Abraham & Straus

Abraham & Straus, commonly known as A&S, was an American department store company originating in Brooklyn, New York. It operated general-merchandise department stores selling apparel, home goods, and other consumer products, and was particularly associated with its Brooklyn stores and flagship location. During the twentieth century, it became a significant regional retailer and was later incorporated into Federated Department Stores. As the U.S. department-store industry consolidated and Federated rationalized its brand portfolio, the Abraham & Straus name was ultimately retired and is no longer an operating retail brand.

Abraham & Straus originated in nineteenth-century Brooklyn, New York, and became an important local department-store business. It operated general-merchandise stores selling apparel, household goods, and other everyday products, gradually developing a regional retail presence centered on Brooklyn. As the American department-store industry expanded and consolidated during the twentieth century, Abraham & Straus became part of Federated Department Stores and operated as one of the group’s regional department-store names. Federated later reorganized its store portfolio and brand structure. Changing shopping patterns, intensifying retail competition, and the consolidation of department-store banners eventually led to the retirement of the Abraham & Straus name. The brand is now chiefly remembered as a historical name in American department-store retailing.

• 1865

  Brand founded

  Abraham & Straus began department store retailing in Brooklyn, New York, and grew into a prominent regional department store chain in the area.

• Brought into the Federated Department Stores system

  The company later became a regional department store brand under Federated Department Stores, taking part in the consolidation of the American department store industry.

• Brand name withdrawn from the market

  After group-level brand consolidation and changes in the department store business environment, the Abraham & Straus name ceased to be used as an ongoing retail brand.

A regional full-line department store serving the general consumer public

• Department store merchandise

  Abraham & Straus operated as a general department store rather than a single-category product brand, offering apparel, home goods, beauty products, jewelry, accessories, and other consumer merchandise.