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The History
of Fris
The beginnings of Fris Office Outfitters date
back to 1875, when at 30 West 8th Street in Holland, a building was constructed
which housed a bank operated by M. Van Putten. In 1885 the building became a
bookstore which sold primarily notions, confectioneries, and newspapers. On
January 1, 1900, Lambertus Fris began his stationary business by purchasing
this property. This is the same location of Fris Hallmark Shop today.
When
Lambertus Fris died in 1907, his son Jacob was only 10 years old, but helped
his older brother and sister in the store, as well as selling newspapers on
the interurban and the boats which ran from the 8th Street docks to Macatawa.
When his brother died and his sister married, Jacob was 17, fresh out of high
school, and caring for his ailing mother. He managed to keep the business going
and upon his mother's death in 1920 had to purchase the business from the estate.
The banks would not loan him anything, but A. H. Landwehr, one of the founders
of the Holland Furnace Company, had the confidence to loan him what he needed.
Later, when Jacob was forced to buy the building or get out, Landwehr again
came to his aid.
In
the next several years, Jacob married, began a family, and together with his
wife, Sara, literally worked day and night to make the business a success. The
product lines gradually changed to a major emphasis on books, magazines, newspapers,
and school supplies. Later, office supplies, typewriters, and office furniture
were added. The business at this time, and for many years after, was known as
Fris Book Store.
During the years following World War II, much of the management of the Fris business was taken over by Jacob and Sara's son, Dale. At this time, the wholesale distribution of magazines, newspapers, and paperback books became a major part of the business and in the late 1940's, this part of the business was moved to a new building at 109 River Avenue in Holland and became Fris News Company. In 1956, Fris News Company was sold to Chris De Vries and moved to a location at 9th Street and Columbia Avenue.
Following
the sale of Fris News Company, the business was getting ready to be divided
again. Since the name had been changed in 1956 from Fris Book Store to Fris
Office Outfitters and Stationers, it was decided to move the office supplies,
machines, and furniture portion of the business to the 109 River Avenue location
and call it Fris Office Outfitters and the portion located at the downtown location
became Fris Stationers.
As
the emphasis at Fris Stationers became centered around Hallmark products, its
name was changed to Fris Hallmark Shop. Many additions have been made to the
Fris Office Outfitters building over the years to accommodate the ever growing
volume which marks their acceptance in the business community of West Michigan.
The
next generation of Fris's, sons of Dale and Mary, became involved over the years
with the businesses. J became a partner in Fris Stationers in 1974 and vice-president
of Fris Office Outfitters in 1988. John started working at Fris
Office Outfitters in 1974 and was elected president of the corporation in 1986.
In August of 1987, the two Fris stores were brought together under the Fris Office Outfitters corporate name. Fris Office Outfitters now has a retail division consisting of the Hallmark Shop and the River Avenue retail office products store and the commercial division serving the West Michigan market operating out of its warehouse also located on River Avenue. Collectively, Fris Office Outfitters and Fris Hallmark Shop employ 30 people with nearly 400 years of combined experience at Fris.
