S. Poliakoff

In the early 1890s, Russian natives David (c.1872-1940), Mendel (1874-1937), and Samuel Poliakoff (1875-1925) immigrated to the United States, and over the years, the brothers helped each other build a series of stores throughout South Carolina. After operating M. Poliakoff’s Bargain House in Greenwood for three years, Mendel vacated his storefront next to City Bank in March 1904. Two months later, Samuel opened S. Poliakoff, or The New York Bazaar, at the same location and placed his first advertisement on May 5. In it, he boasted that his dry goods store was “Built on Honor—Raised on Bargains.”¹ However, the venture proved to be short lived. On May 25, the store burned down along with half of Greenwood’s business district. Samuel’s $2,000 insurance policy failed to cover the loss of his stock, which totaled $5,500. Following the devastation, Samuel moved to Laurens and then Anderson to open new businesses.

¹ “Don’t, Don’t,” The Evening Index, May 5, 1904, 6.