Hellman, Haas & Co.
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Hellman, Haas & Co. (until 1890, then Haas, Baruch & Co.), was one of the first grocers in early Los Angeles, beginning in the early 1870s as a partnership of Abraham Haas, Herman W. Hellman, and B. Cohn[1][2] and a predecessor company of Smart & Final. In the 1880s and 1890s the business was located at what was then 218–224 (in 1890, renumbered to 318–324) N. Los Angeles Street, immediately south of Mellus Row. This was the heart of the city's business district in the 1870s and 1880s. The store sold "everything from drugs to explosives." Food staples were sold by weight, in bulk. The store was one of seven names in the city's first phone directory. In the 1880s, Herman Baruch, who was married to Abraham Haas' niece, Jeanette Meertief, and his brother, Jacob Baruch, who was married to another niece, Jeanette Weiler, bought out Herman Hellman when Hellman took the position of manager of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, a bank which grew out of Hellman's being so trusted that early Angelenos entrusted their valuables to him for safekeeping.[3]
In November 1889, the firm moved into much larger quarters one block south at what was then 118–124 N. Los Angeles Street,[4] renumbered to 218–224 N. Los Angeles Street in 1890.[5]
On February 17, 1890, Hellman left the partnership, which continued to operate under a new name, Haas, Baruch & Co.,[1][6] and by the turn of the 20th century the store was the growing city’s most dominant wholesale grocery business.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Newmark, Harris. Sixty years in Southern California, 1853-1913, containing the reminiscences of Harris Newmark, (PDF). p. 385. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
At the outset of the somewhat momentous decade of the seventies, Hellman, Haas & Company was established, with H. W. Hellman, Jacob Haas and B. Cohn partners; their first store being on the east side of Los Angeles Street opposite H. Newmark & Company's. Abraham Haas, who came in December, 1873, had a share in his brother's venture from the start; but it was not until 1875, when he bought out Cohn's interest, that he became a partner. Ten years after the firm commenced business, that is, in 1881, Jacob Baruch, who had come to California with J. Loew, and with him had made his start at Galatin, was admitted to partnership; and in 1889, a year after Jacob Haas's death, Haas & Baruch bought out H. W. Hellman. Then it was that Haas, Baruch & Company, a name so agreeably known throughout Southern California, first entered the field, their activity— immediately felt—permitting very little 426 of the proverbial grass to grow under one's feet. On January 7th, 1909, Jacob Baruch died.
- ^ "Early Los Angeles Historical Buildings (1800s)". Water and Power Associates. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
Herman W. Hellman was born on September 25, 1843 in Reckendorf, Bavaria. He emigrated to the United States with his brother Isaias W. Hellman, arriving in Los Angeles on May 14, 1859 as a sixteen-year-old. He started working as a courier from Wilmington to Los Angeles. In 1861, he worked for his uncle, Samuel Hellman, who had a store in Los Angeles. Shortly after, he opened his own store at Downey Block. He established a wholesale grocer's called Hellman, Haas, & Co. with Jacob Haas, the brother of Abraham Haas. They sold groceries in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. As his business prospered, he became one of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles by the 1880s. The company later became known as Baruch, Haas, & Co.
- ^ a b "Abraham Haas: Purveyer of Food Stuffs, Wholesale & Retail, Los Angeles". Jewish Museum of the American West.
- ^ "In New Quarters. A Great Los Angeles Enterprise Takes a New Departure". Los Angeles Herald. 1 November 1889. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
It is many years since the firm moved into the quarter just vacated by them at 206–212 N. Los Angeles Street…the firm has removed to 118–124 North Los Angeles Street…in commodiousness and in facilities for doing business the change is great…
- ^ "The municipality's attempt at town-painting". Los Angeles Times. 24 January 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
This ordinance provides for the re-numbering of the houses of Los Angeles in such manner that all numbers under 100 shall be eliminated, thus changing the number of every house in the city… One . hundred numbers, or as many thereof as may be necessary, shall ba allotted to each block. No. 100 shall be tbe first number used at the respective beginning points on the sides of the streets which are to contain the even numbers, and 101 for tho sides which are to contain tbe odd numbers… Number 120 now becomes 220, number 220 becomes 320, and so on throughout the entire city.
- ^ "Dissolution of Partnership". Los Angeles Herald. 27 February 1890. p. 7. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
…Hellman, Haas & Co…has been dissolved…the same business at the same places will be…under the name…of Haas, Baruch & Co.…Dated at Los Angeles this 17th day of February, 1890…
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