Levy Bros.

Levy Bros. was a long lived Louisville, KY department store carrying a full line of men’s and women’s wear including hats, caps, shoes, furnishings, military uniforms, tennis, golf and sporting goods and even a men’s and children’s barber shop. German immigrant brothers Henry and Moses Levy started before the Civil War, opening their store in 1861 at the NE corner of Third St. and Market in a corner room of a 4 story building. They prospered during the Civil War as suppliers.

In 1889, they purchased the land and started construction in 1892 of the landmark Levy Bros. Bldg., which they completed in 1893. The building still features the ca. 1908 electric lights outlining the exterior, leading to a local phrase “Lit up like Levy’s”. The business also used the phrase “Look for the Bright Spot” in their advertising. By the late 1920s, the company was run by Fred, Arnold, Stuart H., James H. and Frederick Levy. They added a branch location in Lexington, Ky. in the 1920s.

Levy’s carried womenswear as of the 1940s. In 1955, Levy’s added a suburban store in the Shelbyville Road Plaza. The Levy family closed the Third and Market store on Oct. 10, 1980, ending 119 years in downtown Louisville. The Shelbyville Road Plaza, Bashford Manor Mall and Dixie Manor stores were sold in September 1979. In 1984 they closed their Greentree Mall, Jefferson Mall and Southland Terrace branches. Bashford Manor was the last store and closed in 1987. The last family president was Henry Levy. The downtown building, now on the National Register, still stands, housing a restaurant and loft apartments. They carried Hart Schaffner Marx, Palm Beach, Clippercraft, Johnny Carson, Botany, Harris Tweeds, Eagle Tweeds, Donegal Tweeds, and Phoenix labels, Dobbs hats, the MacGregor line, Florsheim Shoes, Enro, Arrow and Manhattan shirts, Bass shoes, Fashion Park Clothes, Charter House, Robert Surrey and Varsity. Specialties included military uniforms, and they were a local supplier for Selva dance shoes.

Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans