Wanamaker's

Wanamaker's
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
GenreDepartment stores
Founded1861 (1861) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
FounderJohn Wanamaker
Defunct1995 (1995)
FateAcquisition by The May Department Stores Company
SuccessorHecht's
HeadquartersJohn Wanamaker Store, 1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Number of locations
16 (at peak)
Area served
Delaware Valley
Products
  • Clothing
  • footwear
  • housewares
  • furniture
  • toys
  • jewelry
  • linens
Parent

Wanamaker's was an American department store chain founded in 1861 by John Wanamaker. It was one of the first department stores in the United States, and peaked at 16 locations along the Delaware Valley in the 20th century. Wanamaker's was purchased by A. Alfred Taubman, who previously purchased the Washington, D.C. department store Woodward & Lothrop, in 1986. The store was acquired from bankruptcy by The May Department Stores Company in 1994, and converted all remaining Wanamaker's stores to Hecht's in 1995.

Wanamaker's was influential in the development of the retail industry including as the first store to use price tags.