Maurice Heymann Building

Maurice Heymann Building is named for the person who built the building, one of Lafayette’s most beloved and prominent business leaders. Around 1916, just after Mr. Heymann arrived in Lafayette, he opened a fine men’s clothing and dry goods store at 444 Jefferson Street, which is located across Jefferson street. In 1925, he opened Lafayette’s first “department store” in the 433 Jefferson Street building. Maurice Heymann and his legacy, is respected and valued for his business insights. His forward-thinking acumen allowed Lafayette citizens an early taste of the late 19th century trend in shopping that was sweeping the rest of the nation in larger cities. By 1890, the department store achieved a top market position across Europe and in the U.S. The older general stores began to transition into larger department stores as small towns grew into larger cities. By 1925, Macy’s in New York had doubled in size, and shopping at department stores had become a national pastime for people living in larger cities. The Maurice Heymann Department Store operated from 1925 through 1990. Today, the Maurice Heymann Building provides local citizens with another engaging pastime, serving as the Lafayette Science Museum.