Korvette's Passport Cover
Take a reminder of American retail history along on your next journey with this E. J. Korvette Passport Cover. Founded in New York City in 1948, Korvette’s grew from a small Manhattan loft into a department store chain that served shoppers across several metropolitan areas. The company helped popularize membership-card pricing and brought its modern store format to Carle Place in 1954. For travelers who collect stories as well as destinations, this piece recalls the postwar growth of discount retail and the chain’s final chapter in 1980.
E. J. Korvette, also known as Korvette’s, was an American discount department store chain founded in New York City in 1948 by World War II veteran Eugene Ferkauf and his friend Joe Zwillenberg. Ferkauf began in a 400-square-foot Manhattan loft, selling luggage, appliances, and jewelry at substantial discounts. The company popularized membership cards and challenged restrictions on discount pricing. Its first modern-format store opened in Carle Place, Long Island, in 1954; by 1958 it had 12 stores, eventually reaching 58. During the 1960s, it expanded into several metropolitan areas and opened a flagship at Herald Square in 1967. Ferkauf retired in 1968. Korvette merged with Spartan Industries in 1966, was owned by Arlen Realty and Development Corporation from 1971 to 1979, and was then purchased by France’s Agache-Willot Group. After years of management and merchandising difficulties, the company declared bankruptcy in 1980. Its 17 remaining stores closed on December 24, 1980. A separate Quebec retailer later used the Korvette name without affiliation to the American chain.
| 3.9" x 5.8" | |
| Height, in | 5.79 |
| Width (Closed), in | 3.94 |
| Width (Open), in | 8.03 |
| Depth, in | 0.39 |
Product features
- Two card slots plus pockets for boarding passes or IDs
- Cruelty-free black PU faux leather exterior
- RFID-blocking lining to protect against skimming
- One-size fits most passports (3.9″ × 5.8″)
- Vibrant front-cover print with potential edge fading on darker solids
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth