Moe Levy’s Army Store

Moe Levy (1899-1974) was born in the Russian Empire to Joseph (1864-1947) and Sarah Levy (1866-1936). Moe’s father Joseph immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, and in 1906, Moe and his mother joined Joseph in Columbia. In 1920, Moe opened his store called Moe Levy’s Army Goods (also known as Moe Levy’s), at 1302 Assembly Street where it remained for nearly one hundred years. Moe Levy’s became popular as a top seller of Levi’s denim jeans, and later, as the place to buy skiwear. Moe married his wife, Florence Hirshman (1907-2013), in 1926, and together they had three daughters. Florence was involved in the family business and in 1942, Moe and Florence founded a pawn shop which they named Reliable Loan Office located at 1326 Assembly Street. By 1953, the address for Moe Levy’s changed to 1300 Assembly Street due to renovations. Around that time, Florence moved the pawn shop into the storefront at 1304 Assembly Street. In 1950, Moe’s daughter Gloria Levy married Harold B. Rittenberg (1930-2021), after which Harold became active in the family business. When Moe passed away in 1974, his wife Florence along with son-in-law Harold assumed control of Moe Levy’s, opening additional stores at Seven Oaks Shopping Center and Parklane Road. Florence died in 2013, and in 2014, Harold sold the building on Assembly Street to local developer Ben Arnold.