S. Klein On The Square Double-Sided Keychain Charm
3.15" x 1.57"
$4.99
Skip to product information
S. Klein On The Square Double-Sided Keychain Charm
$4.99
Product Details & Size Guide
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Keep a reminder of New York retail history close at hand with this S. Klein On The Square Double-Sided Keychain Charm. The company name evokes the Union Square East flagship and the popular-priced department store that served generations of shoppers. S. Klein’s story also reflects a changing retail landscape, from Manhattan roots to suburban locations across the region, followed by store closings in the 1970s. It makes a meaningful small keepsake for collectors interested in department stores, local history, and the everyday names once familiar to New York shoppers.
S. Klein On The Square was a popular-priced department store chain based in New York City. Russian-born Samuel Klein founded the business in 1905 or around 1912, according to differing dates in the historical record. Its flagship occupied buildings along Union Square East in Manhattan, and the phrase “On The Square” joined the location’s name with a 1920s expression meaning honest and straightforward. The full-line stores sold clothing and other goods, with departments for furniture, furs, and pets. Klein’s lower prices and quick inventory turnover appealed to cautious shoppers during the Great Depression; the founder reportedly earned more than $1 million annually during that period. From the 1960s, the company expanded into suburban markets, often placing stores near shopping malls rather than inside them. Locations served New York and New Jersey, as well as parts of Virginia, Maryland, and the Philadelphia area. In the mid-1970s, parent company Rapid-American Corp., led by Meshulam Riklis, began closing stores in groups. The chain’s remaining stores had closed by 1978. Its Union Square flagship site later became the location of Zeckendorf Towers. The former Newark store, vacant after closing in 1976, retained prominent signage until the building was demolished in 2013.
Keep a reminder of New York retail history close at hand with this S. Klein On The Square Double-Sided Keychain Charm. The company name evokes the Union Square East flagship and the popular-priced department store that served generations of shoppers. S. Klein’s story also reflects a changing retail landscape, from Manhattan roots to suburban locations across the region, followed by store closings in the 1970s. It makes a meaningful small keepsake for collectors interested in department stores, local history, and the everyday names once familiar to New York shoppers.
S. Klein On The Square was a popular-priced department store chain based in New York City. Russian-born Samuel Klein founded the business in 1905 or around 1912, according to differing dates in the historical record. Its flagship occupied buildings along Union Square East in Manhattan, and the phrase “On The Square” joined the location’s name with a 1920s expression meaning honest and straightforward. The full-line stores sold clothing and other goods, with departments for furniture, furs, and pets. Klein’s lower prices and quick inventory turnover appealed to cautious shoppers during the Great Depression; the founder reportedly earned more than $1 million annually during that period. From the 1960s, the company expanded into suburban markets, often placing stores near shopping malls rather than inside them. Locations served New York and New Jersey, as well as parts of Virginia, Maryland, and the Philadelphia area. In the mid-1970s, parent company Rapid-American Corp., led by Meshulam Riklis, began closing stores in groups. The chain’s remaining stores had closed by 1978. Its Union Square flagship site later became the location of Zeckendorf Towers. The former Newark store, vacant after closing in 1976, retained prominent signage until the building was demolished in 2013.
Product features
- Acrylic construction with white base and double-sided print
- Compact size ~3.15" x 1.57" (8 x 4 cm); measurements may vary up to 1"
- Includes metal ring and short chain for secure attachment
- Durable, lightweight—made for everyday carry
- Manufactured product sourced from China; intended for adult use
Care instructions
- Clean with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid any chemicals.
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
Warnings, Hazard: For adults
Care instructions: Clean with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid any chemicals.