May-Cohens
On the Park
Jacksonville, Florida
Basement
Mezzanine
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor
Fourth Floor
Gateway
1959
Roosevelt Mall
1961
Regency Square
1967
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Volusia Mall
Daytona Beach
1974
|
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Orange Park Mall
1975
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Coming in due course.
My parents and I used to shop the Downtown & Regency Square locations of May Cohen's when I was a child. It was sad to see the downtown location of it, Sears Roebuck & Furchgott's of Florida (i heard it pronounced Furtch-got's) close as the malls started opening up or expanding in the various suburbs during the 1970s. The downdown Jacksonville location still exists. Recently it was completely renovated and now houses the City offices. At least it is useful again. It's a beautiful building.
ReplyDeleteMay Cohen began in the 1800's as the Cohen Brothers store, and was commonly known as Cohen's. That store, on Bay Street I believe, burned in the Great Fire of Jacksonville in 1902, and was replaced by the St. James Building store on Hemming Park. The building was so named because it replaced the St. James Hotel which stood on that site before the fire. In the 1950's Cohen Brothers was bought by the May company, and it became May Cohen's. The downtown store was a full-service department store with a candy shop, a bakery, a restaurant, a toy department, furniture, etc. The suburban branches added after it became May Cohen's sold mostly clothing, and did not have the other departments. The candy shop's signature Annaclair chocolates were to die for, and my grandmother never left the store without a loaf of the bakery's raisin cinnamon bread.
ReplyDeleteYes! I moved here in 1979 and I remember the Orange Park Mall May Cohen's actually had a candy store there too until probably the mid 1980's. The Annclair chocolates were indeed yummy. It was certainly a special touch!
ReplyDeletegreat article on may-cohens
ReplyDeletehttp://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-nov-may-cohens-jacksonvilles-big-store
I recall in first grade (1961) buying my workbooks for school at May Cohen's. Then I understand the state had to provide them.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, we shopped at the Lakewood Store, then moved and shopped at the Buena Park store. In the basement they had a candy shop, we would buy peppermint and Rum patties, does anyone know the recipe for them.?
ReplyDeleteYou most likely mean May Company in Los Angeles, not May-Cohens of Jacksonville, Florida.
ReplyDeleteThe May company bought Cohen Brother's in Jacksonville, FL. it then became known as May-Cohen.
DeleteWhile in high school, I worked at the Roosevelt location during the late 80s when the store was May Cohen's, then May Florida, and finally Maison Blanche (1985-1988). As noted above, more photos and history can be found at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-nov-may-cohens-jacksonvilles-big-store
I have a baby outfit still in the box never worn from this store. Anyone guess or know what it would be worth??
ReplyDeleteI grew-up in Jacksonville in the 1950s. I remember my Mom and me going to Cohen's where she shopped. We took the bus from our little home in Lakewood. Great memories!
ReplyDelete