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Honor a beloved Dayton tradition with this Rike-Kumler Company ceramic ornament. Rike’s was remembered not only for its downtown department store but also for animated Christmas window displays that delighted local families. Preserved figures from those displays continue to appear each holiday season at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, on the former store site. This keepsake connects the company’s retail history with a lasting community tradition, making it meaningful for Dayton families, former shoppers, and collectors.
Rike-Kumler Company grew from a Dayton, Ohio, dry-goods business joined by David L. Rike in 1853. The store operated under several names before David Rike partnered with Robert I. Cummins and Samuel E. Kumler in 1867, forming D. L. Rike and Company, which traded as The Rike Dry Goods Co. A prominent new store opened at Second and Main Streets in 1912. The company became Rike-Kumler in 1908 and was commonly known as Rike’s. In 1959, it joined Federated Department Stores. Its first branch opened in Kettering in 1961, followed by a mall store at Salem Mall in Trotwood in 1963. In 1982, Rike’s merged with Cincinnati-based Shillito’s to form Shillito-Rike’s; in 1986, that operation became part of the Columbus-based Lazarus chain. Federated consolidated most of its other chains under the Macy’s brand in 2005. The downtown store closed in 1991, and its former building was imploded in 1999. Rike’s was remembered for animated Christmas window displays, whose preserved figures have been shown each Christmas season at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.
Rike-Kumler Company Ceramic Ornament
$15.99
Sale price
$15.99
Regular price
Honor a beloved Dayton tradition with this Rike-Kumler Company ceramic ornament. Rike’s was remembered not only for its downtown department store but also for animated Christmas window displays that delighted local families. Preserved figures from those displays continue to appear each holiday season at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, on the former store site. This keepsake connects the company’s retail history with a lasting community tradition, making it meaningful for Dayton families, former shoppers, and collectors.
Rike-Kumler Company grew from a Dayton, Ohio, dry-goods business joined by David L. Rike in 1853. The store operated under several names before David Rike partnered with Robert I. Cummins and Samuel E. Kumler in 1867, forming D. L. Rike and Company, which traded as The Rike Dry Goods Co. A prominent new store opened at Second and Main Streets in 1912. The company became Rike-Kumler in 1908 and was commonly known as Rike’s. In 1959, it joined Federated Department Stores. Its first branch opened in Kettering in 1961, followed by a mall store at Salem Mall in Trotwood in 1963. In 1982, Rike’s merged with Cincinnati-based Shillito’s to form Shillito-Rike’s; in 1986, that operation became part of the Columbus-based Lazarus chain. Federated consolidated most of its other chains under the Macy’s brand in 2005. The downtown store closed in 1991, and its former building was imploded in 1999. Rike’s was remembered for animated Christmas window displays, whose preserved figures have been shown each Christmas season at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.
| Heart | Round | |
| Diameter, in | 3.21 | 2.80 |
Product features
- 100% white ceramic construction — strong and durable
- Double-sided print with matte finish option
- Golden hanging string included
- UV-decorated for lasting color
- Available in white or gold gift packaging (single ornament per pack)
Care instructions
- Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt build-up. Avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners. Instead, dampen a cotton wool swab in warm water (just a few drops per liter of water) and gently roll the swab over the ornament and refrain from scrubbing