Robert Kahn (1895-1985), a Russian immigrant, opened Robert Kahn Wholesale, which sold wholesale groceries, tobacco, and candies, by the 1930s on East Bay Street across from the United States Custom House. He married his bookkeeper, Estelle Harriett Kaminski (1909-1995) on March 14, 1934. They had two children: Ellis I. Kahn (b. 1936) and Susan Ruth “Ruthie” Kahn Wurtzel (b. 1939). The store moved to 575 King Street Charleston in 1940, to 190 St. Philip Street in 1954, and later to 45 Spring Street. He sold the business to Saul Berry in 1964.