Surasky’s Department Store (later BM Surasky’s)

Type of Store: Dry Goods

Years of Operation: 1904 – 1961

Location: 120 Laurens St SW (currently Malia’s)

Family: Surasky (BM)

BM Surasky (1862-1934) came to Aiken in the 1890s and initially worked in the store owned by his brother in law HL Polier. BM opened his own Surasky’s Department Store in 1904. The store was next door to a store run by three of his brothers (Hiram, Sam & Solomon) called Surasky Brothers Department Store. Both stores were run as a single partnership among the brothers until that partnership was dissolved in 1917. After the dissolution of the partnership, BM began doing business in his own name and increasingly focused on men’s clothing. He subsequently purchased the store building in 1926 for $11,000. The store was run by BM until he passed away in 1934, after which it was run by his son Mandle.