Retail companies established in 1839

Manheimer Berlin is a German fashion house originally founded in 1839. Together with other brands it was at its height in 1920s Germany until its demise in 1929. The company was re-opened in Berlin in December 2018 with the great-great-grandson of Valentin Manheimer, Andreas Valentin in attendance.

Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society Limited (Lothian Co-op), founded in 1839 in the Scottish Borders, was the oldest independent consumer co-operative in Scotland until it merged with The Co-operative Group in December 2008. It operated over 50 food stores in the south and east, as well as some other retail businesses, and funeral services. At the time of the merger, Lothian Co-op was owned by 65,000 consumer members on a one member one vote basis.

The Book Room was an independent bookstore located on Barrington Street in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1839 (185 years ago), at the time of its closing in March 2008 (16 years ago), The Book Room was Canada’s oldest bookstore (169 years), and the largest non-chain bookstore in Eastern Canada. The shop acted as an important cultural centre for the local book community, offering support for local authors.