Tepper's Department Store

Brothers Adolph and Max Tepper opened for business on West Front Street in 1907.  The building remembered today as “Tepper’s” opened across the street in 1919.  The Plainfield Courier-News reported: “In developing their own business, Tepper Brothers are going to add very materially to the mercantile greatness of Plainfield.” The building was expanded twice and shoppers flocked to the store from surrounding communities until reduced sales resulted in the store closing on May 7, 1977.  Although the building is still standing, the facade was modified in the mid -1960s.  It was converted to apartments in 2005.

Other major department stores in Plainfield were Bamberger’s, which later became Macy’s; Montgomery Ward; Rosenbaum’s; Sears; and Steinbeck’s.