Poliakoff’s Credit Jewelers
Merchant
c.1945-c.1946
South Main Street
Anderson, SC 29624
FAMILIES: Poliakoff
Herman Poliakoff (1910-1997) established Poliakoff’s Credit Jewelers on the corner of South Main and Church streets around 1945. Born in Laurens, South Carolina to merchants Samuel (1875-1925) and Rachel Leah Poliakoff (1888-1969), Herman grew up in the mercantile industry and eventually joined the family business, New York Pawn Shop, on South Main Street in Anderson. As he co-managed the pawn shop, he opened his own jewelry store on South Main Street and may have served as a silent partner in Henry’s Jewelers—a high-end jewelry store located at 102 West Whitner Street. Henry’s Jewelers and Poliakoff’s Credit Jewelers stocked many of the same products, as demonstrated by a pair of identical Emerson Radio advertisements published one week apart.
While Herman’s independent jewelry business was short lived, he continued to manage New York Pawn Shop until around 1954. He then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he and wife Dorothy, (1916-2000), established the Discount Uniform Shop. While living in Anderson, Herman chaired his local chapter of the March of Dimes and served as president of the South Carolina Association of B’nai B’rith Lodges.
Main Image: Poliakoff’s Credit Jewelers logo. Reprinted from The Anderson Independent Mail, February 11, 1946.
Above Image: Notice of Application for Charter for Henry’s Jewelers Inc. Reprinted from The Anderson Independent Mail, July 22, 1945.
Above Image: Identical advertisements placed by Poliakoff’s Credit Jewelers and Henry’s Jewelers Inc. Left: Reprinted from The Anderson Independent Mail, September 24, 1945. Right: Reprinted from The Anderson Independent Mail, October 1, 1945.