A. M. Rothschild & Co. Building

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Rothschild Building, Davis Store, Goldblatt
Life Span: 1895/1905/1912-Present
Location: Northeast Corner Van Buren and State streets
Architect:

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899

Rothschild A. M. & Co.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Rothschild & Co. H M Samson sec; gen merchandise State ne cor Vanburen

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Rothschild & Co. H M Samson sec; gen merchandise S State ne cor E Vanburen

Chicago Tribune, January 1, 1895

Secure Term Leases.
One of the important transactions of the year was a series of leases on the east side of State street, between Jackson and Van Buren streets, negotiated by a syndicate, of which A. M. Rothschild is the head. Five holdings of property, amounting to a frontage of 260 feet on: State street, were involved, and the annual rental is given at $204,000, equivalent to a term rental of over $3,000,000 for the term of fifteen years, for which the leases run. These leases were negotiated by R. E. Ismond of Van Vlissengen & Ismond, and they were taken the syndicate for the purpose of starting an immense department store, similar to Whiteley’s in London. Nelson Morris is included in the list of members of the syndicate. This series of leases was equaled as a single transaction by only one other business lease in the history of Chicago rentals. That was the lease of the Leiter Building, covering the State-street half of the block lying between Van Buren and Congress streets. The leases executed to the Rothschild syndicate cover the entire State-street frontage of the block lying between Van Buren and Jackson streets, except the forty feet at the corner of Jackson street owned by by L. Z. Leiter and occupied by Spaulding & Co. It included the building of the State Safety company, on the northeast corner of State and Van Buren streets, which is almost completed and which is seven stories in height, at $1,000,000 for the term; the eighty feet adjoining on the north, on which stands a four-story building, for the Bigelow estate, at $550,000; the forty feet next north of this property, on which there is a six-story modern building, at $300,000 for the term; the forty feet next north of the last-named piece, on which there is a six-story building, at $300,000 for the term, the last two pieces belonging to Albert and Henry Keep; the seventy-five feet next adjoining on the north and running to the building occupied by Spaulding & Co., on the corner of Jackson street, which belongs to Jonathan Clark, at $1,000,000 for the term. All of these leases were made to run fifteen years.

Inter Ocean, May 18, 1895

IN A BLAZE OF GLORY.
Great News of A. M. Rothschild & Co.
Is Informally Opened.
The big store of A. M. Rothschild Co.. on the corner of Van Buren and State streets, was ablaze in a flood of light, beauty, stateliness and “gray matter” last night. The occasion was the informal opening of the house which “retails everything” and a reception to the merchant princes of the downtown district, and the press—hence the “gray matter. The big store did the honors to its guests on the third floor. Here a plentifully laden banqueting board, large coolers of pungent champagne, punch, and other good things were spread in the south aisle. The liberal and proad principle upon which the new colossus is to be conducted was mirrored In the presence of hundreds of the principal merchants of the city. Messrs. Lazarus and Rothschild were there to welcome the men invited, and assured them-that they were looked upon as friends, rather than competitors. “This is a big city.” explained Mr. Lazarus, “there is room here for all; we seek to crowd nobody out. As a matter of fact, I firmly believe that our enterprise will redound as much to your benefit aa to ours.”

The reception was on from 6 to 8 o’clock. and was enlivened by an orchestra from the Symphony Society.

A pleasing feature of the evening’s general enjoyment, and one which nearly upset Mr. Lazarus, was the presentation of a diamond-studded scarf pin patterned after the electric light tower trade mark of the new firm. The gift came from Mr. Lazarus’ 6-year-old grandchild, Baby Edith Rosenthal.

Tonight, from 8 to 9 o’clock, the new house will open its doors for public inspection. While there will be 2,280 employes behind the myriads of counters and in the house, not a penny’s worth of goods will be sold. It will be a public inspection, purely.

Chicago Tribune, July 29, 1902

Abram M. Rothschild, until recently head of the big State street store which bears his name, committed suicide by shooting him self in the head with a revolver at his residence, Michigan avenue and Thirty-seventh place, shortly after 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

The sound of the shot was heard by the members of the family, who were on the floor below, and they rushed upstairs, to find him dying. Dr. S. C. De Veny, 2542 Indiana avenue, was summoned, but the wound was mortal.

