Whatever Became of...Ohrbach's?

Above, Ohrbach's at Del Amo Fashion Center. 

The first time that I can remember ever hearing of Ohrbach's department stores was seeing it listed in the end credits of the 1966-1971 gothic soap-opera, Dark Shadows. It stated that the show's fashions were supplied by Ohrbach's.

A few years later, I only stepped into the Del Amo Fashion Center Orhbach's in Torrance, Califonria as an ex-girlfriend worked at that Orhbach's.

Today, Ohrbach's is only a name in department store history.

According to Wikipedia:

Ohrbach's was a moderate-priced department store with a merchandising focus primarily on clothing and accessories. From its modest start in 1923 until the chain's demise in 1987, Ohrbach's expanded dramatically after World War II, and opened numerous branch locations in the metro areas of New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Its original flagship store was located on Union Square in New York City, and they maintained home and administrative offices in Newark as well as in Los Angeles. The retailer would eventually close the Newark offices in the 1970s. Paul László designed the Union Square store as well as many of their other stores.

On December 31, 1986, the Los Angeles Times reported:

NEW YORK —  Ohrbach’s, the Dutch-owned department store chain hurt by Americans’ preference for brand-name clothing, has closed four of its six Southern California stores but continues to operate two others as it negotiates with prospective buyers. 

The 63-year-old chain, which previously said it would discontinue operations in Southern California, Sunday closed stores at 6060 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, at Los Cerritos Center in Cerritos and at Topanga Plaza in Canoga Park, according to Margaret Tan, manager of the Cerritos store. The Ohrbach’s store in Panorama City was sold in September to developer Gary Leff, who has since leased it to an operator of indoor swap meets. 

Ohrbach’s stores continue to operate at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance and at Glendale Galleria.

Eventually, even those stores closed down.

To read more, go here.