Shreve & Co
George Coates Shreve and Samuel S. Shreve moved from New York to San Francisco at the beginning of the 1850’s. They wanted to be closer to the source (of gold) as George was a goldsmith who trained alongside his older half-brother Benjamin. Benjamin already had a shop called Shreve’s (later Shreve, Crump & Low) in Boston. In 1852 they opened a store at Montgomery and Clay selling silverware, jewelry, and watches. The original name was Geo. C. Shreve and Co. By the 1880's their success in the silversmithing part of the business allowed them to move to new location on Market Street. George passed away in 1893 and his son George Rodman Shreve took control of the business changing the name to Shreve & Co. He ran the business with his father’s business partner George Bonny and together they took on another partner Albert Lewis. They ran the business together and moved to Post and Grant the corner building which was earthquake proof just before the great earthquake that rocked the city and destroyed so much (note there is a famous photo of all the buildings surrounding their building collapsed and only they remained). Even though the structure of the building made it through the quake the destruction around it meant that they had to relocate to Oakland Street for a couple of years while the city rebuilt and repairs to their building could be done.
The reopening of their old location was impressive and business moved forward. However World War I caused them to have to close the business as all the craftsmen were needed in the war effort to make parts for airplanes and military equipment. The store reopened in 1918 and business boomed once again. Since then the company has traded hands many times and other branches were attempted (one in Portland notably).
The reopening of their old location was impressive and business moved forward. However World War I caused them to have to close the business as all the craftsmen were needed in the war effort to make parts for airplanes and military equipment. The store reopened in 1918 and business boomed once again. Since then the company has traded hands many times and other branches were attempted (one in Portland notably).
