Vol. 42, No. 2, Fall/Winter 2004- "The Pennsylvania Geographer"

THE LOCATIONAL STRATEGIES OF FOUR DEPARTMENT STORES

IN THE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND SUBURBS

Mary M. Graham

York College of Pennsylvania

Richard D. Stone

Shippensburg University, Pennsylvania

Lynn Harris

Shippensburg University, Pennsylvania

Abstract

In 1945, Hecht's, Hochschild-Kohn, Hutzler's, and Stewart's department stores were located near each other in downtown Baltimore. The place strategies that each of the four chains used are the subject of this article.

Changing demographic patterns, especially population shifts, and ethnic changes, are compared to intended target markets. Locational choices of each of the four stores are analyzed in relation to the strategy of each chain, the type of store, the business area, the target market, and the results of these choices.