Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

K&B

K&B (initialism for Katz & Besthoff) was a prominent American drugstore chain headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, that operated from 1905 until its acquisition by Rite Aid in 1997.^[1]^[2] Founded by pharmacists Gustave Katz and Sydney J. Besthoff Sr., the company grew from a single pharmacy into a regional powerhouse with 186 stores across six Gulf Coast states, becoming a cultural icon synonymous with the city's retail landscape.^[1]^[3] The chain originated in 1905, when Katz and Besthoff each invested $500 to open their first store at 732 Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, offering pharmaceuticals, household goods, and a soda fountain that quickly drew local crowds.^[1]^[4] By the 1920s, expansion accelerated with additional locations, including a third store at St. Charles Avenue and Louisiana Avenue in 1920, each featuring the signature soda fountains that served unique treats like purple cow sodas and became social hubs for New Orleanians.^[1]^[5] The company's adoption of a vibrant purple color scheme—stemming from a bulk purchase of wrapping paper in 1911—permeated its branding, from building facades and employee uniforms to shopping bags and product labels, creating an instantly recognizable identity that endured for decades.^[6]^[4]^[7] Under successive leadership, including Sydney J. Besthoff Jr., K&B emphasized community ties and innovative services like photo processing and housewares, while maintaining its New Orleans roots even as it reached markets in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee.^[7]^[3] At its peak in the late 20th century, the chain employed thousands and symbolized affordable, accessible retail in the South, with over 50 stores alone in the greater New Orleans area.^[8]^[3] Following the 1997 acquisition by Rite Aid for an undisclosed sum, most K&B locations were rebranded, though the chain's legacy persists through nostalgic merchandise, preserved artifacts like signage at the Louisiana State Museum, and the enduring affection of former customers who recall its purple-hued ubiquity.^[2]^[9]^[1]

History

Founding and early years

Katz & Besthoff, commonly known as K&B, was founded in 1905 as a partnership between pharmacists Gustave David Katz and Sydney J. Besthoff Sr. at 732 Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. The company was incorporated the same year as Katz and Besthoff, Ltd., marking the formal beginning of what would become a prominent regional drugstore chain. Gustave Katz, a New Orleans native and graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, had previously operated his own drugstore at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Jackson Street since 1896 before selling it to focus on the new venture. Sydney J. Besthoff Sr., a registered pharmacist originally from Memphis, Tennessee, brought business acumen to the partnership after relocating to New Orleans following his marriage to Florence Stich. The store's early operations emphasized prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and basic retail items such as toiletries and sundries, while also offering customer credit accounts and home delivery services to build loyalty in the local community.^[10] The business grew amid New Orleans' post-1900 population boom, as the city's residents increased from 287,104 in 1900 to 339,075 by 1910 and 387,219 by 1920, driven by immigration, commerce, and urbanization. This expansion coincided with the broader rise of chain drugstores across the United States in the early 20th century, as retailers like Walgreens (founded 1901) and United Drug began consolidating independent pharmacies to capitalize on economies of scale and urban demand. Key early milestones included the opening of a second store in 1910 at 837 Canal Street, managed by Edward L. Chapotel, which featured a soda fountain to draw in customers seeking refreshments alongside pharmaceuticals.^[11] By 1911, the second location had fully incorporated the soda fountain as a popular feature, enhancing the store's appeal in an era when such amenities were becoming standard in urban drugstores.^[1] In the 1920s, K&B continued its foundational growth with the opening of a third store in 1920 at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Louisiana Avenue, venturing into uptown neighborhoods.^[11] Besthoff's family played an increasing role in management during this period, with his sons, including Sydney J. Besthoff Jr., joining the business and contributing to its operational stability.^[10] The early adoption of distinctive purple packaging in 1908 for prescriptions and goods helped establish brand recognition, setting the stage for further development while the company navigated the competitive landscape of emerging chain pharmacies.^[10]

