Although my Grandfather Ralph Donenfeld’s department store, “Donenfeld’s” is closed, my family and I still retain a few artifacts and memories of the business. The store started by Jacob and Sadie Donenfeld, and then passed down to my grandfather Ralph Donenfeld and his brother Stanley Donenfeld. The store opened in 1924, and closed in 1992.
Labels and Logos
Miscellaneous Items
Courtesy of Customer Ruthanne Barker.
Courtesy of family member Michael Donenfeld
From former Customer and blog reader Anita Varela. “I was cleaning out my storage when I came across my little charge plate. Many good memories of Donenfeld’s and downtown Dayton. My children liked to ride on the elevator because it had a live operator. I still have my fur coat that I saved for a year to get. It’s sad to see how that part of town looks now and the arcade all closed up.” Thanks Anita for pics of this Donenfeld’s Charg-A-Plate Token!
From former Customer and blog reader Anita Varela. “I was cleaning out my storage when I came across my little charge plate. Many good memories of Donenfeld’s and downtown Dayton. My children liked to ride on the elevator because it had a live operator. I still have my fur coat that I saved for a year to get. It’s sad to see how that part of town looks now and the arcade all closed up.” Thanks Anita for pics of this Donenfeld’s Charg-A-Plate Token!
Courtesy of Customer Ruthanne Barker.
Closing Announcements
Store Closing covered on the Channel 2 News:
Early history, from the Grimes collection:
