Simon Lazarus

Simon Lazarus (1807–1877) was an American clothing retailer and the founder of the predecessor of what was to become The F&R Lazarus & Co., an operation which blossomed into what is today known as Macy's, Inc, a major retail holding company in the U.S.

Early life
In 1850, Lazarus, a rabbinical scholar, arrived in Columbus, and in 1851 he opened the Lazarus store. Assisted by his wife Amelia and sons Fred and Ralph, Simon and his store gradually began to prosper. Simon Lazarus was once described as "a good man, a gentle man, a scholar--and no merchant,"—and Simon's own grandson, the late Robert Lazarus, Sr., was the man who said it. By 1870, industry improvements (primarily attributable to the mass manufacture of men's uniforms for the Civil War), led the family to expand the business to include ready-made men's civilian clothing and eventually a complete line of merchandise. Simon Lazarus served as the first Rabbi of Central Ohio's oldest Reform synagogue, Temple Israel.

Later Simon sons, Fred Lazarus, Sr. and Ralph Lazarus, joined the business, adding many innovative marketing techniques. After Simon's death in 1877, his widow Amelia continued running the store with their two sons. After Amelia's death in 1899, the store was renamed The F&R Lazarus & Company and positioned for rapid expansion of the company.

Lazarus was interred at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

Biographical information

 * Many Happy Returns to Lazarus WOSU-TV Documentary
 * Charles Lazarus Interview Columbus Jewish Historical Society
 * Former Lazarus Chairman and Federated Director Charles Lazarus Dies at Age 93, Columbus Dispatch, May 14, 2007
 * Charles Lazarus Recalled as Retail and Civic Leader, Columbus Dispatch, May 15, 2007
 * Temple Israel Columbus History
 * Best of times: Staffers remember when work seemed like a family, Columbus Business First, December 21, 2001
 * Biography of Ralph Lazarus (1914 - 1988) University of Cincinnati
 * Great Living Cincinnatians: Fred Lazarus, Jr. Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce
 * Prospecting Pays Time Magazine, December 9, 1946
 * Shuffling the Lazari Time Magazine, September 29, 1967
 * Time to Get Involved Time Magazine, January 19, 1968
 * Personalities Time Magazine, April 3, 1964
 * Family Affair Time Magazine, September 8, 1958
 * How Much is Enough? Time Magazine, July 16, 1945
 * Obituary of Philanthropist and New York Yankees Owner Charlotte Lazarus New York Times
 * Interview with Charlotte Lazarus Witkind Columbus Jewish Historical Society

Other

 * History of Federated Department Stores
 * WOSU-TV Documentary: Many Happy Returns to Lazarus Documentary
 * Business First Article: Staffers Remember When Work Seemed Like a Family
 * Business First Article: So Long, Lazarus
 * Columbus Dispatch Article: Name Change Hurt Macy's:  Decision to drop ‘Lazarus’ not a hit here