Expansion across the Gulf Coast

Following the early establishment of Katz & Besthoff (K&B) as a New Orleans-based pharmacy, the company marked a pivotal moment in its growth with the 1936 opening of its flagship store and headquarters at 1055 St. Charles Avenue. This location introduced innovative features aligned with the firm's emerging self-service model, allowing customers to browse and select items independently, and incorporated the distinctive purple accents that became synonymous with K&B's branding. The store's design emphasized accessibility and efficiency, reflecting the company's shift toward modern retail practices during the Great Depression era.^[10] K&B's expansion accelerated rapidly in the ensuing decades, transforming it from a local operation into a dominant regional chain along the Gulf Coast. By 1940, the company had grown to 14 stores, all within Louisiana, capitalizing on urban demand in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The 1940s saw entry into Mississippi, followed by Alabama in the 1950s, Texas in the 1960s, and Florida in the 1970s, with stores strategically placed in high-traffic locations through aggressive real estate acquisitions. In 1991, K&B acquired the Osco chain in Memphis, Tennessee, expanding into that state. By the late 1990s, K&B had grown to a peak of 186 stores across these states, solidifying its presence as a key player in the southern U.S. retail landscape. This timeline was driven by family leadership, including the transition to the third generation under Sydney J. Besthoff III, who became president in 1965 and guided the chain's outward growth.^[10] To sustain this expansion, K&B employed targeted business strategies, including the widespread adoption of the self-service format pioneered in the 1930s, which reduced operational costs and enhanced customer experience. The firm focused on prime urban real estate to ensure visibility and foot traffic, while maintaining family oversight to preserve its independent character. Post-World War II challenges, such as labor shortages, were addressed through dedicated employee training programs that built a loyal workforce capable of supporting the scaling operations. Competition from national chains like Walgreens was countered by diversifying offerings into convenience items, broadening appeal beyond traditional pharmaceuticals.^[10] By the 1970s, these efforts propelled K&B to become one of the largest independent drugstore chains in the United States, with annual revenues surpassing $200 million in the 1980s—a testament to its effective regional dominance and operational resilience.^[10]

Acquisition and closure

In the 1980s, K&B's expansion slowed amid Louisiana's economic downturn caused by the collapse of the oil industry, which hampered growth in its core Gulf Coast markets.^[10] By 1994, the company operated 177 stores across six states—Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas—with annual sales reaching $507.94 million and employing about 4,500 people.^[10] On July 21, 1997, Rite Aid Corporation announced its acquisition of K&B Inc. alongside Harco Inc. in a cash deal valued at approximately $325 million to $340 million, plus the assumption of about $20 million in debt; the transaction aimed to bolster Rite Aid's presence in the southeastern United States.^[12] At the time, K&B comprised 186 stores generating $580 million in annual sales, contributing to the combined $838 million in revenue from the two chains.^[13] The deal cleared antitrust reviews without significant divestitures, reflecting the regional scope of K&B's operations.^[2] Following the acquisition's completion later in 1997, Rite Aid initiated a gradual rebranding of K&B's stores to its own banner, with the conversion process spanning 1997 and 1998 as part of a broader integration of over 1,300 acquired locations from multiple chains.^[14] K&B's independent operations fully ceased by the end of 1998, though many stores continued under Rite Aid; Rite Aid initially retained select K&B branding elements, such as signage and product lines, before phasing them out entirely.^[14] The corporate headquarters in New Orleans and Harco's in Tuscaloosa were closed, resulting in about 475 layoffs at the executive level.^[15] The acquisition led to immediate job losses for several hundred K&B employees, primarily in administrative roles, though Rite Aid retained over 4,200 of the chain's approximately 4,800 workers to staff the continuing stores.^[13] Over time, many former K&B locations were either demolished, repurposed for other retail uses, or preserved for their architectural significance, particularly the iconic purple buildings.^[16]

Business operations

Store design and branding

K&B stores were renowned for their iconic purple color scheme, first adopted in 1911 after the company received a large shipment of excess purple wrapping paper from another merchant, which was repurposed for packaging and signage. This distinctive hue, often referred to as "K&B Purple," extended to building facades, employee uniforms, cash registers, and advertising materials, creating a unified visual identity that symbolized quality and dependability. The color's royal connotations contributed to its memorability, reinforcing the brand's premium positioning in the competitive drugstore market.^[7] The architectural style of K&B stores emphasized modernist elements tailored to retail visibility, with many locations strategically placed on street corners to maximize foot traffic and prominence. These buildings typically featured expansive plate-glass windows for merchandise display, bold neon signage in white lettering against purple backgrounds, and facades painted in the signature purple to foster instant brand recognition. The corporate headquarters, relocated to 1055 St. Charles Avenue in the 1960s and later renamed K&B Plaza after its acquisition in the early 1970s, stood as a key landmark; designed by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1961, it showcased innovative International Style architecture with a load-bearing concrete exoskeleton and elevated plaza, blending functionality with urban aesthetics.^[17]^[8] Interior designs evolved to reflect shifting retail practices, transitioning from the early 20th-century apothecary model with enclosed counters and pharmacist-led service to mid-century open layouts that promoted self-service efficiency. By the 1950s, stores incorporated fluorescent lighting for bright, inviting atmospheres, wide aisles for easy navigation, and integrated elements like soda fountains that enhanced the overall customer experience by offering quick refreshments alongside shopping.^[7] Central to the branding was the simple yet striking "K&B" logo, rendered in white block lettering on a purple field, which appeared consistently on signage, packaging, and promotional materials. Stores were systematically numbered for operational clarity, with the original 1905 location at 732 Canal Street designated as Store No. 1, a convention that extended across the chain to aid in inventory and management. Marketing efforts from the 1940s through the 1980s heavily promoted "friendly service" through print ads, radio jingles, and community events, often tying the purple motif to themes of trust and accessibility with taglines like “If it’s purple on the outside, it’s only the BEST from Katz and BESThoff on the inside.”^[8]^[1] To ensure uniformity and strong brand cohesion amid expansion, K&B employed standardized blueprints for constructing new stores, allowing consistent architectural and interior features despite varying urban contexts along the Gulf Coast. This approach reinforced the chain's visual and experiential identity, making each location feel like an extension of the original New Orleans flagship.^[10]