Mr. Rothschild’s act is attributed to an attack of temporary insanity brought on by acute insomnia, from which he had been a sufferer for a long time. Business affairs also, it is said, added to his mental depression. Recently he had retired from the business. It is said that his father-in-law, Nelson Morris, the principal owner, was dlssatisfied with his work and urged his retirement.

Appeared in Good Spirits.
Persons who met Mr. Rothschild yesterday, within a few hours of his death, declared he seemed in excellent spirits, and had reported he had gained in health from a sojourn at Lake Minnetonka, whence he returned last Thursday. He had said he was getting his business affairs in shape for a long trip abroad, and during the last few weeks spoke of his hopes that in travel he would regain his health.

Since he severed his connection with the firm of A. M. Rothschild & Co. Mr. Rothschild has made his headquarters in his old office on the sixth floor of the building. He appeared at the store about 10:30 a. m. yesterday. There he chatted for half an hour with C. E. Davis, who has succeeded him as president of the company, and later announced that he was going home for luncheon. He left the store in company with his only son, Melville Nelson Rothschild.

Fired Fatal Shot.
Father and son reached the residence about 1 o’clock, and met Mrs. Rothschild on the first floor. Mr. Rothschild at once went to his room, where he secured the revolver from a bureau drawer. Passing into the bathroom, he placed the weapon, to his head and fired one shot.

A servant who stood near Mrs. Rothschild was the first to run upstairs. He found his employer lying on the floor in an unconscious condition, with the revolver by his side. In his left hand was a cabinet photograph of his only child. The members of the family came running to the room, and they picked up the man and carried him to his bed, where he died In a short time.

When word was telephoned to the store it caused much grief among the employes who had known Mr. Rothschild in a personal way during his connection with the big establishment.

Nelson Morris, who is the father of Mrs. Rothschild, learned of the suicide shortly after 2 o’clock, and was inexpressibly grieved.

Late Business Associate Surprised.
The news that Mr. Rothschild had killed himself was the greatest surprise of my life,” said C. E. Davis. “When he came in his old office this forenoon he appeared to be In excellent spirits. We chatted together for half an hour, and at no time did he drop any hint of a desire to end his life.

“The only reason I can give for his act is temporary insanity, brought on by his old trouble, insomnia. In fact, I believe this was his reason for getting out of the company. His physical ailments brought him to a condition where he was unable to attend to business affairs. He severed his connection with the company on May 20, and afterwards sold his stock to his father-in-law, Nelson Morris. Six weeks ago he resigned as director in the National Bank of the Republic, and I understood he was getting his affairs in shape for a long trip abroad.

“After this he went to French Lick, and then to Lake Minnetonka. where he spent five weeks, returning last Thursday.”

Reports of Business Differences.
The retirement of Mr. Rothschild from the company, after serving seven years as its head, was the cause for stories that he had come to serious differences with his father-in-law, who owned a large interest in the establishment. When Herman Lazarus, secretary and buyer, resigned last August, the criticism became centered on the president.

Another thing which it is said caused Mr. Rothschild much trouble was the fire in the store on Sept. 19, 1901, with the fall of a big water tank from the roof to the bottom and the destruction of a part of the stock by water. The insurance companies refused to pay for the damage, and the firm brought suit against sixty-eight companies for an aggregate sum of $250,000.

This started an investigation, and the underwriters made the statement that the accident was caused by repairs being made to the building for which a permit had not been taken out at the city building department.

This is said to have widened the breach between Mr. Morris and Mr. Rothschild, and resulted in the retirement of the former.

Was a Self-Made Man.
Mr. Rothschild was one of Chicago’s self-made business men. He was one of those who aided in building up the city from the ashes of the great fire of 1871. He came to America in 1856 a poor boy, and the bulk of his fortune was acquired in this city. He was born in Nordstetten, Germany, in 1853. On arriving in the United States he went to Davenport, Ia., where his brother, Emanuel, was conducting a retail clothing store.

When the great fire swept Chicago the young men saw their opportunities and established a small clothing house in West Madison street, which was rapidly enlarged until 1895, when, with Nelson, Edward, and Ira Morris as silent partners, Mr. Rothschild opened the great establishment which still bears his name.

