Barbakow's

Harry Barbakow (1882-1967) emigrated from Russia in 1904. He opened the Barbakow General Merchandise Store at 901 Mercer Street, at the corner of Mercer and South Ninth Street, about 1909. It was in a three story stone and brick building with apartments above the store. Harry Barbakow probably occupied one of the apartments. When Harry Barbakow died at the Jewish Home For The Aged in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1967, his home address was listed as 901 Mercer Street.

Julian H. Preisler in his book Jewish West Virginia quoted Bonnie Barbakow Greensburg. She said, “The general merchandise store evolved into a ladies’ ready-to-wear business whose slogan was “Barbakow’s for Finer Feminine Fashions.” The business had a Princeton presence for 72 years and was one of the oldest businesses in town.

When Harry Barbakow retired, his son Yankee Barbakow (1919-1981), and Yankee’s wife Libby Mervis (1921-2018) became co-owners of Barbakow’s.  

After marrying Yankee and moving to Princeton, Libby was co-owner of Barbakow’s, a ladies ready-to-wear boutique that was located on Mercer Street. Libby and Yankee were a team in all things, and they were rarely apart after Yankee returned from World War II. In their business, Libby was the principal buyer of merchandise and abided by the store’s motto: “For Finer Feminine Fashions.”  After Yankee’s untimely death in 1981, Libby closed the store and relocated to King of Prussia. (Findagrave.com #192722086)

In 2023 The Bronze Look, LLC, a diamond jewelry and fine arts store occupied the building.