Products and services

K&B primarily offered prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, and health and beauty aids as its core product categories, positioning itself as a comprehensive retailer beyond traditional pharmacy services.^[4] These items were supported by licensed pharmacists ensuring quality control through regulated staffing ratios in store pharmacies.^[18] The chain diversified its inventory starting in the 1940s with the introduction of private-label products, including K&B-branded vitamins, cosmetics, sundries, and ice cream, which allowed for competitive pricing and customer loyalty.^[19] By the 1950s, K&B expanded into photo processing services, operating its own laboratory and partnering with national brands like Kodak for film development and camera supplies.^[18] In the 1960s, select stores added groceries and liquor to their assortments, transforming many locations into one-stop shops for everyday needs.^[4] Signature services included iconic soda fountains, operational from the 1910s through the early 1970s, where customers could enjoy po'boys, ice cream treats, phosphates, and specialty sodas like cherry Cokes or nectar sodas prepared at in-store counters.^[5] These fountains were phased out to accommodate expanded retail space for more profitable goods. K&B maintained strong supplier relationships with national brands for pharmaceuticals and sundries, alongside local producers for items like its proprietary ice cream, emphasizing reliable distribution through company-owned centers.^[10] Over time, K&B adapted to modern retail practices, implementing computerized inventory systems in the 1980s to connect stores with distribution centers for efficient stock management and just-in-time replenishment.^[10] By the late 1970s, stores began incorporating wellness sections with expanded selections of health aids in response to growing consumer interest in preventive care. Store layouts were designed to prominently showcase these diverse products, facilitating easy navigation for shoppers.^[18]

Legacy

Architectural and cultural impact

K&B emerged as a quintessential New Orleans institution, embodying the city's mid-20th-century urban retail culture and evoking widespread nostalgia long after its 1997 acquisition by Rite Aid. The chain's ubiquitous presence, with stores on nearly every corner, made it a daily fixture in local life, symbolizing reliability and community connection through its distinctive branding and merchandise. This cultural resonance persisted post-closure, as New Orleanians mourned the loss of a hometown icon, often expressing sentimentality over items like K&B ice cream flavors and branded souvenirs that captured the era's simplicity and local pride.^[7]^[4]^[8] As a major employer across the Gulf Coast, K&B played a pivotal role in local communities by providing jobs to diverse populations in New Orleans and beyond, integrating its stores into the neighborhood fabric as accessible corner hubs for everyday needs. By the 1950s, the chain had grown to 18 locations in New Orleans alone, fostering economic stability and social ties through its role as a one-stop shop for pharmaceuticals, groceries, and sundries. This community anchoring extended regionally, with stores serving as familiar landmarks in urban and suburban settings, contributing to the social rhythm of daily life before rebranding diminished its footprint.^[7]^[8]^[11] The chain's signature "K&B purple"—a light lavender hue originating from discounted wrapping paper adopted in 1911—profoundly influenced New Orleans' visual identity, becoming a shorthand term in local lexicon for the color itself and synonymous with the city's eclectic aesthetic. This shade, tied to the slogan "If it’s purple on the outside, it’s only the BEST from Katz and BESThoff on the inside," permeated signage, packaging, and even newspaper ink, reinforcing K&B's status as a cultural marker amid New Orleans' traditions like Mardi Gras colors. Its enduring legacy is evident in how residents still reference "K&B purple" to describe similar tones, preserving the chain's imprint on regional style and nostalgia.^[7]^[8]^[20] Economically, K&B bolstered downtown New Orleans' vitality through prime store locations, including the iconic K&B Plaza at 1055 St. Charles Avenue, a mid-century modern landmark that anchored the Central Business District and supported surrounding real estate values. The chain's expansion to 186 stores across six states by 1997 amplified its regional economic footprint, acting as a catalyst for commercial activity in areas like the Garden District. In broader Gulf Coast cities such as Houston and Mobile, K&B stores functioned as community anchors, enhancing local commerce until their rebranding, though their influence waned compared to the deep-rooted presence in Louisiana.^[21]^[7]^[11]

