Lewis's
1856 Men and boy's clothing store established in Liverpool by David Lewis (1823-1885). David Lewis was born David Levy in London, the son of Wolfe Levy, a Jewish merchant. He started his own business at 44 Ranelagh Street, Liverpool, selling men’s and boys’ clothing. Most of the clothes were made in his own workshop. He set up the David Lewis Trust, for charitable purposes in Liverpool and Manchester. [1]
1860s-80s The business expanded into ladies fashion and then footwear, beginning a gradual process of expansion and diversification. Lewis's opened its 'Christmas Fairyland' – one of the world's first Christmas grottoes.
1877 The Market Street, Manchester store opened - the first Lewis' outside Liverpool. [2]
1884 Further branch opened in Birmingham
1885 Further branch opened in Sheffield
1920s-30s Additional stores opened in Glasgow, Leeds, Stoke and Leicester.
By 1939 the Leeds business was Lewis's (Leeds) Ltd[3]
1939-45 The Liverpool building was repeatedly damaged by wartime bombing but was rebuilt each time.
1950s The Lewis's Group purchased Selfridges.
The Liverpool flagship store underwent a major refurbishment.
Lewis's became part of the Sears Group.
2010 The rights to the Lewis's brand were bought by LHR Holding after the closure of the Liverpool store.
2011 Lewis’s was relaunched as a multi-channel homewares brand.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] Deane Road Cemetery: David Lewis (1823-1885) by Saul Marks
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis's
- ↑ Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express 11 February 1939
- Company site [2]