Gayfers: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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C.J. Gayfer migrated to [[Mobile, Alabama]] from [[Southwold]], [[England]] sometime after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. He opened a retail department store, Gayfer's, in downtown Mobile in 1879. At the time of his death in 1915, Gayfer's employed 150 people and averaged over $500,000 in annual sales.<ref name="Flottes-CJGayfer">{{cite web|url=http://www.flotte2.com/MobileCitizens#gayfer|section=History|accessdate=2007-11-26|title=Flotte's Notes on Mobile and Baldwin Citizens|publisher=Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Ecomonics}}</ref> |
C.J. Gayfer migrated to [[Mobile, Alabama]] from [[Southwold]], [[England]] sometime after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. He opened a retail department store, Gayfer's, in downtown Mobile in 1879. At the time of his death in 1915, Gayfer's employed 150 people and averaged over $500,000 in annual sales. Gayfer became well-known for his philanthropy and was one of the earliest proponents of employee health care benefits.<ref name="Flottes-CJGayfer">{{cite web|url=http://www.flotte2.com/MobileCitizens#gayfer|section=History|accessdate=2007-11-26|title=Flotte's Notes on Mobile and Baldwin Citizens|publisher=Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Ecomonics}}</ref> |
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During the 1950s, the [[Mercantile Stores]] chain acquired Gayfer's, which then worked aggressively on the expansion of the chain. The first branch store was opened at Town & Country Plaza in [[Pensacola]], [[Florida]], in 1956. This successful move was followed four years later with the opening of the Springdale Plaza store in Mobile, Alabama, becoming the company's flagship store. The Downtown Mobile store closed in 1985.<ref name="Flottes-Gayfers">{{cite web|url=http://www.flotte2.com/MobileEconomics#gayfers|section=History|accessdate=2007-11-26|title=Flotte's Notes on Mobile, Alabama|publisher=Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Ecomonics}}</ref> |
During the 1950s, the [[Mercantile Stores]] chain acquired Gayfer's, which then worked aggressively on the expansion of the chain. The first branch store was opened at Town & Country Plaza in [[Pensacola]], [[Florida]], in 1956. This successful move was followed four years later with the opening of the Springdale Plaza store in Mobile, Alabama, becoming the company's flagship store. The Downtown Mobile store closed in 1985.<ref name="Flottes-Gayfers">{{cite web|url=http://www.flotte2.com/MobileEconomics#gayfers|section=History|accessdate=2007-11-26|title=Flotte's Notes on Mobile, Alabama|publisher=Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Ecomonics}}</ref> |
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In 1998, Merchantile Stores was purchased by Dillard's, Inc., and the stores that were not closed or sold to other retailers were converted to Dillard's.<ref name="Flottes-Gayfers"/> |
In 1998, Merchantile Stores was purchased by Dillard's, Inc., and the stores that were not closed or sold to other retailers were converted to Dillard's.<ref name="Flottes-Gayfers"/> |
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All Mississippi stores had a prominent teen board during its years called "Gayfer Girls". |
All Mississippi stores had a prominent teen board during its years called "Gayfer Girls". |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:35, 21 August 2009
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
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| Company type | Department store |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Acquired by Dillard's, Inc |
| Headquarters | Mobile, Alabama |
| Products | Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. |
| Parent | Formerly Mercantile Stores Company, Inc.(1950-1998) |
| Website | None |
Gayfers was a regional department store chain in the southern United States. Most stores were located in the Southeast. The chain became part of Dillard's in 1998.
History
C.J. Gayfer migrated to Mobile, Alabama from Southwold, England sometime after the Civil War. He opened a retail department store, Gayfer's, in downtown Mobile in 1879. At the time of his death in 1915, Gayfer's employed 150 people and averaged over $500,000 in annual sales. Gayfer became well-known for his philanthropy and was one of the earliest proponents of employee health care benefits.[1]
During the 1950s, the Mercantile Stores chain acquired Gayfer's, which then worked aggressively on the expansion of the chain. The first branch store was opened at Town & Country Plaza in Pensacola, Florida, in 1956. This successful move was followed four years later with the opening of the Springdale Plaza store in Mobile, Alabama, becoming the company's flagship store. The Downtown Mobile store closed in 1985.[2]
Gayfer's expanded its bottom hole into the West in 1963, opening a store at Edgewater Plaza Shopping City (later Edgewater Mall) in Biloxi, Mississippi. This store was expanded in 1974 and again in 1987; the store was finally rebuilt after being severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In 1969 a store was opened in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In 1970, the apostrophe in the company name was dropped.[2] This was clearly a banner year for the company, as it opened stores in Montgomery, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi, and started construction of a second store in Pensacola, Florida, at Cordova Mall.
For the next twenty years, new stores would be opened or remodeled, and by 1981 there were 18 stores bearing the Gayfers name.
In 1998, Merchantile Stores was purchased by Dillard's, Inc., and the stores that were not closed or sold to other retailers were converted to Dillard's.[2]
All Mississippi stores had a prominent teen board during its years called "Gayfer Girls".
References
- ^ "Flotte's Notes on Mobile and Baldwin Citizens". Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Ecomonics. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
{{cite web}}:|section=ignored (help) - ^ a b c "Flotte's Notes on Mobile, Alabama". Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Ecomonics. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
{{cite web}}:|section=ignored (help)