A. Polsky Co.
225 S. Main Street
Akron, Ohio
PO 2-0431
Lower level
Polsky's Budget Store • The Country Kitchen
Main Floor
Fine Jewelry • Jewelry • Watches • Handbags • Leathergoods • Gloves • Hosiery • Fashion Accessories • Chignon Bar • Blouses • Hat Bar • Cosmetics • Toiletries • Boulevard Sportswear • Boulevard Lingerie • Boulevard Shoes • Notions • Stationary • Books • Cameras • Candy • Delicacy Shop • Men's Grooming Bar • Men's Gifts • Men's Sportswear • Men's Furnishings • Men's Furnishings • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats • Young Men's "442" Shop • The Orange Bar • Major Appliances • Sewing Machines • Vacuum Cleaners
Mezzanine
Akron Room Restaurant
Second Floor
Girls' Wear • Boys' Wear • Infants' Wear • Toddlers' Wear • young men's Shop • Domestics • Linens • Fabrics • Beauty Salon • The Trimmers • Portrait Studio • Auditorium
Third Floor
Cascade Sportswear • Better Sportswear • Tally-Ho Shop • Village Shop • Women's World Shop • Daytime Dresses • Thrift Mode Dresses • Cascade Dresses • Better Dresses • Night Life Room • Miss Polsky Shop • Trend Shop • Designer Salon • Misses' Suits • Boulevard Coats • Rainwear • Fashion Coats • Better Coats • Fur Salon • Hat Bar • Millinery Salon • Wig Salon • Fashion Shoe Salon • Children's Shoes • Foundations • Intimate Apparel • Loungewear • Maternity • Uniforms
Junior Place on 3 Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Young JuniorShop
Fourth Floor
Up-to-the-Minute Housewares • China • Glass • Waterford Shop • Gifts • Candle Shop • Clocks • Lamps • Pictures • Mirrors • Needlework • Curtains • Draperies • Trim-A-Home • Stereo Center • Radio • Television • Luggage • Sporting Goods • Toys • Garden Shop • Employment Office • Executive Offices
Fifth Floor
Furniture • Bedding • Dual Sleep Furniture • Casual Furniture • Floor Coverings • Rugs
State & High Streets
Drive-In Garden Center
I have a brochure that was given out on opening day of Polskey's, circa 1930, I believe. Glad to email you a digital scan.
ReplyDeletePlease send to serenityangel2006@gmail.com
DeleteMy grandfather worked at this store
I loved going downtown! My father worked at Firestone, so it was special to go down town shopping - we would also go to Temo;s chocolate store too! e-mail: mydootibbyx2@yahoo.com
DeleteWow, that sounds interesting! Please send to bakgraphics@comcast.net and if possible, a high resolution scan.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your offer!
Bruce
I still have my Mom's old Polsky's charge card :o)
ReplyDeleteI have an old Polsky's lady's hat box from the 1940s. It's still in A-1 condition. Probably stored in an attic for 50+ years.
ReplyDeleteApril - I would take the booklet, and perhaps find the appropriate home (Akron Public Library or Historical Society) for it. I'd scan it to show on the Department Store Museum site. E-mail me at bakgraphics@comcast.net for an address. Thanks! -Bruce
ReplyDeleteI restore antiques and I had a lady that brought me an old cedar chest that has A. Polsky Company stamped on the bottom along with a serial # 538101 and a style # 48299x. Is there someone that might be able to give me any history on this that I might be able to pass on to her?
ReplyDeleteI worked at Polsky's downtown from late 1969 thru early 1973. I ran
ReplyDeletethe supply department which was located on the 5th floor and in the
warehouse. I still miss working there even after all these years. It
was a great place to work with great people. Gary Godfrey
Gary, sure hope that you see this...Nice to hear from you...I'm sure you remember my Dad...best wishes..P Edward Murray
DeleteI saw one of the door pull handles in an antique store in Medina a few weeks ago. I thought about buying it since I work in the build currently for UA, but I didnt.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Godfrey, we are a law firm involved in a case were our client drilled bowling balls for Polsky's Sporting goods department in the same years you worked there. we would like to talk to you about what bowling balls were sold during those years. Perhaps you might recall our client, Bud Spreng. please call me at 216-696-0606 ext 242 if you are willing to talk about any of this or have contact information for any coworkers who might remember Mr. Spreng
DeletePolshys had a mini cable railroad that moved stuff around its warehouse with a tunnel to the Erie Train Station
ReplyDeleteI recently purchased a BEAUTIFULLY built piece of furniture. Some previously had it as a fixer upper project. Found a tag on the back that leads me to believe it is from this department store! Would love to find out if it really is!
