Korricks Department Store

Featurette

In the 1890’s the Polish-Jewish Korrick family opened up their first store. It was one of the first department stores in the Phoenix area along with the Goldwater and Diamond department stores.

The Korrick Brothers: Sam, Charles, and Abraham

Sam Korrick arrived in Phoenix in 1895 on a chance that he could make it big in the city. First, Korrick arrived in New York but realized that he could have a better opportunity if he traveled to Texas to get a job at the Diamond family store. On his route to Texas, he decided on a detour and headed straight to the west coast but never made it because he stopped off in Phoenix. He decided that Phoenix would be the best place to open his store and called it “The New York Store,” with its first location on East Washington Street. Later the department store would be referred to as “Korricks.”

With the success of the store, Sam Korrick sent for his brother, Charles to help maintain the store. After Charles arrived in Phoenix in 1900, Sam died suddenly in 1903. On the day of Sam’s funeral every store in the area closed because out of respect they had for him. Sam is buried in Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, Masons section.

After the sudden death of Sam Korrick, brothers Charles and Abe took over running the department store. Abe had a way with merchandising and marketing the store to the local community. Charles became an instrumental leader in the Jewish community helping to establish Temple Beth Israel and was a founder of the Arizona Club.

During the seven decades to follow Korricks was one of the department stores in downtown Phoenix that regular people came to shop. The department store had every item that a man or woman could possibly desire in that time. There were dresses, suits, household goods, and many other items. While maintaining an active department store the Korrick family remained committed to the Jewish community in Phoenix.

In 1957, to stay relevant in the community the Korrick building added more floors and did a complete modernization of the exterior. During this time the other department stores, Diamond’s and Goldwater’s had moved out of downtown Phoenix because of the dwindling number of customers. Korricks was the last department store to remain in downtown Phoenix until it closed in the mid-1960s. Korricks was purchased by Broadway Department stores and later by Macy’s Department Stores.

DOWNLOAD: Korricks Page in Best of Jewish Phoenix 2015 - Vol. 67 No 19, January 2015
CLICK TO VIEW: Korricks and The Broadway - A promotional brochure for the opening of Korricks-Chris-Town, 1961

Interesting Facts

• The Korrick building is the only department store left standing of the original three in downtown Phoenix. It has a new façade covering the beautiful architecture that once made up Korricks. The building is now home to local business and serves as an office space as well.

• In 1920, Charles Korrick led the Hebrew Center Association, which helped found Temple Beth Israel, the first synagogue in Phoenix, now the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center.*

• Charles Korrick was a Mason, and founder of the Arizona Club.*

• Sam Korrick belonged to the Maricopa Club of Phoenix, and was trustee of the BPOE lodge.*

• Charles Korrick was the first President of the Valley Community Chest. His wife, Blanche, was head of the Musicians Club and in 1946,  she was a founder of the Phoenix Symphony.*

1: In 1940 Korricks expanded to the east and added a fourth floor. Provided by The Department Store Museum
2: Abe Korrick at the Arizona Club
3: Cutting Korrick's 62nd anniversary cake and opening of their last store downtown. L-R: Charles Korrick, Governor  Earnest McFarland, Bertha Palmer, Unknown, Abe Korrick
4: Map of the three largest department stores in Phoenix
5: Interior of Korricks Department Store
6: In 1957, Korricks modernized the outside of the department store and added a two more floors, giving it a total of six. Provided by The Department Store Museum
7: Korricks Department Store on the corner of First and Washington Street 

Sources: Best of Jewish Phoenix 2015, Phoenix Jewish News, LLC. Vol. 67 No 19, January 2015 (http://www.jewishaz.com/app/jn-best-2015-2/files/inc/1adc73fa84.pdf ), http://www.barbarastew-art.com/christown_korricks.html, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/349137/korricks-ad, http://www.jewishaz.com/milestones/obituaries/article_c4d2dc08-2d26-11e8-b61f-7f5191ec79e2.html, Arizona Days and Ways

Unless credited with prior ownership and copyright - all displayed imagery, documents, brochures, books, materials, recordings, video, broadcasts, and promotional materials of every form and description, whether in written, analog, digital, film or electronic form, prepared by Arizona Jewish Historical Society shall remain the copyrighted property works of Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Any unauthorized use of that information or materials may violate copyright, trademark and other laws. Any rights not expressly granted are reserved.

AZJHS is deeply grateful to all our donors and sponsors for their generous support and gifts throughout the year. Because of you, we are able to continue providing to the public at no cost our many programs, events and exhibits.

Mid Century Exhibit Key

(Please choose from the links below to enter the exhibit room of your choice.)

1. Exhibit Entrance

   1. Welcome to Mid-Century Jewish Life in Phoenix

2. Featurette

   1. Korricks Department Store

3. Social Life in Phoenix

   1. Social Calendar

   2. Purim Carnival and Queen Esther

   3. Jewish Festivals, Plays, Dances

   4. Fashion & Jewelry

4. Community Enrichment

   1. Kivel Nursing Home

   2. Jewish Community Center

   3. Youth Organizations

   4. Social Services

5. Religious Life

   1. Temple Beth Israel

   2. Beth El Congregation

   3. Beth Hebrew

   4. Har Zion, Temple Beth Shalom, Beth Joseph, Temple Shalom, and Temple Beth Sholom

   5. Rabbi Albert Plotkin and Sylvia Plotkin

6. Jewish Engagement in Civil Rights

   1. Camelback Inn

   2. Establishment of the State of Israel

   3. Civil Rights

7. Activities Corner

   1. The Poodle Skirt

   2. Paper Dolls

If you have Mid-Century Photos or Documents from 1945-1975 and would like to add to our photographic and informational collection, please fill out the below and submit. Our Special Collections Curator will be in contact with you. Thank you.

VIDEO: Fashion in the 1950s
(Source: You Tube, Taylor Brashears)

CLICK HERE: How the New York Store became Korricks, Phoenix, Arizona - Historyadventuring.com
(Source: Arizona Days and Ways)