Geist Dry Goods and Shoe Store
The Geist Dry Goods and Shoe Store was owned and operated by Gottfried and Elizabeth Katherine Geist. Gottfried was born in Kraft, Russia, on September 11, 1884. He worked as a cabinetmaker for seven years before immigrating to the United States in April 1906 aboard the Hamburg-American Line steamship Graf Waldersee. Elizabeth was born on April 9, 1895, in Portland, the daughter of Johann Georg Bauer and Christina Catharina Jost.
The United States Irish Emigration Society of New York secured a job for Gottfried as a cabinet maker at the Ford and Johnson Company in Michigan City, Indiana. He earned $2.00 per day.
Gottfried was first married to Katharina Yost, the daughter of Peter Yost, in March 1909. After Katharina died in 1915, Gottfried married Elizabeth Katherine (Lizzie) Bauer in November 1916.
The Geist store started as two separate operations in a wooden building at 829-831 Union Avenue North. This building was replaced by a two-story brick building at the same location (now 3935-3939 NE MLK Blvd.). A few years before the outbreak of World War II, the dry goods store was incorporated into the shoe store, and the operation was rebranded as the Geist Department Store. Dr. Uhle and Dr. Schiewe had offices upstairs above Geist's store. Weimer's Hardware and Furniture Store was located directly across the street.
Gottlieb Geist was a founding member and treasurer of the Volga Relief Society, formed in 1921 to help families and friends suffering from a severe famine in Russia. Geist joined fellow Volga German entrepreneurs George Repp and John W. Miller, who founded and led the organization.
According to the 1930 U.S. Census, the Geist family lived at 894 N. Mason Street.
After Gottfried Geist died in 1962, the store was operated by his son, Robert (Bob).
In his memoirs titled Memories of Norka, Conrad Brill shared the following about Gottfried Geist and his renowned generosity:
The United States Irish Emigration Society of New York secured a job for Gottfried as a cabinet maker at the Ford and Johnson Company in Michigan City, Indiana. He earned $2.00 per day.
Gottfried was first married to Katharina Yost, the daughter of Peter Yost, in March 1909. After Katharina died in 1915, Gottfried married Elizabeth Katherine (Lizzie) Bauer in November 1916.
The Geist store started as two separate operations in a wooden building at 829-831 Union Avenue North. This building was replaced by a two-story brick building at the same location (now 3935-3939 NE MLK Blvd.). A few years before the outbreak of World War II, the dry goods store was incorporated into the shoe store, and the operation was rebranded as the Geist Department Store. Dr. Uhle and Dr. Schiewe had offices upstairs above Geist's store. Weimer's Hardware and Furniture Store was located directly across the street.
Gottlieb Geist was a founding member and treasurer of the Volga Relief Society, formed in 1921 to help families and friends suffering from a severe famine in Russia. Geist joined fellow Volga German entrepreneurs George Repp and John W. Miller, who founded and led the organization.
According to the 1930 U.S. Census, the Geist family lived at 894 N. Mason Street.
After Gottfried Geist died in 1962, the store was operated by his son, Robert (Bob).
In his memoirs titled Memories of Norka, Conrad Brill shared the following about Gottfried Geist and his renowned generosity:
Another man from Kraft was Mr. Geist, who most folk remember from his dry goods store. He probably extended more credit to his fellow countrymen than the local bank. He had been such a good friend to my family that for Christmas, our family made purchases of clothing, which we packed and mailed to Michigan for my eldest son's family because we wanted Mr. Geist to have the business and to know how much we thought of him for his past generosity. Mr. Geist loaned many countrymen several hundred dollars on a handshake. We utilized the Geist Store even after the old gentleman died and his son Bob ran the business.
Portrait photo of Gottfried Geist. Source:
An advertisement for Geist's Shoes and Dry Goods and George Betz Florist from the 20th Anniversary booklet for the Second German Congregational Church in Portland (1932). Source: Steve Schreiber.
This 1920s photograph was taken at the intersection of Union and Shaver Street (now Northeast Shaver Street), and the view is toward the south. A sign displaying "Shoes Geist" can be seen on the right side of the street. Source: OHS Digital Collections. Oregon Journal Negative Collection; Org. Lot 1368; Box 371; 0371N5612.
Google Maps image of the building that housed the Geist Dry Goods and Shoe Store.
Sources
Ancestry.com - Family tree of Brian Zimmer.
Brill, Conrad. Memories of Norka. Interview by George Brill. Print.
Kammerzell, Harold. Oral history provided on October 11, 2018.
Schwabauer, Wanda J. "The Portland Community of Germans from Russia." Diss. Portland State U, 1974. Print.
Scoggins, Linda. Emails regarding the Geist Department Store.
Brill, Conrad. Memories of Norka. Interview by George Brill. Print.
Kammerzell, Harold. Oral history provided on October 11, 2018.
Schwabauer, Wanda J. "The Portland Community of Germans from Russia." Diss. Portland State U, 1974. Print.
Scoggins, Linda. Emails regarding the Geist Department Store.
Last updated September 17, 2025