Alexandra Kathryn Mosca — Exploring Life and Death: A Writer's Journey

There’s a reason why New York City is one of the world’s shopping capitals – so many of America’s best-known shopping destinations got their start there. Stores like Bloomingdale’s, Tiffany’s, and F.A.O. Schwarz are all synonymous with high-end shopping, and the final resting places of their founders can be found in some of the city’s most notable cemeteries. The variety of burial sites is intriguing-some retailers are buried in simple and modest graves, while others are entombed in mausoleums that are often grand, like the stores they created.

Since I love to shop as much as I enjoy exploring cemeteries, I decided to combine my interests and pay homage to 10 iconic retailers.

Abraham Abraham  –  Salem Fields Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

ABRAHAM Abraham – Salem Fields, Brooklyn, New York

Abraham & Straus began as a small dry goods store in 1865 and quickly became one of New York’s most popular department stores. Its flagship store on Fulton Street in downtown Brooklyn was known for its elegance and catered to the elite carriage trade.

 When company cofounder Abraham Abraham (whose parents lacked obvious creativity in naming him) died in 1911, newspapers reported the cause of death as a ‘sudden attack of acute indigestion.’   On the day of his funeral, all the locations of Abraham & Straus and Macy’s (owned by Abraham’s business partners Isidor and Nathan Straus) were closed. Other retailers drew their blinds as a contingent of more than 50 honorary pallbearers, a testament to Abraham’s influence, escorted Abraham’s casket into Brooklyn’s Temple Israel for the religious service. They were led by New York City Mayor Jay Gaynor, who also gave the eulogy.

Benjamin Altman  – Salem Fields Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

benjamin Altman – Salem fields, Brooklyn, New York

Step back in time to the era of New York City’s first department stores, and you’ll find B. Altman and Company, a beacon of opulence and grandeur on tony Fifth Avenue. Its extensive collection of Waterford crystal and Oriental rugs was a marvel, and it even housed a spacious salon for the sale of mourning attire.  In 1911, the Millinery Trade Review marveled at how B. Altman had “devoted the greater part of their window space to the display of mourning goods,” a testament to its historical significance.

When the revered Benjamin Altman, the store’s founder, passed away in 1913, the streets of New York were filled with thousands who came to pay their respects at his funeral procession. Two years later, a granite tomb was dedicated to him in a ceremony attended by B. Altman employees. The monument was designed by the esteemed New York architectural firm of Trowbridge and Livingston. It is adorned with a Greek key motif. It stands at the center of an oval space, surrounded by mausoleums and pine trees. In 1985, Altman’s flagship store was designated a New York City landmark, a fitting tribute to his legacy. The building now houses a branch of the New York Public Library.

Henri Bendel – Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York

Louisiana native Henri Bendel opened Henri Bendel, Inc. in 1895. His store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue was a destination for the rich and famous, who came to browse Bendel’s selection of imported French fashions, including those of Coco Chanel. As the years passed, Bendel’s moved with the times, employing a young pop artist, Andy Warhol as an in-house illustrator in the 1960s. But for many, its more recent claim to fame was its association with the HBO hit Gossip Girl. The show brought the store’s elegance and style to a whole new generation.

Bendel’s grave, on Pocantico Avenue, is marked by a bronze statue of a woman casting roses onto a granite pedestal. Also buried in the grave is his friend A. Beekman Bastedo, who assumed the presidency of the department store after Bendel’s death.

Despite its closure in 2018, the store’s unique brown-and-white striped boxes and bags, a design that will forever be associated with the Bendel brand, continue to be a symbol of its legacy.

lyman bloomingdale – Salem fields, Brooklyn, new york

The luxury department store, founded by brothers Lyman and Joseph Bloomingdale, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022. Its longevity proves that rival retailers were wrong. Upon its opening in 1872, they predicted that the store “wouldn’t last a year.” 

Boasting over three dozen locations across the United States, the flagship store on Lexington Avenue and 59th Street has welcomed shoppers worldwide, including 1976  Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. For their bicentennial visit,  traffic on Lexington Avenue was reversed so that the Queen could exit her vehicle from the right, as protocol dictated. This was a rare and significant event, demonstrating the store’s commitment to providing a royal experience for its esteemed guests.  

When Bloomingdale died in 1905, The New York Times reported that his funeral “was  one of the largest ever held in the Jewish community” even noting that –as a sign of how widely respected he was– “there were also a number of Christians present.”   

Bloomingdale’s Doric-columned mausoleum, a testament to his enduring legacy, was designed by the acclaimed architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. This firm was also responsible for designing Bloomingdale’s summer home in Elberon, New Jersey, where he passed away. The grandeur of the mausoleum in its Doric columns and imposing presence, is a fitting tribute to the man who built a retail empire. His brother and business partner, Joseph, was entombed in Linden Hill Cemetery in Queens, New York, a year before Lyman’s passing.

His legacy lives on.

max fortunoff – Mt. ararat, lindenhurst, new york

The name Fortunoff is a significant one, especially for Long Islanders. Generations of shoppers could always find the perfect gift there for any occasion. From fine jewelry to backyard furniture and everything in between, Fortunoff’s, in Westbury, had it all. The company’s founders, Max and Clara Fortunoff, began their business in Brooklyn by selling housewares. In 1964, the couple moved their business to Long Island. The store gained a reputation for its exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and extensive selection of merchandise.

