J. W. Knapp Company Square Porcelain Fridge Magnet
Keep a small reminder of Lansing's department-store history close at hand with this J. W. Knapp Company square porcelain fridge magnet. Knapp's began in Albion in 1893 as a partnership between Joseph W. Knapp and Frank W. Jewett, then moved to Lansing and grew into a downtown landmark. Later branches reflected the spread of shopping centers across the region. A memorable keepsake for former customers, Michigan history fans, and collectors of local business stories and department-store memorabilia.
J. W. Knapp & Co., commonly known as Knapp's, was a department store chain based in Lansing, Michigan, serving mid-Michigan. In 1893, Joseph W. Knapp, a salesman from Hillsdale, opened a dry-goods, coat, and carpet store in Albion with Frank W. Jewett under the name Jewett & Knapp. By 1897, the store had moved to North Washington Avenue in Lansing. In 1908, Jewett and Knapp sold the business to Frank Lackey, who renamed it J. W. Knapp Company; Knapp continued to manage operations. The store moved that year to South Washington Street. A new downtown building at 300 South Washington opened in 1939, on the former Hotel Downey site, and the store grew to occupy a city block by the 1940s. In the 1950s, the company was sold to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, alongside other mid-Michigan department store businesses. Knapp's added an East Lansing branch, then a Meridian Mall store in Okemos in 1969. Lansing Mall and Westwood Mall locations acquired from Wurzburg's followed in 1972. L.S. Good Co. bought the Mott Foundation divisions in 1970 and declared bankruptcy in 1980. The mall stores were sold to JCPenney; the downtown store had already closed. Its building later became office and mixed-use space.
| 2" x 2" | |
| Width, in | 2.00 |
| Height, in | 2.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.25 |
Product features
- 2" square porcelain tile with glossy finish
- Superior coating for bright, true-to-design color reproduction
- Vibrant, crisp printing using modern techniques
- Strong magnet mounted on the backside for secure hold
- Durable glossy surface that highlights fine details and contrasts
Care instructions
- Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber 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: Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth