Jelleff's
IndustryRetail
Founded1910
Defunct1979
FateLiquidation
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
ProductsWomen's apparel, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.

The Frank R. Jelleff Co., or more commonly Jelleff's was a Washington, D.C.-based retailer that specialized in women's apparel.

History

Jelleff's was founded March 1910, on F Street, N.W. in downtown Washington, D.C. Its founder, Frank R. Jelleff, founded the first Boy's Club in the D.C. area, and the club at 3265 S Street NW, just off Wisconsin Ave., is named in his honor. The company was family run until 1968, when a group headed by I. Lee Potter purchased the store from the founder's widow. Potter served as chairman until the company's closing in 1979. His father, Alan Potter, served as president.[1]

Founder Frank Jelleff

Flagship store

The flagship store was located at 1214–1220 F Street, NW, in the "F Street Mall." The store closed in early 1973.[2]

Branch stores

Jelleff's opened its first suburban location at the Shirlington Shopping Center in nearby suburban Virginia in December 1947. That location closed November 1, 1972, but the 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) store reopened in 1973, as a discount general department store.[3] It also operated locations in Silver Spring; in Falls Church; at Springfield Mall; a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) store at Tysons Corner Center; and at 4472 Connecticut Ave., NW, in Washington, D.C. It operated a 3,800-square-foot (350 m2) store, known as the "Little Shop," from 1942 to 1969, at 6936 Wisconsin Ave., in Bethesda, Maryland.[4][5] A 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) store opened in the then-new Crystal Underground in September 1976, and in 1979, at the time of the chain's closing, continued to operate independently as "Fifteen Thirty Five."[6] The Tysons Corner store closed in early 1979, followed in May by the Connecticut Avenue and Springfield Mall locations, then in June by Silver Spring.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Jelleff's Plans Expansion Under New Ownership," The Washington Post and Times-Herald Sep 8, 1968, p. F1.
  2. ↑ "Jelleff's to Close Its F Street Mall, Shirlington Shops," by William H. Jones, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Oct 25, 1972, p. D9.
  3. ↑ "Jelleff Plans Discounting Operation," by Claudia Levy, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Aug 22, 1973, pg. E3.
  4. ↑ "Jelleff's Opens Shop in Bethesda," The Washington Post, Aug 9, 1942, p. R2.
  5. ↑ "Jelleff's to Open Big Tysons Store," by S. Oliver Goodman, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Feb 13, 1969, p. C9.
  6. ↑ "Crystal Underground opens," by Pat Royse, The Washington Post, Sep 30, 1976, p. VA_14.
  7. ↑ "Jelleff's Chain Going Out of Business Soon," by Jerry Knight, The Washington Post, May 8, 1979, p. D7.
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