Preservation efforts

Following the 1997 acquisition and closure of the K&B chain, preservation initiatives have focused on repurposing select buildings and archiving artifacts to maintain the company's architectural and cultural footprint in the Gulf Coast region. The former corporate headquarters, known as K&B Plaza at 1055 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, remains a key preserved structure; built in 1962 as an innovative mid-century modern office building by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, qualifying it for historic tax credits and potential adaptive reuse such as mixed-use developments including offices or residences. As of October 2025, K&B Plaza was listed for sale at $11.4 million, highlighting opportunities for its continued preservation through redevelopment.^[22] Advocacy efforts include the establishment of dedicated archives for K&B materials. The University of New Orleans Libraries houses the K&B Archives (MSS 310), a collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, and ephemera from the chain's 1905–1997 operations, acquired to document its role in regional retail history.^[11] Notable restoration projects highlight the chain's signature elements. In 2018, preservationists restored an iconic K&B sign for permanent display at the Louisiana State Museum's Cabildo in New Orleans as part of the city's tricentennial exhibition, exemplifying efforts to conserve the distinctive purple branding that defined the stores.^[23] Similarly, the Contemporary Arts Center repurposed the original K&B headquarters building at 900 Camp Street in the late 1970s, transforming it into a multifaceted arts venue that retains elements of its commercial past.^[24] Preservation has faced significant challenges, particularly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when urban decay and flood damage led to the demolition of numerous former K&B locations across New Orleans. For instance, the K&B store at Washington Avenue and Jeff Davis Parkway (now Norman C. Francis Parkway) was razed due to structural deterioration post-storm.^[25] Several surviving K&B-related structures endure in Louisiana as of 2025, often repurposed as offices, retail spaces, or cultural venues, with K&B Plaza serving as a prominent example of ongoing commercial use. Artifacts from the stores are accessible through online platforms like the Louisiana Digital Library, which hosts digitized images and records from state museum collections to facilitate public engagement with the chain's history.^[26]

