Wieboldt's Vanity License Plate
12" × 6"
$17.99
Sale price
$17.99
Regular price
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Bring a piece of Chicago retail history along for the ride with this Wieboldt's vanity license plate. The retailer began in 1883 and became a familiar downtown and suburban presence, from its State and Madison Street flagship to branches around the Chicago metropolitan area. Its name recalls department-store errands, holiday visits, radio promotions, and S&H Green Stamp redemption centers. For collectors and local-history enthusiasts, this plate makes a distinctive way to celebrate a brand remembered by generations of Chicago shoppers.
Wieboldt Stores, Inc., known as Wieboldt's, was a Chicago general retailer founded in 1883 by storekeeper William A. Wieboldt. Its flagship stood at State and Madison streets in downtown Chicago. In 1961, the company acquired the failed Mandel Brothers store on State Street and a smaller branch at Lincoln Village shopping center. By the 1970s, Wieboldt's operated more than 15 stores across the Chicago metropolitan area. The chain marked its centennial in April 1983 with a message looking toward a “New Tomorrow.” During the 1980s, it struggled to remain profitable and entered bankruptcy in 1986. Store closures followed in 1987: most locations shut on March 10, while the State Street flagship closed on July 18 and some other branches remained open later that year. The State Street building had been reduced from nine stories to five floors in 1985. Wieboldt's also gave customers S&H Green Stamps, with redemption centers in its stores, and sponsored broadcasts featuring The Cinnamon Bear in the 1940s and 1950s and again in the mid-1980s. Its Chicago radio advertisements during Cubs games in the early 1960s featured Jack Quinlan and Lou Boudreau.
Wieboldt's Vanity License Plate
$17.99
Sale price
$17.99
Regular price
Bring a piece of Chicago retail history along for the ride with this Wieboldt's vanity license plate. The retailer began in 1883 and became a familiar downtown and suburban presence, from its State and Madison Street flagship to branches around the Chicago metropolitan area. Its name recalls department-store errands, holiday visits, radio promotions, and S&H Green Stamp redemption centers. For collectors and local-history enthusiasts, this plate makes a distinctive way to celebrate a brand remembered by generations of Chicago shoppers.
Wieboldt Stores, Inc., known as Wieboldt's, was a Chicago general retailer founded in 1883 by storekeeper William A. Wieboldt. Its flagship stood at State and Madison streets in downtown Chicago. In 1961, the company acquired the failed Mandel Brothers store on State Street and a smaller branch at Lincoln Village shopping center. By the 1970s, Wieboldt's operated more than 15 stores across the Chicago metropolitan area. The chain marked its centennial in April 1983 with a message looking toward a “New Tomorrow.” During the 1980s, it struggled to remain profitable and entered bankruptcy in 1986. Store closures followed in 1987: most locations shut on March 10, while the State Street flagship closed on July 18 and some other branches remained open later that year. The State Street building had been reduced from nine stories to five floors in 1985. Wieboldt's also gave customers S&H Green Stamps, with redemption centers in its stores, and sponsored broadcasts featuring The Cinnamon Bear in the 1940s and 1950s and again in the mid-1980s. Its Chicago radio advertisements during Cubs games in the early 1960s featured Jack Quinlan and Lou Boudreau.
| 12" × 6" | |
| Width, in | 12.00 |
| Height , in | 6.00 |
Product features
- Durable 100% aluminum construction with silver backing
- High-definition, vibrant color printing on white front
- Standard size 12" × 6" (30.5 × 15.2 cm)
- Four pre-drilled holes for easy hanging or mounting
- Assembled in the USA from globally sourced parts (mounting hardware not included)
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth