Gertz (department store)

Gertz was a New York-based department store, headquartered in Jamaica, Queens. Founded in 1918 by Benjamin Gertz, along with his five sons, the company was acquired by Allied Stores in 1941.

Gertz had branch stores in Bay Shore, East Hampton, Flushing, Douglaston, Great Neck, Hicksville, Massapequa, and Lake Grove. The 300,000 square foot Hicksville location was opened in 1956 in the Mid-Island Mall, known today as Broadway Mall. In 1981, changing demographics caused the company's first store closure, its flagship Jamaica location. Later, the Bay Shore location was converted to a Stern's and then a Macy's. After Macy's closed the location, the building was demolished and a Lowe's was built on the site.