References

[1]
Blake Pontchartrain: Where was the first K&B drugstore ... - NOLA.com
Jul 22, 2019 · Pharmacists Gustave Katz and Sydney Besthoff Sr. opened the first Katz & Besthoff pharmacy at 732 Canal St. in 1905.
[2]
RITE AID TO BUY 2 SOUTHERN DRUGSTORE CHAINS
Jul 22, 1997 · Rite Corp will acquire drugstore chains K&B Inc of New Orleans, La, and Harco Inc of Tuscaloosa, Ala; refuses to disclose terms of the deal ...
[3]
https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/k-and-b-drug-stores-9780738582276
[4]
In 1905, K&B gave New Orleans a purple passion
Jan 29, 2017 · It started with $500. That's how much Gus Katz and Sydney Besthoff each ponied up in 1905 for their new business venture, a drugstore at 732 Canal St.
[5]
K&B Drugstore Soda Fountains And Bradley's Pharmacy.
Sep 6, 2012 · K&B Drugstore Soda Fountains Many locations around town 1890s-1980. Bradley's Pharmacy South Carrollton @ South Claiborne Avenues (downtown, ...
[6]
Purple Pros - New Orleans Magazine
Mar 1, 2005 · That K&B purple – which became the store's signature color after management bought bulk wrapping paper in that color decades ago – is still ...
[7]
Remembering K&B - New Orleans Magazine
Apr 1, 2013 · Pharmacists Gus Katz and Sydney Besthoff formed a partnership in 1905 that would become one of New Orleans' most treasured icons of the 20th century.
[8]
K&B Drug Stores - New Orleans Historical
K&B was a drug store chain headquartered in New Orleans throughout much of the 20th century. 1011 Canal Street was home to one of the chain's 186 storefronts.
[9]
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB869441734557326500
[10]
K & B Inc. - Company-Histories.com
... 1905 at 732 Canal Street, in the heart of downtown New Orleans. It was the first venture of a new partnership formed by Gustave David Katz and Sydney J.
[11]
K & B Inc. - Encyclopedia.com
” The purple remained a distinct hallmark of K & B ever since. The two ... soda fountain. The chain was thus forged, and it continued to grow, slowly ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[12]
Pharmacy in Washington: The Retail Business - HistoryLink.org
Dec 19, 2011 · Another big change took place in retail pharmacy in the early twentieth century with the rise of chain drugstores. The biggest was United Drug ...
[13]
: - MSS 310 - K & B Archives - Library Guides at University of New ...
Aug 24, 2018 · ... Katz & Besthoff opened the doors of its store at 732 Canal Street. ... In 1910 they established a second store at 837 Canal Street. Ten ...
[14]
Rite Aid acquisition of K&B, Harco will give chain presence in 31 ...
Jul 28, 1997 · 21, 1996, p. 19). The purchase price of the two chains is between $325 mil. and $340 mil. in cash plus about $20 mil. in assumed debt.
[15]
Library Guides: MSS 315 - K & B Archives, Addendum 3: Inventory
Aug 26, 2018 · Summary: Business records of K & B, Inc., formerly known as Katz & Besthoff, Limited, a chain of drug stores that operated from 1905 to 1997.Missing: 1912 1915
[16]
Rite Aid Corporation - Company-Histories.com
1969: The firm's first major acquisition is the 47-store Daw Drug Co. of Rochester, New York. 1982: Rite Aid opens its 1,000th store. 1983: Revenues surpass $1 ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[17]
Rite Aid buys 2 drug chains in South Company acquires K&B
Jul 22, 1997 · Rite Aid will buy K&B; Services Inc. of New Orleans and Harco Inc. of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in a cash deal that will give the company significant market share in ...
[18]
Taking The Pill - New Orleans Magazine
While the brand is well-remembered by its patrons, New Orleans' own K&B drugstores have long since vanished, replaced by the company's buyer, national drugstore ...
[19]
K&B Plaza born in a late '50s move to modernize New Orleans
Oct 9, 2023 · Originally built by the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. in 1961, the K&B building's design was innovative, with a load-bearing concrete exoskeleton.
[20]
K&B Drug Stores: 9781531654573 - BooksRun
In stock Rating 5.0 (8) The first was that K&B developed a private label brand in the 1940's. The private label branding included many items from cosmetics to ice cream. Another ...
[21]
4 New Orleans Traditions We'll Never Forget - Livery Tours
Mar 12, 2014 · “K&B Purple” became well known as a descriptive term in local lexicon—just as a car can be “forest green,” New Orleanians still describe a ...
[22]
K&B Plaza For Sale - Biz New Orleans
Oct 3, 2025 · NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Corporate Realty, Inc. has announced that K&B Plaza at 1055 St. Charles Avenue, a landmark office building of ...Missing: headquarters clock tower
[23]
K&B Plaza, iconic New Orleans office building, hits market after 50 ...
Oct 3, 2025 · The seven-story, 69,569-square-foot building at 1055 St. Charles Ave. is listed at $11.44 million. The building was designed by Skidmore ...Missing: flagship 1936 purple
[24]
The History of K&B: A Louisiana Institution with a Rich Past - Instagram
Aug 20, 2025 · We go into the archives for this Naturally Nawlins K&B story from Frank Davis. ... The Historic New Orleans Collection. Follow.
[25]
A Look Inside The Shop's Coworking Space in New Orleans
“The building was used as the headquarters for K&B, a local drugstore and soda fountain until the CAC acquired the building in the mid-1970s. The top two ...
[26]
Former K&B #17 at Washington and Jeff Davis Pkwy(I don't know the ...
Aug 26, 2023 · Former K&B #17 at Washington and Jeff Davis Pkwy(I don't know the current name). Shown before demolition after hurricane Katrina.This is the old K&B in Kenilworth Mall in New Orleans East. This is ...K&B Drug Store Chain in New Orleans, Memories and ExperiencesMore results from www.facebook.comMissing: preservation | Show results with:preservation
[27]
[PDF] The Unbuilding of Historic Neighbourhoods in Post-Katrina New ...
Neighbourhood preservation organizations and grassroots activists are fighting to save the city's endangered historic fabric. An overview of historic ...Missing: K&B repurposed
[28]
Louisiana Digital Library
No information is available for this page. · Learn whyMissing: surviving K&B structures 2025