We Miss You Henri Bendel: A Brief History of One of New York's Most Iconic Department Stores
By Alexus Mosley
We’ve seen their bags on the arms of some of our favorite women (fictional and non-fictional alike), but very few know the origin story of one of the most iconic department stores in New York and arguably the world. Today, we are briefly discussing the rich history of one of fashion’s most classic and influential staples, none other than Henri Bendel.
First opening its doors in 1895, Henri Bendel was quickly solidified as a fashion staple and continued as such for nearly 124 years. Founded by Louisiana-born businessman and milliner, Henri Willis Bendel, the company began its journey as a women’s department store in Greenwich Village before moving to its flagship Fifth Avenue location. Widely recognized for its brown-and-white striped boxes, Henri Bendel was the first retailer to stage its own fashion show, have its own fragrance, and offer in-store makeovers. The iconic New York brand was also the first to sell Coco Chanel designs in the US.
Eventually, Bendel’s expanded across the country, opening up 28 additional stores as well as an e-commerce site. Despite the brand’s strong influence in the industry and pop culture, as well as its unwavering customer loyalty, Henri Bendel closed its doors permanently in 2019, dissolving its stores including the online. The parent company L Brand, which acquired Henri Bendel in 1985, wanted to focus its resources and efforts on growing other brands in their portfolio, such as Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works.
Though the brand is no longer with us (RIP Henri) thanks to style collectors, vintage thrift stores, and glamorous on scr-en moments such as the ones pictured below, Henri Bendel may be gone but will never be forgotten.