The Fortunoff family plot, a serene spot under a massive tree on a shady corner at the far end of the cemetery, is where Max Fortunoff rests. His footstone reads: He Lived the American Dream. This inscription serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact his life had on the store and its legacy, as he played a pivotal role in establishing the iconic Long Island institution. His legacy lives on.

Rowland H. Macy – Woodlawn cemetery, Bronx, New York

Macy’s, an American institution, was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy in 1858. It was once known as ‘The World’s Largest Department Store.’  Macy’s Herald Square, which occupies an entire city block in Manhattan, remains a shopping mecca for New Yorkers and tourists. R.H. Macy introduced the Christmas window tradition, a concept that was later adopted by other retailers, and was the first to feature an in-house Santa Claus. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition since 1924, is a significant part of Macy’s history, heralding the holiday season.  Upon Macy’s passing, his New York Times obituary acknowledged his journey from ‘comparatively nothing’ to becoming one of the era’s most recognized and successful merchants. 

Despite his tremendous success – with hundreds of locations across the United States – his final resting place is surprisingly understated. The monument, a columned structure topped by a granite urn, is a humble tribute to his legacy. Inscribed on its base are the words: ‘The memory of the just is blessed.’

Frederick August Otto Schwarz – Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

His tombstone may be small, but his legacy looms large. Frederick August Otto Schwarz, the visionary behind F.A.O. Schwarz, created a world-renowned toy store. Nestled on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, it was more than a store-it was a spectacle. Toy soldiers, in their regal uniforms, welcomed visitors, while the enchanting display windows lured them into a wonderland of unique toys and plush animals. This was not just a shopping destination, but an immersive experience.

It wasn’t just a store, it was a cultural icon. F.A.O. Schwarz, with its grandeur and unique offerings, became a popular setting for movie scenes. The most memorable of these appearances was in 1988’s Big. In this film, Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia danced their way into our hearts on the store’s giant piano. The store’s closure in 2015 was a loss felt by many.

Despite its closure in 2015, the spirit of F.A.O. Schwarz lived on. Frederick August Otto Schwarz, a posthumous inductee into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2012, left a legacy that couldn’t be forgotten. And in 2018, that legacy was revived when the oldest toy store in the United States, F.A.O. Schwarz, reopened its doors in Rockefeller Center.

Isidor Straus – Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York

Isidor straus – Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York

The Straus Memorial on Myosotis Street stands out as one of the most unique and captivating sites in Woodlawn Cemetery. Crafted by the renowned architect James Gamble Rogers,  the memorial is a collection of three distinct mausoleums interconnected by a shared courtyard. In the forefront, a sarcophagus resembling an Egyptian funeral barge symbolizes the journey of the departed into the afterlife. It houses the remains of Isidor Straus, a partner in both Abraham & Straus and Macy’s, and acts as a cenotaph for his wife, Ida, whose body was never found. The couple tragically perished together on April 15, 1912, in the RMS Titanic disaster. 

Carved into the memorial are these poignant words from the Song of Solomon, a testament to the unyielding love and devotion the couple shared: Many waters cannot quench love —neither can floods drown.

Charles Lewis tiffany – Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

His enduring legacy continues to shape the world of luxury and elegance.

Tiffany & Company’s little blue box is an American symbol of luxury and elegance. One of the world’s most iconic jewelers, the company was founded by Charles Tiffany in 1837, and it has a long and storied history. For decades, it has played a part in pop culture in books, movies, and songs, from Truman Capote’s book, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” which spawned a movie by the same name, to the 1995 song by rock band Deep Blue Something, to a recent ad featuring Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Famed writer F. Scott Fitzgerald was a Tiffany customer, so it was fitting that the Company partnered with producers of the 2013 remake of The Great Gatsby. Tiffany & Company created custom pieces, including the iconic headpiece worn by Daisy Buchanan, played by Carey Mulligan, and the jewelry worn by other characters, adding a touch of authenticity to the film. 

When Tiffany turned 90 on February 15, 1902, his employees presented him with a gold loving cup inscribed with the words: May your remaining years be blessed and filled with the peace which passeth all understanding. Tiffany died three days later. His son, Louis Comfort Tiffany, a renowned stained-glass artist, is buried just steps away. Louis played a significant role in the company, particularly in the design and creation of the iconic Tiffany lamps, which are still highly sought after today.

Franklin W. Woolworth – Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York

Franklin W. Woolworth – Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York

  It took a lot of nickels and dimes to pay for the grand. The grand, Egyptian-themed mausoleum, where Woolworth founder Franklin Winfield Woolworth is entombed, is a sight to behold. The wealth accumulated from the thousands of F.W. Woolworth five-and-ten-cent stores worldwide made this architectural marvel a reality. Designed by the renowned architect John Russell Pope, whose works include the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives, the Woolworth mausoleum is adorned with intricate details. It features two guardian sphinxes, Egyptian carvings, and columns. Bronze doors depict figures exchanging an ankh, the Egyptian symbol for life. This grand structure also houses Woolworth’s granddaughter and heir, Barbara Hutton, known as the “poor little rich girl.” Despite her wealth and seven marriages, Hutton was a socialite who never found her happily ever after. Both Woolworth and Hutton passed away at the age of 66, Woolworth in 1919 and Hutton in 1979.