Kroch's and Brentano's Square Porcelain Fridge Magnet
White / 2" x 2" / Square
$19.99
Sale price
$19.99
Regular price
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Keep a small reminder of Chicago's bookstore heritage close at hand with this Kroch's and Brentano's square porcelain fridge magnet. The name joined Adolph Kroch's bookstore with Brentano's Chicago branch in 1954, linking a neighborhood bookselling story to a landmark downtown flagship at 29 South Wabash Avenue. The chain later reached 22 stores around the metropolitan area before its remaining locations closed in 1995. This keepsake is well suited to book lovers, Chicago history collectors, and anyone nostalgic for the city's changing retail landscape.
Kroch's and Brentano's was formed in Chicago in 1954 by combining Adolph Kroch's bookstore with the Chicago branch of Brentano's. Kroch, an Austrian immigrant, opened a German-language bookstore on Monroe Street in 1907, later switching to English-language books during World War I. His business moved to 22 N. Michigan and, in 1927, to 206 N. Michigan Avenue, where it became Chicago's largest bookstore before closing there in 1953. Brentano's Chicago branch dated to 1884, when Arthur Brentano opened it at 101 State Street. After Brentano's filed for bankruptcy in 1933, Kroch and financier Stanton Griffis acquired the firm; Kroch received the Chicago branch and rights to the Brentano's name in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Kroch operated the two bookstores separately until the 1954 merger, which created a 40,000-square-foot flagship at 29 S. Wabash Avenue. At its peak, the chain had 22 stores in the Chicago metropolitan area. Carl Kroch sold it to its 700 employees in 1986; after financial difficulties, it was resold to Businesship International. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 1995 and was liquidated. Its remaining stores closed on July 31, 1995.
Kroch's and Brentano's Square Porcelain Fridge Magnet
$19.99
Sale price
$19.99
Regular price
Keep a small reminder of Chicago's bookstore heritage close at hand with this Kroch's and Brentano's square porcelain fridge magnet. The name joined Adolph Kroch's bookstore with Brentano's Chicago branch in 1954, linking a neighborhood bookselling story to a landmark downtown flagship at 29 South Wabash Avenue. The chain later reached 22 stores around the metropolitan area before its remaining locations closed in 1995. This keepsake is well suited to book lovers, Chicago history collectors, and anyone nostalgic for the city's changing retail landscape.
Kroch's and Brentano's was formed in Chicago in 1954 by combining Adolph Kroch's bookstore with the Chicago branch of Brentano's. Kroch, an Austrian immigrant, opened a German-language bookstore on Monroe Street in 1907, later switching to English-language books during World War I. His business moved to 22 N. Michigan and, in 1927, to 206 N. Michigan Avenue, where it became Chicago's largest bookstore before closing there in 1953. Brentano's Chicago branch dated to 1884, when Arthur Brentano opened it at 101 State Street. After Brentano's filed for bankruptcy in 1933, Kroch and financier Stanton Griffis acquired the firm; Kroch received the Chicago branch and rights to the Brentano's name in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Kroch operated the two bookstores separately until the 1954 merger, which created a 40,000-square-foot flagship at 29 S. Wabash Avenue. At its peak, the chain had 22 stores in the Chicago metropolitan area. Carl Kroch sold it to its 700 employees in 1986; after financial difficulties, it was resold to Businesship International. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 1995 and was liquidated. Its remaining stores closed on July 31, 1995.
| 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