Greenberg & Hammer, a supplier of dressmakers’ notions and supplies was originally formed in 1919, in New York City at 1310 Sixth Avenue, by Benjamin Hammer and Abraham Greenberg. The partnership was instigated by Mme Hammer, Mr. Hammer’s mother, a very prominent dressmaker, who needed a reliable source for lining and materials for her large workshop of custom dressmaking and tailoring, which were very popular in those days. The store mainly carried linings in silk and rayon, muslin for patterns, threads, snaps, hooks and eyes, braids and trimmings.

In 1927, the store went from a partnership to a corporation, Greenberg & Hammer Inc., and then in 1942 the store moved to a larger space at 1326 Sixth Avenue. The industry changed from custom made clothing to Ready-to-wear and the home sewer became a more important part of the business along with servicing department stores. In 1949 Daniel Hammer, son of Benjamin joined the firm and in 1952 produced the first mail order catalog and thus began the start of the companies first mail order business.

The last and sole owner, Daniel Hammer, retired in 1998 and the store passed to Mr. Frank Piazza, who joined the firm in 1985. Mr. Piazza undertook the expansion of the catalog and the catalog business began to flourish. The business, now located at 535 Eighth Avenue, 6th Floor North, with its new and enlarged catalog still continues to grow under Mr. Piazza’s direction.