There was once a time when downtown Jacksonville was considered a premier shopping destination. Small shops and massive department stores lined its streets, often flanked by theatres or restaurants. Shoppers routinely walked from store to store and through Hemming Park, which served as somewhat of a center court for all of the activity.
Those days are long gone at this point, unfortunately, with many of the buildings that housed those stores having been demolished years ago. But many of the city’s longtime residents have fond memories of shopping downtown as children, before the days of shopping malls and suburban sprawl.
We’ve highlighted several of the grand department stores from downtown Jacksonville’s shopping era below, as a way of reminding present-day Jax residents how active downtown once was – and why we should fight to make it a hub of activity once again.
The most famous of downtown Jax’s former department stores was the grand Cohen Brothers store next to Hemming Park.
The store, founded by Jacob and Morris Cohen, opened in 1912. Its four-story building was designed by Henry J. Klutho and featured three floors of departments along with top-floor office space and a grand glass dome as its centerpiece. On the ground floor, other small shops lined the street.
The glass dome was removed during a later remodel, against the wishes of Klutho.
The store was a huge success for decades, prompting May Department Stores to purchase it in 1958. The store was rebranded as May Cohens.
Under the leadership of May Department Stores, the May Cohens brand expanded into suburban malls. The move to suburbia, combined with decreasing foot traffic downtown, led to the store’s closure in 1987.
Its building was renovated in the ‘90s and now serves as City Hall. May Cohens went on to be acquired by Macy’s.
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