Gertz (department store)

Gertz was a New York-based department store, headquartered in Jamaica, Queens. Founded in 1918 by Benjamin Gertz, along with his five sons,^[1] the company was acquired by Allied Stores in 1941.^[2][3]

Gertz department store in Mid-Island Plaza in Hicksville, New York in 1957

Gertz

The shopping plaza in Jamaica, Queens which originally served as the Gertz flagship store.
Company type	Department store
Founded	1918; 106 years ago (1918)
Founder	Benjamin Gertz
Defunct	1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Fate	Folded into Stern's
Successor	Stern's (1982–2001) Macy's (2001–present)
Area served	New York metropolitan area
Parent	Allied Stores

Gertz had branch stores in Douglaston, Flushing, Great Neck, Hicksville, Massapequa, Bay Shore, Lake Grove, and East Hampton.^[4] The 300,000 square foot Hicksville location was opened in 1956 in the Mid-Island Plaza, known today as Broadway Commons;^[5] that store would eventually become Sterns in 1983, followed by Macy's in 2001. Currently the building is vacant as of Macy's closing in the spring of 2020.^[6] In 1981, Gertz opened at two former Korvette's locations in Douglaston and Lake Grove, but that year, changing demographics caused the company's first store closure, its flagship Jamaica location. Later, the Bay Shore location was converted to a Stern's and then a Macy's. After Macy's closed the location, the building was demolished and a Lowe's was built on the site.

References

1. "Paid Notice: Deaths GERTZ, DIANA RADIN". The New York Times. Section D. May 16, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
2. Shipp, E.R. (September 9, 1980). "Some See Gertz Closing As an Ill Wind in Jamaica; Founded in 1918 Concern for the Future 'A Very Traumatic Experience'". The New York Times. Section M. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
3. "Allied Stores Corp". The New York Times. Business. April 20, 1965. p. 61. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
4. Leroy, Bridget (September 29, 2011). "Stern's Buildings Demoed". The East Hampton Star. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
5. "GERTZ SIGNS FIRST IN BIG L. I. CENTER; Queens Department Store to Occupy Six-Story Building in New Hicksville Project". The New York Times. Business Financial. March 17, 1955. p. 40. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
6. Parrish, Troy N. (January 8, 2020). "Macy's says it will close Hicksville store; Commack store to close this summer". Newsday. Retrieved December 13, 2021.