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Philip Horowitz, 1923-2003
Second-generation dry-goods retailer was a downtown fixture
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Business New Haven
12/22/2003
By: Priscilla Searles
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NEW HAVEN - Philip A. Horowitz, president of Horowitz Bros. of New Haven, died on December 6 at age 80. The business, founded by Horowitz' father, William, has been a downtown New Haven fixture for decades.
William Horowitz and his brother, Jack, immigrated to America from Russia in 1913. William started a business on Grand Avenue selling fabrics from a pushcart. Jack later joined him, and in the 1920s the brothers moved the business into a storefront on Grand Avenue. The business relocated to its present location at 760 Chapel Street in 1938.
Philip, his brother Leonard, and cousin Arthur grew up in the family business, spending much of their youth in the store. Philip was graduated from Yale University and, following military service during World War II, joined the business in 1946. Leonard Horowitz continues to function as vice president. Arthur Horowitz, now retired, served as secretary/treasurer. A third brother, Irwin, is deceased.
In the heyday of the business during the 1960s and 1970s, the Horowitz family opened 28 licensed fabric departments in stores such as Bradlees and J.M. Fields. They also established nine stores in Connecticut. But as sewing ebbed in popularity as more women entered the workforce, the stores were shuttered one by one. The last one, in Guilford, closed its doors in 1992.
Horowitz Bros. expanded its merchandise line over the years, adding name-brand clothing at a discount in the 1970s and domestics such as curtains, bedspreads and drapes.
As Leonard Horowitz said: "In spite of the fact that sewing isn't as popular as it once was, we still devote half the store to yard goods. The front of the store is our domestics department and the second floor is our clothing department."
Leonard Horowitz is the sole family member still active in the business. The third generation of the Horowitz family has chosen other fields of endeavor in which to make their mark.
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