This article is about the bygone California clothing retailer. For the bygone Texas-based punk rock band from the 1980s, see The Judy's.
Judy's was a chain of clothing stores, based in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. Marcia Israel (Mrs. Lawrence Israel, later Marcia Israel-Curley) founded Judy's in 1946 and ran it until 1989 when she sold it to Laws International of Hong Kong for $31 million.[1] Israel-Curley died in 2004.[2]
In the late 1940s, Israel wrote, there were generally no boutiques catering exclusively for juniors and hardly any clothing companies producing styles for the juniors market. Israel wrote that she developed numerous groundbreaking concepts that were copied by other designers and retailers, such as the short-sleeve sweater and workmen's five-pocket jeans for casual use (accessorized with Ked's sneakers) by women.[4][5]
Israel was long considered a fashion authority; for example a 1970 interview in the Los Angeles Times around the topic of longer hemlines for women's skirts. Israel confirmed that longer midi skirt hemlines were "flourishing", though the lower hemlines "should not be forced; they must ripen like fruit". The Judy's "empire" was considered a "bellwether by great numbers of astute fashion people", according to the Times.[6]
Development of stores
Israel began the chain in January, 1946 in a 7-by-12-foot space (84 sq. ft.) carved out of a movie theater lobby on Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles. She proceeded to open a 360-square-foot store in 1948 in Compton, an 800-square-foot store on May 9, 1949 on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, and in 1952, a 3,500-square-foot store in the new Lakewood Center, the United States' first fully-enclosed mall.[5] The chain continued to expand, including the opening of a 6,300-square-foot (590 m2) store in Century City Shopping Center in July 1965, expanded in 1968 to 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2)which it considered its flagship store.[7] By 1970, there were 17 Judy's.[8]
The chain at its peak it had 107 stores.[9] In 1989, it operated 70 women's clothing stores and 34 "GHq" men's clothing stores in California and a handful in four other Western states.
Epilogue
In 1993 the chain declared bankruptcy, disposed of the GHq men's chain and relaunched with a slimmed-down 52-store branch network.[1] New owner Rampage was in the process of converting Judy's stores to the Rampage name when it went bankrupt itself in 1997.[10] Retailer Charlotte Russe purchased Rampage, and in 2006 sold most store leases and fixtures to Forever 21, while converting 4 remaining locations to Charlotte Russe branches.[11]
External links
Judy's (Facebook page)
References
^ ab"Slimmer Judy's Inc. Strides Out on Runway : Bankruptcy: The women's apparel chain will work to win back customers after its reorganization. A new owner is at the helm". Los Angeles Times. February 2, 1993. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
^"Judy's Boutique Founder Passes on". 20 August 2004.
^"Owners of Judy's Consider Selling Clothing Chain for $31 Million". Los Angeles Times. June 27, 1989. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
judy, this, article, about, bygone, california, clothing, retailer, bygone, texas, based, punk, rock, band, from, 1980s, chain, clothing, stores, based, nuys, angeles, marcia, israel, lawrence, israel, later, marcia, israel, curley, founded, 1946, until, 1989,. This article is about the bygone California clothing retailer For the bygone Texas based punk rock band from the 1980s see The Judy s Judy s was a chain of clothing stores based in Van Nuys Los Angeles Marcia Israel Mrs Lawrence Israel later Marcia Israel Curley founded Judy s in 1946 and ran it until 1989 when she sold it to Laws International of Hong Kong for 31 million 1 Israel Curley died in 2004 2 Logo of Judy s Contents 1 Fashion 2 Development of stores 3 Epilogue 4 External links 5 ReferencesFashion EditJudy s sold sportswear and fashion accessories the women s stores catering to juniors slim cut trendy styles 3 In the late 1940s Israel wrote there were generally no boutiques catering exclusively for juniors and hardly any clothing companies producing styles for the juniors market Israel wrote that she developed numerous groundbreaking concepts that were copied by other designers and retailers such as the short sleeve sweater and workmen s five pocket jeans for casual use accessorized with Ked s sneakers by women 4 5 Israel was long considered a fashion authority for example a 1970 interview in the Los Angeles Times around the topic of longer hemlines for women s skirts Israel confirmed that longer midi skirt hemlines were flourishing though the lower hemlines should not be forced they must ripen like fruit The Judy s empire was considered a bellwether by great numbers of astute fashion people according to the Times 6 Development of stores EditIsrael began the chain in January 1946 in a 7 by 12 foot space 84 sq ft carved out of a movie theater lobby on Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles She proceeded to open a 360 square foot store in 1948 in Compton an 800 square foot store on May 9 1949 on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood and in 1952 a 3 500 square foot store in the new Lakewood Center the United States first fully enclosed mall 5 The chain continued to expand including the opening of a 6 300 square foot 590 m2 store in Century City Shopping Center in July 1965 expanded in 1968 to 16 000 square feet 1 500 m2 which it considered its flagship store 7 By 1970 there were 17 Judy s 8 The chain at its peak it had 107 stores 9 In 1989 it operated 70 women s clothing stores and 34 GHq men s clothing stores in California and a handful in four other Western states Epilogue EditIn 1993 the chain declared bankruptcy disposed of the GHq men s chain and relaunched with a slimmed down 52 store branch network 1 New owner Rampage was in the process of converting Judy s stores to the Rampage name when it went bankrupt itself in 1997 10 Retailer Charlotte Russe purchased Rampage and in 2006 sold most store leases and fixtures to Forever 21 while converting 4 remaining locations to Charlotte Russe branches 11 External links EditJudy s Facebook page References Edit a b Slimmer Judy s Inc Strides Out on Runway Bankruptcy The women s apparel chain will work to win back customers after its reorganization A new owner is at the helm Los Angeles Times February 2 1993 Retrieved May 28 2020 Judy s Boutique Founder Passes on 20 August 2004 Owners of Judy s Consider Selling Clothing Chain for 31 Million Los Angeles Times June 27 1989 Retrieved May 29 2020 DEFYING THE ODDS Kirkus Reviews a b Israel Curley Marcia 2002 Defying the Odds Overlook Press pp 46 101 ISBN 1 58567 307 2 The Midi Look Los Angeles Times March 1 1970 Israel Curley Marcia 2002 Defying the Odds Overlook Press pp 126 128 ISBN 1 58567 307 2 The Judy s Machine Fashion Week August 24 1970 Rourke Mary August 20 2004 Marcia Israel Curley 83 Judy s Boutique Owner Benefactor Los Angeles Times p 173 Retrieved May 28 2020 Seo Diane June 27 1997 Rampage Retailers File for Chapter 11 Los Angeles Rampage Closes Forever 21 Moves in Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Judy 27s amp oldid 1069533031, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
