Wengrow’s Department Store

In 1929, Rachel “Ray” (1871-1936) and Henry Wolff’s middle child, Sura (1908-2016), married Sam Wengrow (1904-1970) of Columbia, who was working as a bookkeeper for wholesaler Max Citron (1887-1971) at the time. When the Depression hit and the bookkeeper position was eliminated, the young couple and their first child, Henry Ray (1938-2017), moved to Allendale. Ray arranged for her son-in-law to work for her at her general merchandise business, Henry Wolff & Co., which her husband founded in 1885. After Ray’s death in 1936, Sam opened Wengrow’s Department Store in Henry Wolff & Co.’s original building on the corner of Main and West Bay Streets. Wengrow’s Department Store continued operation until around 1964, although around 1950 the family moved to Columbia to become more involved with the Jewish community.