Do you miss shopping at Neusteter's?
You may remember the last Neusteter's store closing in 1986, but do you know how the company (which served the Denver area for nearly 75 years) began?
A transcript of a 1949 episode of the radio program Enterprise Unlimited (available in the Western History and Genealogy Department) provided us with details of the store's early days.
Max David Neusteter was the oldest son in a family of five boys and three girls. By age 13, Max was selling newspapers to help support his family. When the Neusteter family moved from Cincinnati to St. Louis in 1892, Max took a job at the Stix, Baer & Fuller Department Store as a stock boy. Over the course of six years, he worked his way up to becoming the assistant coat and suit buyer.
While working as the general manager of women's departments for Stix, Baer & Fuller, Max opened his own women's specialty store in St. Louis. Max's brother, Meyer, assisted him with the store's operations, and soon they established a second store in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Around this time, Max's health began to decline, and he was advised to move to Colorado to regain his vigor. Max stayed in Estes Park for two years to convalesce. While on a visit to Denver in 1911, Max caught wind of a clothing store set to close on 16th Street called Phillipsborn & Co. The retiring owners sold the store to Max in July 1911.
In the span of two years, the original 3,000-foot floor space had to be increased to 9,000 feet. Max and Meyer closed their Lincoln and St. Louis stores in 1914 to focus on the Denver business that was rapidly expanding. The basic principle behind the brothers' business was that good fashion was good fashion, be it a high-priced gown or a moderately priced dress. This variety of price points at Neusteter's helped to build a wide customer base for the store.
The Neusteter Co. opened a "new and enlarged establishment" at 720 16th Street on September 6, 1924.
Max Neusteter died in 1925 at the age of 51. Well-known in the community for his retail business as well as his dedication to charities such as the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society and the Denver Sheltering Home for Jewish Children, a local newspaper article reported that hundreds of friends and employees paid tribute to Mr. Neusteter at his funeral. The Neusteter store closed for the day in his honor.
The Neusteter Company continued to be family-owned and operated after Max's death. The Cherry Creek Neusteter's, the last of the Neusteter's stores, closed its doors on May 26, 1986.
Do you miss other Denver stores of old? Check out the Western History and Genealogy department's blogs about Fashion Bar and Daniels & Fisher!
If you like posts like this, be sure and like our WHG Facebook page!
Comments
My mother purchased my back
My mother purchased my back-to-school clothes at the Colorado Springs Neusteter's in the mid to late 60's. As a teenager I felt like a fashion model in their clothes. In fact, I seem to recall that we found some of those outfits in the fashion magazines. I still remember some of those dresses all these years later. They were the most stylish clothes of the time. Fun memories of a different era.
I to loved Neusteters….it was
I to loved Neusteters….it was so special, I still remember the great smell, when you walked inside the doors...My mom told me they sprayed perfume every day before opening the store...Don't know is that was true...But my fondest memories was shopping at that beautiful store.....God Bless
P.S. - I still remember the
P.S. - I still remember the fantastic cashmere coat my father bought me......
I remember many shopping
I remember many shopping sprees in that wonderful store. I particularly remember their fabric and shoe departments. Both my sister and I felt very elegant shopping in Neusteters during the 60's. What a lovely store.
I never had the pleasure of
I never had the pleasure of visiting any of the stores. But I did come across a bride book I believe came from the store it’s copyright 1950. The bridal consultant was Marguerite Hall. Email Pendolajohn@gmail.com
I have a pair of snakeskin
I have a pair of snakeskin peep toe pumps my Mother bought at Neusteters in Denver somewhere around 1952. My Dad was stationed at Fitzsimmons from 1946 until 1960.
I remember going to the store
I remember going to the store in Cinderella City with my Grandma. I’ve been looking through pictures of CC and can’t find any of Nuesteters. What I’d give to see a picture of the giant spiral staircase! Was talking to my mom about it and she can’t remember as she has gotten some dementia so I want to show her a picture hoping it would spark a memory.
The beauty salons were
The beauty salons were elegant and Mr Mack was the owner.
My Grandmother, Myra Smith
My Grandmother, Myra Smith (back then), used to model for Neusteter's store!!!
I believe we need this
I believe we need this elegance, quality and sense of business back. There are many of us lost and longing for classics, polite society.
Add new comment