Category:Benioff's Furs, Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Benioff's Furs was a high-end furrier in Allentown from 1913 to 1994. Benioff's both manufactured fur products as well as sold, stored and repaired them.

Benioff's was founded by Issac Benioff, a Russian immigrant to the United States. He was born in 1842 and began learning the fur trade in Russia in 1854. Benioff came to the United states about 1870, first living in Viola Delaware then moved to New York City and opened a fur business in 1872. Benioff moved to Allentown in 1913 and opened his first store at Eighth and Court Streets (21 North 8th) with his son Fred Benioff. Fred Benioff went to France during World War I, and his other sons, Herman, Abraham and Shim joined the firm. The business moved to 811 Linden Street in 1916, and then to 410 North Sixth Street in 1922. It is said that in the early years of the business, Benioff would take a sewing machine to customer's homes to repair and alter furs personally. Issac Benioff retired from the business in 1930, and passed away at the age of 92 in May, 1934.

Benioff's three sons took over the bushiness, and in December 1950, moved into a brand-new building at 1001 Hamilton Street, renting it from Park & Shop, which constructed a parking deck on the roof. For the next 40 years, Benioff's used the 10th and Hamilton Street location as its sales and showroom, and maintained the Sixth Street location for its corporate offices as well as for its manufacturing and storage location, expanding it to include 412 and 416 North Sixth Street.

During the late 1980s, the showroom at Tenth and Hamilton was attacked and vandalized several times by animal rights activists, which damaged the store's sign as well as throwing red paint on the display windows as well as the sidewalk around the property. In January 1994, the third generation owner, Anne Benioff, who had joined the firm in 1980, closed the store and retired from the business. She had taken over in 1988 after the retirement of her father, Abraham.

After Benioff's closed, the 10th and Hamilton Street location became the headquarters of the Allentown Parking Authority. In 2007, with the large APA garage opening at 6th & Linden, the authority moved into offices at that location. The building was renovated and became an Allentown Police Department location. The North Sixth Street buildings remain, appearing to be currently vacant. An old Benioff's sign remains attached to the front of the building.

1001 Hamilton Street

Camera location40° 36′ 02″ N, 75° 28′ 41″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMapinfo

410 North Sixth Street

Camera location40° 36′ 31″ N, 75° 28′ 21″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMapinfo

Media in category "Benioff's Furs, Allentown, Pennsylvania"

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