Henri Bendel
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Founder | Henri Willis Bendel |
| Defunct | January 28, 2019 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | 712 Fifth Avenue , New York City United States |
Number of locations | 29 stores (Jan 2015) |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Women's clothing |
| Parent | L Brands |
| Website | Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index) |
Henri Bendel, Inc. (pronounced BEN-del), established in 1895, was a women's department store based in New York City which in its later history sold women's handbags, jewelry, luxury fashion accessories, home fragrances, chocolate and gifts. Its New York City store was located at 10 West 57th street. In 1985, when purchased by Limited, the new owner moved the store to 712 Fifth Avenue.
Henri Bendel was the first retailer to have its own fragrance, to offer in-store makeovers, and to stage its own fashion show. The retailer is credited with developing the concession, or shop-within-a-shop merchandising concept that is in use in some department stores today.
Composer Cole Porter namedrops the brand in the couplet "You're a Bendel Bonnet / a Shakespeare Sonnet" from the popular 1934 song "You're the Top", first made famous by Ethel Merman.
Owner L Brands announced plans in September 2018 to close all 23 stores, ending the brand; operations ceased in January 2019.