ReplyDeleteTom Westling did the Christmas windows @ Polsky's & O'Neals. My Mom, Ethel Richards, did payroll [5th floor]1958yr.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Polsky's after graduate school, starting in 1976...my office was in the Executive suite on the fourth floor.(There was a hidden staircase behind the Boardroom that went down to the third floor, in case we needed to get out fast) You description of the store is great, but there are two kind of fun things that are omitted. Polsky's had its own employee credit union, which was located on the fourth floor between the executive offices and the employment office...it was a one person operation, and a large percentage of employees had loans and deposit accounts there. On the second floor, near the entrance to the bridge to the parking deck/warehouse, behind an unmarked door was the switchboard, which was a room-sized old-school phone exchange, manned by three operators. Polsky's never had direct dial phones, so all calls came into the switchboard, which transferred the call to the phone in your office or to the floor. Depending on your position, you could also be paged, either by a combination of four colored lights (discreetly positioned all over the store), that illuminated while a chime sounded, or by voice, with the operator calling your number over the PA. I will always fondly remember hearing "number 19...number 19", and heading to the nearest phone to to see who needed what. It was a fun and magical place to work...thanks for the memories
ReplyDeleteExtension 276 took me to auditing, where my mother, Glendora Boyts worked for over 35 years.
DeleteSorry...one more silly story. The Akron Room was known for its pies..people raved about the home-made flaky crusts and fresh fillings. They'd come from all over Northern Ohio at holidays to get Polsky's pies...we'd sell hundreds. One day, I stopped in the kitchen and there was a counter full of frozen pies and I said "oh wow...you make them and freeze them until you need them?" And the cook laughed and said "honey, nobody in this kitchen could make a pie from scratch if our lives depended on it...let me show you something." And she opened one of the little plastic containers of cream you'd get with a cup of coffee, and poured it on top of one of the frozen pies, and rubbed it all around the top, then took granulated sugar and sprinkled it over the cream. During the baking, the cream and sugar caused the top crust to become flaky, with a slight crispy glaze. Voila...home-made pie. To this day, I use the Polsky recipe.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed all the memories above. When I was very young (late 1940s to early 1950s) each Christmas my Mom took me to see the windows at Polsky's and Oneil's. One of them had an elevator inside that gave the illusion of going up/down many floors when it was only just one or two. The amazing Christmas spirit filled both places. Moved away in 1962 and alas, never been back. But Polsky's and Oneil's stand out in my memory. Thanks for having this website, my heart also thanks you.
ReplyDeleteJulika!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that. I appreciate it.
-Bruce
My mother and I used to go to country kitchen at Polskys when she went out shopping on Friday.Then we would go to Higbees,Shulans Jewlers and Scotts 5 and 10 cent store where she usually baught me some toys.
ReplyDeleteI just found a set of cufflinks and button pins that my fiance had buried in some of his stuff, is there a way to get some history on them? I want him to wear them for our wedding and would love some information about them! Especially since he cannot remember who he got them from
ReplyDeleteI was a stockboy there in the 60's. I remember getting bringing stock from the track that ran from the warehouse up to the fifth floor off the track and would have to take the stock to different floors. You would always hear over the speakers "Stockboy" "We need a stockboy on 2nd floor". Sometimes you would have to carry packages, or push stockcars to the parking lot. Sometimes we would have to help with the windows during Christmas time. All the employees had to come in the side doors on State St. or Bowery St. i think, to punch in before you went to work. The warehouse was like another city underground people everywhere. Great time there you would meet alot of people there sometimes you would see some of the rich and famous, maybe a movie star, famous singer that was in town shopping. Always trying to compete with O'neils.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the warehouse from '63 to 67'parttime while I was in high school. What's your name? Maybe we knew each other back then. You can reply to my email. It's jkhoury1947@gmail.com.
DeleteI have a " Wooden Nickle" From Polsky's Not sure how old it would be or for what reason it would have been given out.
ReplyDeleteI found old silver ware from here . Name on it is community plate. Anyone know anything about this item?
ReplyDeleteThank you
I found old silver ware from here . Name on it is community plate. Anyone know anything about this item?
ReplyDeleteThank you
Hi, I just purchased a cute little eesk from an antique shop. Looks like a vanity, has one drawer in the front with a small 6 drawer cabinet on top with double wire doors. The top is only about a foot high. There is a Polsky's tag stapled underneath to the side. Anyone have any ideas how old this may be or anything about it? I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteI found a Wooden Nickle from Polsky"s in a junk box at an auction. Could someone tell me what the date would be or from which Dept?
ReplyDeleteI have a 33 1/3 record that says Polsky's Akron Summit Mall, with a picture of the store front on it. The record has a blue circle where the grooves are. Can anyone give me more information on it?
ReplyDeleteWas there a Polsky's store in Canton ? I work in a building downtown Canton Ohio and several residents in the community say it was the location of the Polsky's but I can't seem to find anything about it> help.
ReplyDeleteHalle Brothers had a small downtown store on North Market Avenue, a few blocks north of Tuscarawas. Polsky's moved in after Halle's moved out. Halle's replaced its small downtown store with a specialty store in Belden Village. Polsky's had a small employee's cafeteria on the 3rd or 4th floor. The public could eat there too. The menu was limited to hamburgers and sandwiches. Sadly, all Polsky's stored went out of business during the late 1970s.
