LOL....thanks again.
ReplyDeleteAs a child growing up in Newark in the 50's and 60's, Hahne's was a huge part of my life.
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I took the bus downtown and walked from Bamberger's to Hahne's and on the way, sometimes visiting the other stores in search of that perfect outfit.When I think of Newark and shopping there all those years ago, it is Hahne's that is still my favorite.They truly had the best there was to offer and the displays were beautiful.Sometimes we ate there and sometimes we ate at Schrafft's plain and fancy which was close.Life was good and my memories are wonderful.Thank you to everyone who shared their comments here.
I worked in the Newark store in 1965-66. It was very inefficient with only a couple of freight elevators to take things up to the four floors. The escalators only went to the third floor. It had almost no parking. Even in the sixties we understood that the world was moving on from it. Being identical to Lord and Taylor, even owned by the same company but having a different name created marketing problems because New Jersey doesn't have TV stations of it's own. In those days, people were less price sensitive and it was no secret that we were more expensive.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the gift wrap department at the Woodbridge Center location (1979-1981). I, too, got tips! So much fun! And there was a very cute guy named Harvey who worked in the men's department...he would come to visit me when it was slow (weeknights)...too bad I don't remember his last name...would be fun to see him again after all these years!
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't grow up in Northern New Jersey, you wouldn't know from the spelling that it was pronounced Haynes
ReplyDeleteI worked in the marking department at the Newark store from 1968 to 1970 while attending college in Newark. I still have Xmas ornaments I bought when working there. I also subbed operating the elevators, they weren't automated at the time. It was a beautiful store, I loved the look of that grand stairway.
ReplyDeleteI've come across a booklet advertising Hahne & Co. There is no date on it but it looks to be quite old. Do you think this could be a collectors item?
ReplyDeleteIt has some value as an historical artifact. You will probably not get rich off of it. I have bouoght similar items on eBay for $10-$20. You could consider donating it to a museum or achive. I would love to post the item on this site as a part of the exhibit - I would welcome a good copy scan of the booklet if it were possible for you to do so. I would certainly credit you as the donor of the information.
ReplyDelete-Bruce
My Grandma worked in the Maple Room for many years and retired from there. As a young man I would visit her there and get a free lunch! Later, after I graduated high school I got my first job a few blocks away at Bams.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Queens in 1984,.I never traveled to NJ
ReplyDeleteI have a Hahne's credit card that I applied for and received at a branch in Queens...yet this is no branch ?
I'm looking for a man who used to work there in 1974 1975. His name is Mr. LaGuardia and he played the accordion. Anybody know him?
ReplyDeleteI've linked to this site from http://arnoldpostcardcollection.blogspot.com/2015/04/hahne-co-hartford-sewing-machines-page.html page 111 of the Earl J. Advertising Card Collection. This site is outstanding, not just for its original content, but for first-person historical narrative of the comments. Hope the "followers" gadget gets fixed. As of this visit, it claimed it was incorrectly configured.
ReplyDeleteAs of September 2015, the Hahne's store is undergoing conversion to condos. I just remembered, my roommate used to work at the Montclair store back in the late-1970s. I'll have to ask her if she has any stories.
ReplyDeleteThe Monmouth Mall store actually opened the year before, March 5, 1975.
ReplyDeleteWow - what a trip down memory lane. This was my first job (part-time while in college). I used to commute from Philly to the Quaker Bridge Mall to work in the lingerie department. I have fond memories of Hahne's and Strawbridge and Clothier! One of those stores (I don't remember which) had a fabulous training program for new hires. Rather than throw us on the floor to just learn the cash wrap operations, we met in a conference room as a group and ran through a mock transaction on paper then took turns going up to a cash register to practice. Having worked many retail jobs at small chain stores, I've always fondly remembered that initial training and wished a program like it still existed. So much better than having a sales person watch videos in the back room and learn by trial and error on the sales floor with customers anxious to get the transaction done!
ReplyDeleteThere were 8 stores (Livingston Mall is missing from above) and the warehouse in South Plainfield.
ReplyDelete(Fomer Hahne's employee)(Woodbridge and Newark 1979-1986)
i have a jewelry box in excellent condition Adam meldrum &anderson co. stamped on it
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother, Viola Senft, was the candy buyer in the Newark store for many. many years. She retired around 1975. So many memories are tied to that store, and it has been wonderful reading everything on this site. I too remember the carousel in the toy dept and seeing Santa there every year. We lived within walking distance of Menlo Mall, but mom always took us to Hahnes. I always thought the wood trimmed cases were so beautiful And you could buy warm nuts as they kept heat lamps on the nut cases. Thank you for the wonderful site and bringing back so many lovely memories of days gone by and a grandmother I adored
ReplyDeleteI think Hahne's briefly replaced Gimbel's in Garden State Plaza. Then the store was totally renovated and re-opened as the first Nordstrom in New Jersey.
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ReplyDeleteMy grandmother wrapped packages in the Newark store. In the 50's we would take the bus from Belleville to visit her and shop. I still have items purchased in the China department.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great find. I started by career at Hahne's in the Woodbridge store in 79 first selling credit applications and then moved to the Lingerie department. After 6 months I was moved to Sportswear, then I was promoted to Assistant Buyer in Sportswear in the Newark store.
ReplyDeleteIn 1980 I was offered the position of Department Manager of Kids.
I have fond memories of handwriting receipts, floor moves and great friends.
Worked at bambergers in the 70s on the 11th floor...best job in the world...nights and weekend...miss that place
ReplyDeletemy grandmother marie Reynolds was secretary to the president for many years
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ReplyDeleteI worked as a visual designer in the Woodbridge store in the 1970's. Angela Patterson was manager of visual design. What a great experience. I remember a famous designer visited the furniture department. Anyone remember his name?
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