Hahn's Shoes was a

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

area

shoe store Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand, often by groups of shoemakers, or cobblers (also known as '' cordwainers''). In the 18th century, dozens or even hundreds of masters, journeymen ...

. It was founded in 1876 by William Hahn, who had arrived in the United States from

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

in 1868 at age 15. By 1890, there were three locations: 816 7th St, NW; 1922 Pennsylvania Ave, NW; and 231 Pennsylvania Ave, SE. Hahn Shoes continued to expand. At its peak, it had 66 stores in 13 states and DC. Three generations of the Hahn family, including the father of

DC City Council The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia, the capital of the United States. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the district is not part of any U.S. state ...

Chair Gilbert Hahn Jr., managed the business until 1984. William Hahn's granddaughter,

Betty Hahn Bernbaum Elizabeth "Betty" Hahn Bernbaum (March 20, 1918 – June 20, 2003) was an American ambassador's wife and writer. She was called "a ball of diplomatic fire" for her embassy activities. She was decorated by the President of Ecuador for her amateur ...

, was a radio operator and ambassador's wife in South America in the mid-twentieth century. Like Rich's and other locally owned shoe stores, Hahn's was unable to keep up with the prices of discount chains and

department stores A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic appea ...

. After 119 years, the business filed for

bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...

and liquidated in 1995.

References

Hahn Shoes Chain for Sale after 119 Years in District: Washington Post

Black Friday Then and Now: Greater Greater Washington
Retail companies established in 1876 Retail companies disestablished in 1995 Shoe companies of the United States Defunct companies based in Washington, D.C. 1876 establishments in Washington, D.C. 1995 disestablishments in Washington, D.C. {{US-retail-company-stub