Bailey Banks & Biddle

A print of the presidential seal c. 1915, thought to be the one obtained by President Wilson from Bailey Banks & Biddle

Bailey Banks & Biddle is a retailer of jewelry formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1832.

History

Bailey & Kitchen, as it was originally known, was founded in Philadelphia in 1832. It become Bailey & Co. in 1841, and Bailey Banks & Biddle in 1878.[1]

At the turn of the century, Bailey Banks & Biddle was commissioned by the U.S. Government to update the Great Seal of the United States; its design today remains the official version of the seal. The company also designed and made many of the military medals that are still used today, including the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.[1]

In 1962, Bailey Banks & Biddle became a part of the Zale Corporation. Zale opened many Bailey Banks & Biddle stores in numerous cities. In 2007, Zale Corporation sold the 65-store jewelry chain to Finlay Enterprises.[2] Finlay Enterprises filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2009,[3] and Bailey Banks & Biddle was relaunched as a private company by the current owners in the spring of 2010.

Potomac Mills Outlet, one of the company's nine retail stores

The current owners bought the name and 8 original locations. They do not honor any items purchased prior to their ownership as all warranties were voided with the dissolution of Finlay Enterprises[4].

The Bailey & Co. factory building stands today at 1217 Sansom St., in Center City (downtown) Philadelphia. Though it was slated to become a hotel in 2012, it is now an office building with a variety of creative and technical industry tenants.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bailey, Banks & Biddle records, 1832-2003". Hagley Museum. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Finlay Sales Up 13%, Same Store Sales Down". JCK Online. November 10, 2008. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  3. ↑ Nadgir, Santosh (August 6, 2009). "Finlay files for bankruptcy, to sell assets". Reuters. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  4. ↑ Nadgir, Santosh (August 6, 2009). "Finlay files for bankruptcy, to sell assets". Reuters. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Digital firms lead office revival in Midtown Village". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
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