What is the oldest department store chain?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Published Feb 20, 2026
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor – 1826 Samuel Lord and George Washington Taylor founded the store in 1826 to sell specialty women’s apparel. It is now the oldest mid- to high-range department store chain in the United States.
Who is the largest department store chain?
Macy’s
In 2020, Macy’s was ranked as the the leading department store in the United States, with sales amounting to 17.35 billion U.S. dollars. Kohl’s followed, with sales reaching 15 billion.
What were some of the first department stores?
The Bon Marché in Paris, which began as a small shop in the early 19th century, is widely considered the first department store. John Wanamaker carried the concept to the United States in 1875 by purchasing a rail-freight depot in his native Philadelphia and populating it with a collection of specialty retailers.
What is the longest running store?
Le Bon Marché was founded in Paris in 1852, making it the world’s oldest and longest-running department store.
Does Costco count as department store?
In the past, categories have included department stores and wholesale clubs such as Costco. Past quarters have also included grocery stores, Amazon, mobile payments and other popular shopping categories.
What is the oldest brand in the world?
Kongo Gumi, established in 578 AD, is the oldest, continually operating company in the world. Its headquarters are located in Osaka, Japan. This construction company was founded by an immigrant, who was commissioned by Prince Shotoku to build the Shitennō-ji Buddhist temple.
What is the best Costco card to get?
Overall, I only recommend going with the Executive Membership if you are committed to joining Costco and plan on spending more than $250 per month. If you plan on spending less than this, stick with the Gold Star Member plan.
What is the cheapest Costco membership?
Gold Star membership
The basic membership is called the Gold Star membership. Priced at $60, it’s the minimum you can spend to get in the door and start throwing some of that Kirkland-brand goodness –which is often 20 percent cheaper than most other brands in the store — into your extra-large shopping cart.