Cohen Brothers The Big Store Now Available

[Metro Jacksonville]

Cohen Brothers The Big Store Now Available



Metro Jacksonville's second book is now available for pre-sale from Charleston, SC-based History Press. Order yours now!

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-sep-cohen-brothers-the-big-store-now-available

[vicupstate]

Congratulations to all involved.

[ben says]

Well done, again!

[fsujax]

My great-grandmother would be proud. She worked in lady shoes in that store for years.

[aubureck]

Can't wait till it comes out!

[Ocklawaha]

Bravo, GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL METROJACKSONVILLE!

[Wacca Pilatka]

Can't wait!

[ronchamblin]

I first visited Cohen Brothers in 1949, when we moved from Baltimore.  We are fortunate to have Ennis and Sarah to do these wonderful histories of Jacksonville.  I can only imagine the work which goes into this kind of book. 

So far I've ordered 30 copies from History Press.  Looks like, according to Meredith of History Press, they will receive their copies from the printer about 10/12/12, after which I presume they will ship to anyone ordering them.

Given that a couple of online retailers are selling the books at discount, we will sell ours at $15.95 each, instead of the list price of $19.00, offering too the option of using book trade-in credit to pay for the book.  We will have copies both at the downtown store and the Roosevelt Store. 

Don't forget that the downtown store (Chamblin's Uptown) is closed each Monday, but the cafe is open.

[Mike D]

Ennis and Sarah, congratulations for taking on this important subject.  I'm eager to read your book.  I was born in '51...just in time to catch the end of the downtown heydey before the decline began.  I remember going to Cohens at Christmas time to look at the holiday window displays and marvel at the toy selection inside.  And, of course, there was Santa Claus.  We came over the Matthews bridge from Arlington...all the big stores were downtown.  Even in the 60s and 70s you could count on a bustling street scene downtown.  Jacksonville is far from alone in the decline/loss of a vibrant downtown.  What makes it so tough is knowing that we had a great downtown...much bigger and richer than most comparably sized cities.  It's hard to imagine today, but there was a real city downtown, the kind of urban environment everyone is trying to rebuild all over the country.  We had it in spades.  Cohens was a big part of it.  I'm really looking forward to this book. 

[Miss Fixit]

Can't wait to read this, and what terrific timing - the 100th anniversary of Cohen Brothers' "Big Store" will be celebrated by the Jacksonville Historical Society on October 22nd at 6 pm!  Join us at City Hall for the reception and exhibit.

[thelakelander]

Thanks, everyone.  Doing research on this topic was pretty exciting and eye opening for me.  One thing that stood out during this process is that all of the problems and redevelopment struggles we associate with downtown today, were around decades ago.  You could literally take the exact 1970s quotes of people on issues like downtown parking, homeless in Hemming Plaza, and downtown revitalization and they still be accurate today.  When they say there's nothing new under the Sun, that's definitely true when it comes to Jacksonville.  The stories behind places like Cohens, Ivey's, Furchgott's, Levy-Wolk are truly interesting.  A part of me wonders what would have happened if we had properly addressed the issues plaguing downtown in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when there was still a significant retail base and 100,000 people working downtown. With that said, I can only imagine the vibrant downtown that many of you had a chance to experience in person.  It's one thing researching old papers, books, photographs, advertisements and family documents.  It's another thing to live through it.

[Timkin]

Cannot wait to get my copy .  Bravo , Ennis,Sarah and all contributors.

[ronchamblin]

Given that a couple of online retailers are selling their copies at discount, we (Chamblin's Uptown) have increased our discount for the $19.00 book to $15.95, with the added option to pay for it entirely by trading in something already read.   

I might mention we are limiting, or even eliminating, trade-ins on books by Joel O'steen, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mike Huckabee, and George Will.  Given our limited space, we attempt to fill our shelves with quality books in general, and those offering ideas which make a reasonable amount of sense.  Am I suggesting that the individuals listed above approach being nuts?  Well... yes.       

[Timkin]

My great-grandmother would be proud. She worked in lady shoes in that store for years.

My Grandmother worked in Fabrics and Draperies.   I wish she was here to see this finished book.   Cannot wait to see it

[Noone]

Congratulations again. looking forward to it.