Businessman, Founder. In 1882, Robinson left Waltham, Massachusetts, where he had operated a dry goods business, for California, intending to develop orange groves in Riverside. Upon arrival he took an interest in the retail business in the small community of Los Angeles and sensing that the area would grow, and that the rough-and-tumble general stores of the day were doing a poor job of serving the public, he quickly returned to the east coast and used his contacts in the dry goods business to have merchandise shipped around Cape Horn to the new store he planned to open in Los Angeles. In February of 1883, The Boston Dry Goods Store began business at the corner of Spring and Temple Streets. He advertised that his establishment was characterized by "fine stocks and refined ‘Boston' service." In 1887, the store was forced to move to larger quarters on N. Spring Street. After returning from a trip back east in 1891, Robinson became ill and passed away at the age of 45. His father, H.W. Robinson came to Los Angeles for the funeral and to look after the business founded by his late son, which was renamed the J.W. Robinson Co. By 1896, the store moved to S. Broadway which "catered to the most exclusive trade" according to the Los Angeles Times. In 1914, ground was broken on Seventh, Grand and Hope Streets, for the J.W. Robinson Co.'s new flagship store of 392,000 square feet. When it opened the following year, the seven-story building was described in the press as "a retail palace". Throughout the ensuing years, among cities where Robinson's locations opened were Beverly Hills, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach and San Diego.
Businessman, Founder. In 1882, Robinson left Waltham, Massachusetts, where he had operated a dry goods business, for California, intending to develop orange groves in Riverside. Upon arrival he took an interest in the retail business in the small community of Los Angeles and sensing that the area would grow, and that the rough-and-tumble general stores of the day were doing a poor job of serving the public, he quickly returned to the east coast and used his contacts in the dry goods business to have merchandise shipped around Cape Horn to the new store he planned to open in Los Angeles. In February of 1883, The Boston Dry Goods Store began business at the corner of Spring and Temple Streets. He advertised that his establishment was characterized by "fine stocks and refined ‘Boston' service." In 1887, the store was forced to move to larger quarters on N. Spring Street. After returning from a trip back east in 1891, Robinson became ill and passed away at the age of 45. His father, H.W. Robinson came to Los Angeles for the funeral and to look after the business founded by his late son, which was renamed the J.W. Robinson Co. By 1896, the store moved to S. Broadway which "catered to the most exclusive trade" according to the Los Angeles Times. In 1914, ground was broken on Seventh, Grand and Hope Streets, for the J.W. Robinson Co.'s new flagship store of 392,000 square feet. When it opened the following year, the seven-story building was described in the press as "a retail palace". Throughout the ensuing years, among cities where Robinson's locations opened were Beverly Hills, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach and San Diego.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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