J.J. Krieg Company

1932 ²

The J.J. Krieg Company (also Krieg's) was a local chain of men's clothing stores beginning in 1906, run by Joseph John Krieg. One of the buildings still stands at 34th and International.

Along with Joseph Halton, on April 1, 1906, J.J. opened Halton and Krieg, a cigar store in Alameda. They then started a men's clothing business which was successful, so they opened a second store in Oakland. The original Oakland store was on the southwest corner of Fruitvale and East 14th (now International) beginning in 1909. It was listed as Krieg and Halton until at least 1914. In 1916 it was listed as J.J. Krieg Co., successor to Krieg and Halton. Krieg sold his interest in the Alameda store in 1915, but in 1924 he bought it back and put his son, Joseph Hugh Krieg, in charge of it. ¹

At various points, Krieg's wife Agnes worked as a bookkeeper for the company, and their son-in-law, Henry A. Donovan was Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

A 1925 ad also lists a location in San Leandro. It doesn't seem to have lasted long, as it appears in ads only until c.1927.

In 1932, they moved the Oakland store to a new building on the corner of 34th Avenue. The building was constructed beginning in 1931 by Charles W. Heyer, Jr. and designed by William and Wastel. ² The addresses include 3334-3340 East 14th (now International) and 1419 - 34th Avenue.

Although J.J. Krieg's son, Joseph H. Krieg, was quoted in a newspaper article from July of 1972 as hoping that commuters using the soon-to-open Fruitvale BART Station might patronize the store, the company announced just a few months later that they would be closing, and the last day of business was December 2, 1972. ^3,4,5

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