In December, 1882, Mr. Rothschild married Miss Gusta Morris. One son was born to them. He was a member of the Washington Park and Standard clubs.

Chicago Live Stock World, December 4, 1912

Chicago Tribune, January 2, 1921

Wholesale dry goods district rentals are increasing, according to John R. Magill & Co., who have renewed several leases in the ten story Van Buren building, 210-14 West Van Buren street, for Ferdinand Siegel and Mrs. Maurice L. Rothschild, owners, at a term rental of $93.000. The new leases are for three years from Jan. 1, at a total annual rental of $31,000, compared with $19,400 under expiring leases, Indicating an increase of $11,600 annually, or approximately 60 per cent. The tenants are: Harold Moses, Paragon Hat company, Leopold, Solomon & Eisendrath, B. A. Knapp company, Kahn & Tower, Standard Sewing Machine company, and the Thomas Cusack company.

Chicago Tribune, December 25, 1923
Employés of Rothschild & Co. were assured yesterday that they will be retained in the employ of the Davis Dry Goods company, the new State street department store which opens its door at Rothschild’s old stand next Saturday as the result of the purchase of the latter by Marshall Field & Co.

This assurance came to them in the nature of a cheering Christmas announcement from James Simpson, president of Marshall Field & Co, who at the name time made known who the officials of the new store will be.

Davis to Head Store.
C. E. Davis, for many years president of Rothschild & Co., is to be head of the new store.

“Developments,” says Mr. Simpson, “have made it possible for us to make progress quicker in the matter of the new organization than had been thought probable.

“Appointment of Mr. Davis insures a stability and permanence to the employee of the old organization, and will do away with any unrest that might be in their minds as to the continuity of their employment.

“Mr. Davis’ high character and integrity are well known in the trade and the new organization is exceedingly fortunate in securing the leadership of such an experienced man.

“Arthur Davis, formerly connected with Marshall Field & Co., will become vice president of the new company, as has already been announced.

Hunter New Treasurer.
“Thomas A. Hunter Jr., for years past connected with the financial department of Marshall Field’s, will become secretary treasurer; Joseph F. O’Neill, formerly connected with the merchandising of Marshall Field & Co.'” retail business, will become associated with the new institution.

“No other changes in the management of the new company are in contemplation at the present time.”

It appears that Emanuel Rosenthal, for twenty-seven years connected with Rothschild’s, for the last ten years vice president and general manager, is the only one of the old officials who will leave the new organization. “I shall take up my residence in New York City,” Mr Rosenthal said, “and after my first rest in years I will take up new duties in the same business.”

Chicago Tribune, December 30, 1923

Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1936

REPORT DAVIS V STORE SALE TO GOLDBLATT NEAR
Deal with Marshall Field Makes Progress.
Negotiations by Goldblatt Brothers, Inc., for the purchase of the Davis store, big State street retail house, from Marshall Field & Co. are nearly completed, it was reliably reported yesterday. Unless a last minute hitch develops it is expected formal announcement of the deal will be made in the near future.

If the deal goes through it will mark entrance of the Goldblatt the firm into the loop district. The negotiations have been under way for several months. Two bids for the property by Goldblatt are understood to have been rejected by Field’s as too low.

Resume Negotiations After Hitch.
A month ago the deal was believed to be definitly off after the rejection of a Goldblatt offer. Negotiations were resumed, however, and last night it was reported a final agreement on terms was imminent.

Neither James O. McKinsey, president of Marshall Field & Co., nor Maurice Goldblatt, president of the Goldblatt concern, would make any, statement on the prospects of an early settlement. Officials of both companies, however, said terms were being discussed. The Davis property was acquired by Marshall Field in 1923 from Rothschild & Co. The purchase price was approximately $9,000,000.

Extensive improvement has been made in the store since its acquisition by Field’s.

Goldblatt Company Expands.
The Goldblatt company has expanded rapidly in recent years. It now operates 11 department stores, eight of which are located in Chicago, and others in Hammond and Gary, Ind., and Joliet, Ill.

The company is only a little more than 20 years old. It had its origin in a small store at Chicago and Ashland avenues started by Morris and Nathan Goldblatt in 1914. Its most rapid expansion has taken place since 1927, when the firm began to acquire new stores. In 1935 the company had net sales of more than $35,000,000..

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