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I. Goldberg Army & Navy — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For generations of Philadelphians, I. Goldberg was more than an army-and-navy store. It was an institution.
Founded in Philadelphia in 1919, I. Goldberg became legendary for its seemingly endless supply of military surplus, workwear, boots, camping gear, denim, pea coats, fatigues, and just about anything else that looked better after being beaten up for a few years. Long before “vintage military” became a fashion category, Goldberg’s was selling the real thing.
By the 1970s, the store was firmly embedded in Philadelphia culture. Students, artists, punks, bikers, workers, outdoorsmen, and assorted Center City characters could all rummage through the same racks. Army jackets and surplus clothing were increasingly being pulled out of their original context and adopted by counterculture movements, making an old-fashioned army-and-navy store an unlikely source of some of the era’s coolest clothes.
The Goldberg family operated the business for generations, and its stores moved through several familiar Center City locations over the years. For longtime Philadelphians, the I. Goldberg logo and shopping bags became nearly as recognizable as the merchandise inside.
After nearly a century in business, I. Goldberg closed in 2019, ending the run of one of Philadelphia’s great independent retailers.
