Born in Budapest, Hungary on February 7, 1906, the son of Louis and Goldie Reisman, Max Reisman came to the Mahoning Valley while a young man. In 1924 he opened a furniture store in the old Murphy building. When Sam Murphy owned this building, he operated a harness shop and a white wooden horse always stood in front of his shop.

When the Murphy building was razed in October, 1935, Reisman and the Niles Shoe Shining Parlor found it necessary to find a new location for their businesses. During December of 1935, Reisman moved his business to a storeroom in the Niles Bank Building. At that site he carried a complete line of men’s clothing.

While he operated his store in the Niles Bank Building, Reisman featured a “Pick N Pay” department which carried a full line of work clothes, women’s apparel, shoes, curtains, sheets, blankets, etc... Reisman introduced the “Ten Pay Plan” for the convenience of customers who might be on a low or strict budget.

Reisman's store had three floors offering clothing goods and was next to the Niles Bank Building, Niles tallest building built in 1930.

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During his lifetime, Reisman served as a director and treasurer of the Lake-to-River Girl Scout Council, a director of Banc Ohio. Chairman for the State of Israel bonds and a director of the Niles Chamber of Commerce, which awarded him the 1989 Merchant of the Year Award.

A Reisman's store advertisement that appeared in the December 5, 1941 Niles Daily Times newspaper. Reismans was still operating out of the store next to the Niles Bank Building at this time.

Max Reisman established himself in the hearts of sports fans in Niles through his sponsorship of teens in the competitive participation of sports. As Max often said, “I get a thrill out of enabling the young fellows to be active in the organized sports here in Niles. It is a great factor in the building of healthy fair-minded citizens.”

1964 photo shows the previous location of McCallister's Dairy on North Main Street next to the McKinley Theatre. PO11.303

An astute businessman, Max Reisman believed in the power of property as he accumulated many prime business locations throughout the city.

Niles Daily Times December 8, 1948 Temple McCallister
of Warren will build a store room on property at 132 North Main Street owned by Max Reisman, local department store proprietor. The Room will be occupied by a McCallister Dairy store and will be one of eleven in the valley owned and operated by McCallister. The firm already operates a store at 830 Vienna Avenue. Reisman stated that the house now on the property which adjoins the McKinley theatre will be moved to the back of the lot.

Reisman also owns property at the corner of Church and Main, currently occupied by Niles Auto Parts, and at the corner of State and Pennsylvania (Arlington) and has repurposed a large number of homes for store rooms.

Niles Daily Times August 13, 1953
One of the oldest landmarks in downtown Niles, the upper floors were used years ago as a meeting hall at one time or another by various organizations including the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges.

Work involving a major change in the downtown Niles business picture, a complete remodeling and lowering of the old three-story brick building at the southeast corner of East State and Main Streets, is underway and is expected to be completed in six weeks.

The three story building had the top two levels removed and Max Reisman moved his furniture business there. It was occupied later by J&J Discount store, was finally razed in 1972 when the Police-Fire Complex was built on that site.

Arrow points to the oldest brick building in Niles which will become the new location of Reisman's store.

Niles Daily Times photo December 12, 1953.

View of the building that had the top two stories removed and became the new location of Reisman's. It was occupied by J&J Discount in this 1974 photograph. PO1.157

1930 aerial view of the building and home located on site at the northwest corner of State Street and Main Street.

In 1954 the Style Shop and a grocery store occupied the future site of Reisman’s. Max Reisman would move his store from the southeast corner to the northwest corner on Main and State Streets. PO1.907

1972 urban renewal aerial view of Reisman’s furniture store showing the changes from the original building shown above.

The house on the back of the lot is gone as well as the original wooden structure on South Main Street.

View of Reisman's complex showing the family clothing store and furniture showroom.
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Niles Daily Times November 27, 1971
One of downtown’s older buildings is getting a face-lifting, a new look, and a new store. Reisman’s store which has stood on the corner of South Main and West State Streets for several years is currently undergoing a $20,000 remodeling which will improve the appearance of the downtown area and fit in with current urban redevelopment plans.

Max Reisman, owner of the building, says his “new complex” will include a family clothing store and an adjoining furniture shop. Current plans are to put a new front on the building that will house a separate clothing and furniture store, both to be known as Reisman’s. The interior of the furniture shop and clothing store that will be next door will both be remodeled. Reisman hopes the entire project will be completed by the start of heavy Christmas shopping and that the stores will remain open during construction.
Reisman said, “faith in the downtown district of Niles prompted him to remodel and stated that despite the Eastwood Mall and other strip plazas there is a firm place for the downtown shopper and businessman.” He expressed the view his remodeling coupled with urban renewal development will breathe new life into downtown Niles.

Max Reisman died on May 21, 1989, at the age of 83 years.

In late October 2023 the two corner buildings, Reisman's and the Robins Theater, were cordoned off prior to their demolition in 2024.

Previously, Reisman's building housed The Style Shop, Loblaws Market, Ward’s Costume Shop, and a tattoo shop.