Rogers, L. H.
Louis H. Rogers opened a woman's clothing store at 140 Essex Street, downtown Salem. This store carried the finest names in women's apparel, including Donna Karan and Georgio Armani. The family also ran high fashion women's apparel stores in Fitchburg, Holyoke, Springfield and Manchester, N.H. The store had a jewelry department as well. The store was a destination for well-heeled women for close to 70 years.
The national recession in the 1990's made it hard for these kind of stores to stay in business. L. H. Rogers started suffering a drop off in sales starting in the mid 1980's. Empire Clothing store also went out of business around the same time, leaving a void of women's clothing stores in downtown. Most people used the mall stores instead of going downtown.
In 1994, Fred Rogers, son of the original owner, moved his store to Newbury Street, Boston, calling it simply, Fred Rogers.
The red-brick store building was purchased by the Peabody Essex Museum and is currently used by their offices.
See Also
Vertical File in Salem Collection - Businesses
"Salem landmark, L.H. Rogers,closing" Salem Evening News, Mar. 17, 1994, p. 1
"Salem loses a landmark; era ends as Fred Rogers closes clothing store after 69 years" Boston Sunday Globe, Mar. 27, 1994, p. N1
