25th & Federal Street, Camden, NJ
Louis Jacob Kotlikoff was born in Kiev, Russia, in 1879. After immigrating to America, he married Clara Hager, another Jewish immigrant, around the turn of the 20th century. With $250, Louis opened his first store at 2511 Federal Street in Camden, New Jersey, and the couple lived in the apartment above the shop. Their first child, Tanfield, was born in 1907, followed by Harold in 1909. As the business flourished, they moved to 2507 Federal Street and, in 1912, expanded by purchasing 2509 Federal Street, doubling the store’s size. Their third son, Albert, was born in 1915. In 1923, the store relocated to 2503 Federal Street, where it remained in operation until 1981. Louis Kotlikoff passed away in Camden in 1933, after which his widow and their three sons took over the business.
Kotlikoff's became the only department-type store in East Camden and, at its peak, employed 25 people, generating $1,000,000 in revenue. However, the opening of the Cherry Hill Mall in 1961 posed a challenge to the store. Mall developers tried to persuade the Kotlikoff family to relocate, but Tanfield and his brothers chose to stay in Camden, competing by offering superior service. Despite their decision, many other Camden institutions, such as the Jewish Community Center, Camden Catholic High School, Esterbrook Pen Company, and the Courier-Post newspaper, closed or left the city during the 1950s and 1960s.
The economic decline of Camden negatively impacted the store’s fortunes. In the 1970s, there was brief optimism about the city’s future, but this was dashed when Mayor Angelo Errichetti was implicated in the ABSCAM scandal. The city lost momentum, including a proposed Veterans Administration Hospital.
On October 27, 1981, Kotlikoff's was burglarized three times in one day, with thieves repeatedly breaking through the plywood covering the shattered windows. Just five months later, the store closed for good. In the early 1980s, the building was used as a thrift store by Goodwill Industries, and by the 1990s, it had been divided to house three different retail businesses.
Although now forgotten, there was once another Kotlikoff Department Store in Camden, located at 3404-06 Federal Street. This store was founded by Samuel Kotlikoff and, after his separation in 1927, was operated by his wife. Their son, David, was running the business as late as 1947 under the name Rosedale Department Store, but it had closed by 1956.
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Kotlikoff’s
25th & Federal Street, Camden, NJ Louis Jacob Kotlikoff was born in Kiev, Russia, in 1879. After immigrating to America, he married Clara Hager, another Jewish immigrant, around the turn of the 20th century. With $250, Louis opened his first store at 2511 Federal Street in Camden, New Jersey, and the couple lived in the…
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