I. Magnin

American department store chain on the west coast of the USA. Established by Mary Ann Magnin, who emigrated to San Francisco to London with her family in 1870. In order to sustain her eight children, she sewed clothes that her husband Isaac tried to sell from door to door. This proved successful as Mary Ann was able to open a store in San Francisco six years after their arrival. In 1893 a store was opened in Los Angeles, followed by stores in San Diego and Palm Desert. I. Magnin remained in the hands of the family until 1943. In 1994 the business failed and some of its buildings now host another great chain, Macy’s.