David Walter Bloom

Born November 19, 1879 and died November 2, 1956. Mr. Bloom immigrated to the United States in 1894, arriving in Boston at the age of 15 and with 50 cents in his pocket. He made friends with J. Cress Myers, a native of Melrose, Ohio. David came west and shortly after his arrival to Tucson, MYERS joined him. They opened up a variety store, carrying all types of merchandise, and then later converted strictly to men’s furnishings. President of Southern Arizona Bank and Trust Co., asked Bloom and Myers to take over Armstrong’s dry goods store, one of the leading businesses at that time. With this good fortune, they moved to the northwest corner of Congress Street and Scott Avenue. They installed glass showcases and were one of the first businesses to protect their merchandise from dust and dirt. Sales results seemed to justify this innovative idea. In 1930 the two men dissolved their partnership and Dave opened a new men’s store which later on his sons joined him in the business. David was active in the Tucson Rotary, Old Pueblo Club, Tucson Merchants Association, Temple of Music And Art, Tucson Symphony Society, Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Tucson Country Club and various shrine groups.

According to his Naturalization Petition he arrived in Boston about Sept 1893 and has been in Pima County in Arizona since 1899