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| The landmark Pizitz store in Birmingham as it appeared in 1949. |
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| Pizitz downtown Montgomery store. |
The Louis Pzitz Dry Goods Co.
119 19th St. N (At 2nd St. N.)
Birmingham, Alabama
Full exhibit coming in due course.
The on-line museum of North America's independent department stores. The museum holds all sorts of information about classic department stores which either no longer exist, or are changed beyond recognition. A few of them are still with us, and provide an interesting connection to North America's retail past. The others are presented so that they may be properly remembered as a tangible part of the lives of their customers, shopping destinations where memories were often made.
Does anyone have a picture of the Pizitz store in Huntville at the Parkway City Shopping Center? I think it was styled the same as the Mongomery Store, but the Montgomery store looks to be larger. I worked there for about a year from the day it opened, everyday after school for 4 hours and for 9 hours each Saturday. I loved it! My department was "Pens and Notions" with the "big ticket" items being home typewrites by Royal and Smith Corona. That was my specialty in the days before personal computers.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have a picture of the Tuscaloosa Pizitz in the late 40s?
ReplyDeleteI would have to check my sources, but I think that was a case of same family - different store. If I am not wrong there is a picture in the Google Newspaper archive, but it has been a long time since I saw it. - Bruce
ReplyDeleteMy mother once told me that she was trying on a green coat with a fox collar, and Mr. Pizitz happened by and complimented the choice for her complexion and hair color! She was very impressed by that encounter. It was at the Birmingham flagship in the 1940's.
ReplyDeletePizitz was our store. It was truly a sad day when they closed. As I recall, "Lovemans" closed first. This was the beginning of the end of the "Jewish Clothing Monopoly" in Birmingham and with its demise the beginning of the downward trend in the downtown Birmingham area. It seemed like all the major clothing stores from everyday ready to wear to high end were owned by Jewish families. Look at the list of stores they once owned, Burger-Phillips, Tillman-Levinson, Newberry's, Blach's, Aland's, New Williams, and Parisian's. Besides, Mr Pizitz generation dying, and I guess some of their children did not wish to continue in the clothing business--I guess the advent of the "Mall" concept had something to do with these stores closing and the downward trend in downtown Birmingham as well. They are re-vitalizing the downtown area now and the old Loveman building is the McWane Center. All those original buildings are still standing. They should make that area an historic district, if they haven't already.
ReplyDeleteIs there any chance that the last name of owners was Mullane?
DeleteI meet an Mr luker says he worked there
ReplyDeleteI was born in the actual department store! The Tuscalooa Pizitz! My mother gave me the middle name Pizitz! I go by it more than my first name. Can't wait for it to open again
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what department was on the 2nd Avenue side of the 6th floor of the downtown Birmingham flagship store? I am living there now and curious.
ReplyDeleteWell yes. My office was located there. I was associate visual director at Pizitz and we had our offices and department, which ran along the back wall of the building on 6th floor.
DeleteMy mother was an orphan in the 20's. She roamed Shades mountain as a hungary child and teen. Mr. Lois pizitz took her in and and treated her kind.She has told me stories of her stay with him and his family.They were wealthy.
ReplyDeleteI took her back before she passed to the area and even though the area had grown she directed me to his home...which we found to be a museum now. I know his kindness made an impact on her sordid life at that time. I tried to locate his surviving famil..to no avail. Mary Sellers Nyegard maranda1@earthlink.net contact me if you wish I would love to hear from you
I have a pizits hat box with a mini and brown feather hat still.inside like new it also Nas 2 beautiful lace like pieces that cover your eyes!
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