This black-and-white photograph from the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Collections is of the customer service counter at Herpolsheimer’s during the Christmas season. Behind the counter there are many different types of cellophane wrapping paper and Christmas decorations.
Herpolsheimer’s was founded as a dry goods story in 1870 eventually evolving into the large department story that was familiar to many in Grand Rapids. The store operated at 1 Monroe Ave., where the current Grand Rapids Police Department is now housed. In 1987, its stories was sold to Federated Department Stores and the name changed to Lazarus which eventually became part of the Macy’s corporation.
