Hamashbir on Jaffa Street: Jerusalem, Israel’s Retail Landmark Since 1947

Mark Vogel
Mar 9
5 min read

Jerusalem, Israel ✈

I recently visited Hamashbir Department Store in Jerusalem, Israel at 39 Jaffa Street, where Ben Yehuda Street’s pedestrian promenade intersects with Jerusalem’s principal thoroughfare. I was shopping for a new belt I needed for an upcoming wedding.

The first Mashbir department store was established in September 1947, two months before modern Israel’s declaration of independence. It was located across the street from the this store. That milestone was commemorated in September 2023, when Hamashbir marked its seventy-fifth year of continuous operation.

Book a Tour: Top Jerusalem Tours

“Hamashbir’s impact on Jerusalem’s retail sector remains substantial. As the first all-inclusive department store in the city, it introduced centralized shopping at a time when small, separate vendors dominated.”

The store’s exterior blends historic masonry with modern glass panels. The ground floor is organized with signage directing customers to women’s apparel, footwear, and personal care sections. Racks of clothing are arranged by size and style, and the aisles are wide enough to accommodate both foot traffic and small shopping carts. I noted that local Israeli designers share space with international brands, reflecting the chain’s strategy of balancing domestic products with global trends. A cosmetics counter toward the rear features testers and informative placards in Hebrew and English.

I proceeded via escalator to the second floor, where men’s clothing occupies one side and children’s wear the other. The formal shirt selection is adjacent to casual T‑shirts, and denim is displayed on low tables for easy access. Beyond the apparel sections, kitchenware shelves hold stainless steel cookware sets, nonstick frying pans, and glass bakeware.

On the third floor, home textiles are arranged by category: bedding, towels, and decorative pillows. Neutral-colored duvet sets are grouped with fitted sheets, and alongside them are pillow covers in contrasting hues. A small seating area nearby invited brief rest periods.

Hamashbir’s location at the Ben Yehuda intersection connects two different pedestrian environments. One side leads to Ben Yehuda Street’s pedestrian mall which is lined with cafés, street performers, and souvenir kiosks. Jaffa Street, on the other side accommodates the light rail train and pedestrian traffic. Cars, buses, and taxis have been long been banned from this poplar street. The department store’s dual façades accommodate both flows: a glass-and-steel presence facing the thoroughfare and a more understated frontage along the pedestrian mall. This configuration demonstrates how the building integrates into Jerusalem’s mixed-use streetscape.

I recalled visiting an earlier Mashbir outlet at the opposite end of Ben Yehuda Street near King George Street over ten years ago. That branch was smaller and focused on clothing basics and home goods. The current flagship at 39 Jaffa Street occupies a larger footprint, allowing for expanded sections such as electronics and small appliances - areas that were absent in the original store. On my walk through the electronics corner, I saw small kitchen appliances: toasters, blenders, and electric kettles.

The store’s supply chain is designed to meet diverse customer needs throughout the year. Seasonal merchandise rotates without delay: winter coats appear in September, and swimwear is displayed by March. I observed that inventory levels remain consistent, suggesting robust logistical operations. Employees restock shelves methodically, often placing back‑of‑store items on the floor within minutes of depletion. During my visit, I witnessed staff unloading a pallet of shoe boxes and arranging them by style code within ten minutes.

Customer demographics at this location are varied. I observed families shopping for children’s clothing, and older customers selecting household supplies. Tourists appeared as well, shopping for items they forgot to pack before their trip.

Hamashbir’s impact on Jerusalem’s retail sector remains substantial. As the first all-inclusive department store in the city, it introduced centralized shopping at a time when small, separate vendors dominated. Its survival through economic fluctuations, political unrest, and shifts in consumer behavior reflects adaptive strategies such as e‑commerce integration and in‑store pickup options.

Hamashbir at 39 Jaffa Street is easily accessible via Jerusalem’s public transit network. The Red Line light rail stops near the store. City buses 1, 38, and 75 disembark one block to the east. The store’s website lists daily hours (Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and holiday closures, ensuring visitors can plan their trip. Inside, international shoppers have access to a dedicated tax‑refund desk, and anyone who orders online can collect purchases at the click‑and‑collect counter. Gift‑wrapping and on‑site tailoring services are available at counters staffed by attendants fluent in both Hebrew and English.

For customers who visit regularly, Hamashbir offers the “M Club” loyalty program. Members earn points on every shekel spent - points redeemable at any branch or through the online store - and receive exclusive coupons via the mobile app. The store’s design accommodates a wide range of needs: elevators and wheelchair ramps connect all floors, aisles are wide enough for strollers, and gender‑neutral restrooms are located on the ground level. Signage throughout the building is presented in Hebrew, English, and Arabic for key directions, making navigation easy for both local residents and visitors.

Hamashbir Lazarchan is operated by New Hamashbir Lazarchan Ltd., a public company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol MSBZ. Its majority shareholder and current CEO is Rami Shavit, who led a group of investors in acquiring the chain in 2003 and has maintained controlling interest since then. Though originally founded by the Histadrut in 1947, today the department‑store chain is managed under the Shavit Group’s stewardship and continues to trade publicly.

Hamashbir operates more than thirty locations across Israel, extending its reach beyond the flagship store on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, you can find a branch in the Azrieli Mall, while Haifa hosts an outlet in the Grand Canyon Mall. Shoppers in Raanana visit the Renanim Mall location, and those in Ramat Gan head to Ayalon Mall. Further north, there’s a store in Lev Carmiel Mall, and in the south, Hamashbir maintains branches in Beersheba’s Lev HaPark Mall and on Hatmarim Street in Eilat. Additional standalone outlets serve communities such as Nazareth’s John Paul II Street, and several other branches are situated in shopping centers and urban districts nationwide.

Reflecting on my time inside Hamashbir, I noted how the store balances heritage and modernization. Its foundational role in supplying essentials during Jerusalem’s formative years coexists with its current function as a multi‑category retailer equipped for today’s market demands. The constant flow of customers, the structured layout of merchandise, and the disciplined restocking procedures all point to an established operation that still adapts to change. It represents the everyday reliability that Hamashbir offers - a continuity of service that began in September 1947 and persists through each new season.

Book a Tour: Top Jerusalem Tours