LaRose Shop was a popular women’s clothing store

For four decades, the LaRose Shop, a women’s clothing store, was a fixture of downtown Vincennes. Established in 1931, it was one of many retail businesses started by the city’s Jewish residents, in this case Samuel and Fannie Osipe Rosenberg.

Samuel Rosenberg immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1916, and Fannie arrived, also from Poland, shortly after. Samuel’s parents and brother stayed in Europe, and it was believed they later became victims of the Holocaust. The couple met in St. Louis, married in 1917, and then moved to Vincennes.

Samuel Rosenberg operated other retail stores in the city beginning in the late teens and through the 1920s, some with partners, before opening the LaRose Shop. A look at Vincennes City Directories from that time show all of these different businesses, which were located at various addresses on North Second Street.

The 1918-19 edition of the directory shows him in partnership with Abraham Olevitch in Olevitch & Co., a men’s clothing store at 19 and 20 North Second Street. Next, he had his own clothing store at 19 North Second. He and his wife lived above the store. This was followed by a partnership with Max Miller, in Rosenberg-Miller & Co., a dry goods store at 25 North Second Street. In the 1925-26 city directory, he is again listed with his clothing store at 19 North Second and in 1928, once more partnered with Max Miller in what was called the St. Louis Bargain Store at 1638 North Second. Prior to opening the LaRose Shop, he was only operating his 19 North Second Street clothing store.

The LaRose Shop opened at 224 Main Street on August 15, 1931. It was originally a millinery business run by Sara Rindskopf, this being the period when all women wore hats. The store manager was Abe Osipe, Fannie’s younger brother. Miss Lillian Wenzel was assistant manager. It first continued to operate exclusively as a hat shop, called the LaRose Hat Shop.

It was the Rosenbergs who, in 1934, added ladies-ready-to-wear to the store, with a grand reopening on March 10 of that year. Specials on opening day were silk dresses, $2.88, and $2.88 hats on sale for $1.98. Other hats could be purchased for from 98 cents to $1.88. Ads called the store “The Busiest Women’s Shop in the City.”

The shop was gradually updated with more departments added. In 1937, the storefront was modernized, and, in 1948, the store was enlarged. A big remodel again took place in 1958. The LaRose Shop was one of the first retail stores in Vincennes to be fully air conditioned.

Starting in 1953, the store was managed by Henry and Esther Levinson, with the Rosenbergs having moved to Tucson, Arizona.

A 1956 newspaper article noted that the first floor of the store held sportswear, coats, suits, dresses, and accessories, while formals and bridal gowns could be found on the second floor. One long-time employee at that time was Mrs. Elva Schory, who had worked at the store for 22 years.

In 1965, the store was purchased by George and Jean Baldwin and Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Herrin. The new owners had a big formal opening that August.

In 1970, ownership changed again when the shop was purchased by Mrs. Helen Pielemeier and Mrs. Dorothy Schultheis. It closed the following year.

Sam Rosenberg died in 1971, at the age of 77, and Fannie died in 1990, at age 89. They are both interred in Evansville’s Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Next week, read about Samuel and Fannie Rosenberg’s son Albert, who started his own retail store that became a Vincennes institution. Many area people still recall shopping at Albert’s men’s clothing store.

— Brian Spangle can be reached at [email protected]. His latest book, “Lost Vincennes,” published by The History Press, is available for purchase at the Knox County Public Library and on Amazon.

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