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Private company

Dorb the Chemist, Inc.

New York pharmacy chain (1926–1932)

Dorb the Chemist, Inc. was a pharmaceutical chain which was based in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan, New York. The business thrived between 1926 and 1932. Started by chemist/pharmacist Abraham Dorb, the company is noteworthy because of its being an example of a firm which lost its vitality because of the Great Depression.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1926Founded1

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Great depression
Photo: Chinmaya S Padmanabha, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Dorb the Chemist, Inc. was a pharmaceutical chain which was based in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan, New York. The business thrived between 1926 and 1932. Started by chemist/pharmacist Abraham Dorb, the company is noteworthy because of its being an example of a firm which lost its vitality because of the Great Depression. It is also significant in the transition of Murray Hill from a social center of New York City to one which was more commercial2

The story

Dorb the Chemist purchased a site formerly occupied by a five-story brownstone at 267 Madison Avenue, between 39th Street and 40th Street. The demolished structure was replaced by a two story sandstone building which was used by Dorb for its executive offices, this building is still there. The fifth store of the chain opened in the Bartholomew

Building, at East 42nd Street (Manhattan), in March 1929. In January 1930, the Sidney Smith Pharmacy of Brooklyn, New York changed its name to Dorb the Chemist. In April 1931 Dorb

the Chemist leased the corner store in the Delmonico Hotel, on 59th Street and Park Avenue (Manhattan).

Abraham Dorb filed a petition for bankruptcy in November 1932. His liabilities totaled $166,271, including contingent obligations on debts

contracted by Dorb the Chemist, Inc., and Delmonic Dorb the Chemist, Inc., no assets.

From Wikipedia’s article on Dorb the Chemist, Inc., shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1926Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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