Prystowsky Family
In about 1890, Ezra and Mollie Prystowsky left Zabludow, Poland, to resettle in Charleston. Ezra first supported the family as a cobbler (shoe repair), then opened his own men’s tailoring shop and clothing store. As the Prystowskys’ three sons, Jacob, Michael, and Samuel, grew up, they joined the family business. By 1904, Mollie and Ezra Prystowsky were able to buy this double store building on upper King Street where they managed the clothing store known as “E. Prystowsky & Sons, Mike-Sam-Jake.” The youngest son, Moses, joined the business in 1926; he and his eldest son, Arnold, eventually took over the store. In 1939, Moses and Arnold’s “Father & Sons” store moved next door to 525 King Street so that Edward’s Department Store could develop a new building on the site of the Prystowskys’ earlier store.
Arnold Prystowsky finally closed the retail clothing business in early 1990. After a complete renovation, 525 King Street reopened as a commercial building, dedicated in 2003 with a new sign bearing the name “E. Prystowsky & Sons.”
E. Prystowsky & Sons, “Mike-Sam-Jake,” ca. 1930
Courtesy of Shirley Solomon Prystowsky.
Cash register used in E. Prystowsky & Sons
Photo by Dale Rosengarten, 1997.
Adding machine used in E. Prystowsky & Sons
Photo by Dale Rosengarten, 1997.