Samuel L. Banov
Samuel L. “Sam” Banov (1870–1933) began his retail career as a teenager, working with his cousin Wolfe Banov at Banov & Volaski (383–385 King). By 1894, he was in business with his brother Simon as S. Banov & Brother, selling small goods and notions at 609 King Street. The brothers lived above their shop.
Soon the Banov brothers began selling menswear, and with their third brother, Charles, they operated as Banov Bros., clothiers, at 428 King Street. The business flourished, and they opened a branch store. When Banov Bros. was dissolved in 1900, Sam took over the branch store here at 595 King Street on his own. He lived in the upstairs residence with his sister Lena, who kept house and managed the kitchen; the shop clerks had their meals with the family. Not long after his sister married Mendel Barshay, Sam Banov himself was married to Rachel Karesh, a daughter of Charles Karesh, who owned the nearby store at 545 King Street. Sam and Ray Banov’s four children were born here at 595 King Street, where the family lived until the mid-1920s when they built a large home at 107 Moultrie Street, in the new Hampton Park Terrace neighborhood.
While managing his clothing store, Sam Banov also invested in nearby real estate. About 1900, he bought the adjoining building, 597 King Street, along with the stock of the pawnshop business there. His brother William Banov operated the pawnshop for years. In 1919, Sam bought another nearby building, this one at 601 King Street, and remodeled it as the Lincoln Theatre, a motion picture theatre that catered to African Americans. He also owned several rental houses along Spring and St. Philip streets.
Sam Banov was in his early thirties when his advertisements began referring to him as “the old reliable” clothier. By the time of his death in 1933, the Charleston Evening Post considered him one of the pioneer merchants of upper King Street. Under the ownership of his sons Milton and Isadore (“Lee”) Banov, Banov’s Clothing and Uncle Sam’s Pawnshop remained icons of uptown shopping until the early 1970s. The vacant Banov building was taken down after being heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Banov storefronts, no date
Sam Banov (1870–1933) owned this building that housed his clothing store and pawn shop, Uncle Sam’s Loan Office, run by his brother William.
S. Banov, exterior, 1908
Sam Banov’s “original store” at 595 King Street, northwest corner of King and Spring streets.
Spring Street entrance to 595 King Street, no date
The porch at the rear of the building overlooked Spring Street.
S. Banov, interior, no date
Sam Banov (l) in his store at 595 King Street.