SPOTLIGHT: Kaplan's... Celebrating 100 Years
Kaplan’s Enterprises, Inc. was established in 1923 as Morris Kaplan Awnings by Morris Kaplan. Little did Morris Kaplan know that when he left his job at the Bush & Bull department store in Centre Square to start his own awning company, his dream would still be going on 100 years later. Today, his grandchildren, David Kaplan and Randi Kaplan, successfully operate the business. Kaplan’s has been through wars, elections, the Great Depression and more. The business relocated a few times over the years to accommodate growth, and is presently located at 1298 Spruce Street in Easton’s West Ward.
Morris Kaplan was born in Russia. He emigrated to New York in 1891. In 1914, he rode from the Big Apple to Easton on a bicycle with a relative. Kaplan worked at the Bush & Bull store in Centre Square managing their awning department. For years it was believed by his family that he left Bush & Bull because he believed he could do a better job on his own, but they recently discovered that the store was closing the awning department. Kaplan took the experience gained at Bush & Bull and decided to open his own awning store. He founded his awning business in 1923 in a barn at the rear of the family home at 671 Bushkill Street. Morris Kaplan Awnings began as awnings only, though grew to include shades and tents while still operating at this first location.
Five years later, in 1928, Kaplan opened his first showroom at 525 Northampton Street. This location was referred to at that time as the Northampton Apartments. Morris Pinsky, the building’s previous owner had contracted to sell to Morris Kaplan and his brother Abraham in 1925, but the property was not deeded to them until 1928. Pinsky had operated a secondhand furniture/antiques store in the building. Though Morris Kaplan Awnings opened a showroom for awnings and window shades in the commercial space in 1928, Pinsky apparently maintained his store here until the early 1930s. Randi Kaplan says that she believes Pinksy, who was a relative of the Kaplans, operated his business in the basement. It was at this location that Kaplan’s sons, Sidney and Joseph, joined the business, and the business name was changed to Morris Kaplan & Sons, though eventually Sidney, better known as Sid, operated the business on his own. Sid had come on board during the 1950s after having served in the Army during the Korean War. The awning business moved across the street in 1964, though the Kaplan Family continued to own the Northampton Apartments until 1969, after which it was sold to a series of investor-owners.
In 1964, Kaplan’s jumped across the street to 524 Northampton Street, now as Kaplan Awnings Co. Spaced was leased to the business by Philrose Supply Co. which had purchased the building in 1960, but due to financial troubles, the former owner, M. Kowitz & Co., reacquired the property in 1965 through a Sheriff’s sale and then resold the building in the same year to Morris Kaplan. Morris Kaplan himself died in 1970 (his wife, Fannie, had died in 1947), but his heirs continued to own the building and continued the family awning business, which remained in the building until 1984.
Sidney and Helene Kaplan moved the business to the Sherer Building at 108 Northampton Street in 1984 after formally purchasing the property. Sid transitioned the company to his children, David and Randi, in 1997, though he remained an active part of business for many more years. Sidney Kaplan died in February of 2019.
Custom awnings have always been a specialty of the Kaplan family which include both residential and commercial projects. Sidney Kaplan was one of eleven Life Certified Master Fabric Craftsmen in the U.S. All awnings are made on site. Today, you will find an old Singer sewing machine from the early days that is still in use! One of Kaplan’s more high profile jobs is the awning that covers the Canal Boat at Hugh Moore Park.
In the beginning, Kaplans strictly did awnings. One receipt dated 3/16/1924 for the National Clothing Company, South 3rd Street in Easton, included a 16-foot wide awning purchased for $65.00. In the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, Kaplan’s did the flags and banners for the end of war celebrations, parades, grand openings and political rallies. Morris Kaplan ultimately diversified into the flag business, perhaps when he was hired to decorate Easton’s streets and Free Bridge with patriotic bunting, pennants and banners for special occasions. These occasions included July 4th celebrations, the return of the troops from World War II, and apparently a campaign stop by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Much of this business had migrated to Kaplan upon the closing of William J. Heller’s company, The American Flag Manufacturing Co. Heller died in 1920, and his flag company closed some time in the early 1930s.
When the demand for American flags skyrocketed after the 9/11 tragedy, it was difficult to purchase flags if you weren’t already a customer of the flag manufacturer or supplier. Kaplan’s donated flags to a local contractor who made sure that all vehicles working in the Ground Zero area were able to display an American flag. Today, American flags that are made in the USA can be purchased at Kaplan’s in a variety of sizes; poles and hanging equipment are also available.
In addition to American flags, Kaplans carries foreign flags and the City of Easton flag, as well as decorative flags and banners. Through the years, they have added interior window treatments, signs, and canvas shopping bags. Tents, however, were discontinued many years ago, though you will still see it listed on one of the business’ original signs in the showroom.
Randi and David learned the business as children, as surely did their father Sid. “If you were big enough to use a pair of scissors, you would help cut out the awnings,” recalls Randi. Now in the year 2023, the brother and sister team who operate Kaplan’s proudly celebrate 100 years of business in Easton.
Photo above: David and Randi Kaplan (3rd generation siblings) accept their proclamation from Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure for 100 years in business. Photos courtesy of Kaplan’s Enterprises.
Kaplan Awnings
1298 Spruce Street, Easton, PA 18042
610-258-5319 | www.kaplanawning.com