Phelps-Terkel

Phelps-Terkel was a Los Angeles based department store specializing in men's clothing.

The store was founded by Richard (Dick) B. Terkel and David S. Phelps^[1] in 1923.^[2] Dick Terkel, a haberdasher, hailed from Wisconsin and moved to Berkeley then Los Angeles. He played banjo and led a band. He rented half of his store at the entrance to the University of Southern California (USC) to David Phelps, musician, who sold music there.^[3]

On September 15, 1926, the retailer opened a store in Palo Alto, California near Stanford University at 524 Ramona Street.^[4] Later it would operate at 219 University Avenue.

Its 1936

In mid-1953 the retailer opened a store at 512 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. Later that year, they opened a new USC store at 3406 S. Hoover Street to replace its original store, which the university needed in order to expand.[3]

In 1965 the firm became part of Phelps-Wilger chain, based at 10924 Weyburn Avenue in

• Miracle Mile, 5550 Wilshire Blvd., later Phelps-Meager, closed c.1976
• Pasadena, 422 S. Lake, later Phelps, closed c.1979
• Westwood Village
• Sherman Oaks Fashion Square
  - later Phelps-La Crosse, closed c.1982
• Newport Beach (Fashion Island) - store was to open in 1965. Closed after 1987.

There was at one time also a store in Lakewood Center.^[6] Tom Selleck was once a salesclerk at the Sherman Oaks store. In its final years, Phelps-Wilger was renamed Phelps, and closed in 1992.^[2]

External links

• Photo of Miracle Mile Phelps-Terkel store at the Los Angeles Conservancy

References