Goldwater's Department Store was a department store chain based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in Gila City, Arizona, in 1860 and moved to Phoenix in 1872. The store was founded by Michael Goldwater, the grandfather of U.S. Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.

Goldwater's was acquired by Associated Dry Goods Corp. in 1963 and was merged into ADG's J.W. Robinson (Los Angeles) division in 1983. At this time the Tucson stores were sold to Diamond's, which would later be purchased by Dillard's. The remaining former Goldwater's stores were acquired by May Department Stores as part of May's 1986 acquisition of ADG. May Department Stores merged their May Company California and JW Robinson divisions in 1989 as Robinson's-May, folding in Denver's May D&F. Following the purchase of May by Federated Department Stores in 2006, the majority of the Phoenix area stores were converted to Macy's.

The Goldwater family reclaimed the store's old logo in 1989 and reincarnated it as a food company called Goldwater's Foods. Today they are known for their fine salsas.

Former Goldwaters locations

Arizona

• Phoenix

*Metrocenter Mall - opened 1973, J. W. Robinson's 1983, became Robinsons-May 1993, Macy's 2005

*Paradise Valley Mall - opened 1980, J. W. Robinson's 1983, became Robinsons-May 1993, Macy's 2005

*Park Central Mall - May Company California 1983, closed 1990, later Office Depot; mall converted to offices

• Mesa - Fiesta Mall - opened 1979, May Company California 1983, Robinsons-May 1993, Macy's 2005)
• Tucson

*El Con Mall closed/sold to Diamond's 1983, sold to Dillard's 1984, closed 1999, vacant

*Foothills Mall - closed/sold to Diamond's 1983, sold to Dillard's 1984, closed 1994, now Barnes & Noble and Off 5th

• Scottsdale - Scottsdale Fashion Square - opened 1961, May Company California 1983, Robinsons-May 1993, closed 2005, to be demolished for Barneys New York

Nevada

• Las Vegas - Fashion Show - opened 1981, May Company California 1983, Robinsons-May 1993, Macy's 2005

New Mexico

• Albuquerque - Coronado Center - opened 1976, May-D&F 1983, Foley's 1993, Macy's 2005

Links

• Goldwater Foods website

References