Andrew Saks

Andrew Saks
Born June 5, 1847
Baltimore, Maryland
Died April 9, 1912(1912-04-09) (aged 64)
New York City
Spouse(s) Jennie Rohr
Children Horace Saks
William Andrew Saks
Leila Saks Meyer

Andrew Saks (June 5, 1847 – April 9, 1912) was an American businessman known as the founder of Saks Fifth Avenue.

Biography

Saks was born to a German Jewish family, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Helena and William Saks. He worked as a peddler and paper boy before moving to Washington, D.C. where he established a men's clothing store[1] with his brother Isadore[2] in 1867. In 1902, they opened a store in New York on 34th Street 2 as Saks & Company. Andrew Saks ran the New York store as a family affair with his brother Isadore, and his sons Horace and William.

Personal life

Saks married Jennie Rohr with whom he had three children: sons, Horace Andrew Saks and William Andrew Saks; and daughter Leila Saks.[3] He died on April 9, 1912.[4][5] His daughter, Leila Saks Meyer (1886–1957), returning to attend her father's funeral, survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912; her husband, Edgar J. Meyer, son of financier Marc Eugene Meyer and brother of publisher Eugene Meyer, perished.[4]

In 1923, his son Horace sold a majority interest in Saks & Company[1] to Gimbel Brothers, Inc. for $8 million which included Saks & Company's $4.5 million flagship store that was under construction; Horace Saks remained as president.[6] In 1924, Horace Saks and his cousin, Bernard Gimbel, opened Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gardner, Mark L. "What's In a Name?—A Brief History of Saks Fifth Avenue". Archived from the original on 2014-02-12. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  2. ↑ "Mauranna G. Lynn Is Engaged To Christopher Andrew Saks". New York Times. February 15, 1976.
  3. ↑ "Jennie R. Saks". geni_family_tree.
  4. 1 2 Zottolir, Maureen (June 23, 2016). The R.M.S. Titanic and Washington, D. C.: One Hundred Years: 1912 to 2012 - People, Government Process and Precedent, Investigations, and Locations. p. 103. ISBN 9781468543711.
  5. ↑ "John Andrew Saks '36 - Volume 84". Princeton Alumni Weekly. September 7, 1983.
  6. ↑ Harris, Leon. Merchant Prince: An Intimate History of Jewish Families Who Built Great Department Stores. p. 79.
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