A. Schwab Dry Goods Store is the sole remaining original business on

Beale Street Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately . It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of blues music. Today, ...

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

History

A. Schwab Dry Goods Store was established in 1876 by Abraham Joseph Schwab, an Alsatian Jewish immigrant, who fled to the United States to escape German enlistment during the Franco-Prussian War. After arriving in Memphis, Schwab joined the Hirsch family and opened A. Schwab Dry Goods Store, selling men's shoes and boots under the name "Hirsch, Schwab & Co" at 66 Beale. A. Schwab's was also the retailer of the largest overalls in the world which sold two pair a year. Over the next decade, Hirsch, Schwab, & Co would expand its services into clothing, hardware, and home appliances before the families split in 1886. Following the split, Schwab would continue independently, moving to 149 Beale under the current name of A. Schwab. In 1911, the business was passed along to his sons, Sam, Elias, and Leo, who moved the shop to the first floor of its current address at 163 Beale. The new storefront was inherited by Sam's daughter, Eleanor Schwab Braslow, and Elias's son, Abram Schwab. Eleanor would keep the books and maintain A. Schwab's stock, while Abram would act as the business's public face. The two expanded the shop to its current size in 1924, buying the second floor of their building and the adjacent storefront, 165 Beale, which had previously been one of the original

Piggly Wiggly Piggly Wiggly is an American supermarket chain operating in the American Southern and Midwestern regions run by Piggly Wiggly, LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers. Its first outlet opened in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee, and is notable ...

grocery stores. Elanor and Abram also began a line of Schwab's hygiene products trademarked in 1924 under the name "Schwab's Nature" selling soaps and face wash through their store and other local pharmacies. Today, it is a local

tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beaut ...

. On the balcony mezzanine is the Beale Street Museum, a collection of Beale Street

memorabilia A souvenir (French language, French for 'a remembrance or memory'), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memory, memories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collecte ...

, along with several items and records of the Schwab family. The second floor is an event venue and houses the hoodoo items and musical goods. The first floor sells quirky merchandise and tourist memorabilia while what used to be the next-door shop has been converted into an ice-cream bar. A. Schwab was the oldest store in the Mid-South, located in the oldest remaining building on Beale Street. After 136 years of ownership, the Schwab family sold the business at the end of 2011.

References

Buildings and structures in Memphis, Tennessee Retail companies established in 1876 Historic district contributing properties in Tennessee 1876 establishments in Tennessee National Register of Historic Places in Memphis, Tennessee Tourist attractions in Memphis, Tennessee {{ShelbyCountyTN-NRHP-stub