K. Finkelstein

Clothier
c.1897-1901; 1908-1934


Orangeburg, SC

FAMILIES: Finkelstein

In 1893, Karl Finkelstein (1871-1954) arrived in New York City after leaving his home in Poland. He soon made his way down south, however, as by 1897 he was living in Orangeburg, South Carolina. There, Finkelstein made a living for himself selling goods under his own name. He kept up this business until 1901, when he went bankrupt. In 1908, however, Finkelstein resumed his mercantile activities, opening dry goods and clothing store K. Finkelstein. K. Finkelstein remained in operation until Finkelstein’s wife, Minnie Rosenbaum Finkelstein (1879-1962), and son, Lester Finkelstein (1909-1995), joined him to form clothier Finkelstein’s.

Main Image: K. Finkelstein advertisement. Reprinted from The Times and Democrat, June 8, 1909.

The Jewish Merchant Project is supported by the generosity of the Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation and the Stanley B. Farbstein Endowment at the Coastal Community Foundation.

JHSSC Office
Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik Jewish Studies Center
96 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843 953 3918