DeleteThe building beside the old McKinley high school ( now nursing home) on the south side, separated by parking lot was Polsky’s. Shopped there many times in ‘50’s -‘60’s
DeleteI just came across my great Grandma’s Polskys fur coat and was wondering if you could tell what kind of fur it’s made out of my whole family was born in Akron the last name is Lowers if it rings a bell please let me know if you can help thanks and have a great day
ReplyDeleteThe display windows at Christmas were always remarkable - little fantasy worlds that I got lost in when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteMy late grandfather Donald Wales Lees, Sr. was a furniture delivery truck driver and supervisor for Polsky’s in the 40s and 50s. He loved Polsky’s and would always tell us how well they treated him. He would take us to see the Christmas windows every year. Fond memories of my grandfather and Polsky’s.
ReplyDeleteI remember the tall, thin blonde woman who worked in the toy department. She kept her hair pulled back in a bun. I can still envision her.
ReplyDeleteI still have the charge plate that was good at both Polsky's and O'Neils. Loved the hamburgers in the country kitchen and remember as a small child being in what my mother called The Tea Room on the mezzanine. I still mourn the loss of the beautiful art deco elevators on the main floor. Donated some old hat boxes and their hats to a silent auction several years ago. They were in great demand.
ReplyDeleteI have my husband's grandmother dining room table with the extra pieces still in the box with label on it thats how i know its from this store
ReplyDeleteI was one of the last Santa Claus' at Polsky's in downtown Akron. I was actually working for Polaroid. I had two great elf helpers and saw hundreds of children from Thanksgiving to Christmas eve. I was also honored to be the Santa for "Breakfast with Santa" in the Akron Room restaurant. I went around to the tables and visited with the Children while they were eating. There was also a clown. I was sad when Christmas came and my job was over, but MUCH sadder when I learned that the store was closing and they were not going to have a Santa the following year. Wonderful Memories.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather, Oliver P. Welch, was the building Superintendent of Polsky's when I was a young boy. Don't remember the exact year, but he retired sometime in the 1961-1964 time frame.
ReplyDeleteDuring the summers, he'd take me to work with him and I learned a lot about being a carpenter and watched him as you built relationships with co-workers and staff; he appeared to be well liked and respected. I also remember "Wayne", the painter, was always kind to me and showed me methods to paint items for the store.
I raced in the Akron Soap Box Derby for two years and my Polsky sponsored cars was displayed on the main department store level along with 5-6 others.
I remember them tearing down old structures and buildings on High Street (that used to be a school, then used for the maintenance departments) and then building the warehouse where someone mentioned about the trains that carried boxes around in the facility. I used to jump on those train carts and ride around the building. That was advanced technology for that time period.
I remember when "Shorty", who owned a small amusement park on Arlington Street would once a year bring in a merry-go-round and set it up in the back of the main level.
I witnessed the setting up of the Santa Clause Village and seeing the windows set up for Christmas before the they were revealed to the public. Polsky's was always packed with shoppers during the holdays.
These were memorable times since I was so close to my grandfather.
I remember Grandpa Welch being so proud to have been a part of Polsky's. He was a great artist, he had much talent, and he loved you with all his heart...
DeleteMy grandfather, Oliver P. Welch, was the building Superintendent of Polsky's when I was a young boy. Don't remember the exact year, but he retired sometime in the 1961-1964 time frame.
ReplyDeleteDuring the summers, he'd take me to work with him and I learned a lot about being a carpenter and watched him as you built relationships with co-workers and staff; he appeared to be well liked and respected. I also remember "Wayne", the painter, was always kind to me and showed me methods to paint items for the store.
I raced in the Akron Soap Box Derby for two years and my Polsky sponsored cars was displayed on the main department store level along with 5-6 others.
I remember them tearing down old structures and buildings on High Street (that used to be a school, then used for the maintenance departments) and then building the warehouse where someone mentioned about the trains that carried boxes around in the facility. I used to jump on those train carts and ride around the building. That was advanced technology for that time period.
I remember when "Shorty", who owned a small amusement park on Arlington Street would once a year bring in a merry-go-round and set it up in the back of the main level.
I witnessed the setting up of the Santa Clause Village and seeing the windows set up for Christmas before the they were revealed to the public. Polsky's was always packed with shoppers during the holdays.
These were memorable times since I was so close to my grandfather.
Thank you for such interesting comments, that keep the memory of Polsky's and its people alive!
ReplyDelete-Bruce
My father, Wilford W. Hardesty, was a realtor in Akron for many years. He picked up a four sheel cart used by Polskys. I still have it.
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to shop at Polsky’s and O’neils back in the 1940’s. I can’t recall which of these stores had a malt shoppe in their basement which was always packed with customers. They were the absolute best malts ever. It was during WWII and all the stores were super busy with customers.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great memories of yesterday website.