MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – A long-time pillar in the Moncks Corner business community has died. Manuel Cohen, 90, the owner of Barron’s Department Store, passed away Thursday night. According to family, he worked “faithfully and joyfully” at the store until a few days before his death.
Described as a hard worker and a kind man with a gentle soul, loyal customers flooded the department store’s Facebook page Friday with condolences and trips down memory lane of the beloved businessman and philanthropist.
“My dad always spoke so highly of him. He gave him his first job and taught him so much about business and how to treat people,” one person posted. “It wasn’t only about profit- it was about supporting a whole community. His memory is a blessing for our whole town.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Mr. Cohen helped sponsor me so many times in pageants, baton competitions, etc. I never asked that he didn’t say yes. He was a pillar of the community and will be greatly missed!” another person posted.
Moncks Corner Mayor Tom Hamilton described Cohen as a “remarkably generous individual” who consistently gave back to numerous charitable organizations throughout the Lowcountry.
“I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations over the years, discussing a wide range of topics. Carolyn and I, together with all the employees of the Town of Moncks Corner, extend our sincerest prayers and love to his family,” Hamilton said.
Founded in 1923, Barron’s is the oldest locally-owned business in Berkeley County. The old-fashioned department store, which is located on East Main Street in the heart of town, first opened for business under Ben Barron.
According to the South Carolina Digital Library, Barron emigrated from Lithuania at age 14, sponsored by his uncle, Zelig Behrmann, a merchant in Moncks Corner. After serving in World War I, he returned to Moncks Corner and resumed working for his uncle. In 1923, Barron purchased a failing business and transformed it into Barron’s Department Store.
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By the time he sold the store to Cohen in 1960, it had grown into the largest department store in Moncks Corner.
In addition to owning Barron’s for nearly 70 years, he was also an owner/investor of The Berkeley Independent. It was later sold to the Evening Post Publishing in 2001.
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A graveside service will take place Sunday, May 11 at 4 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, which is located at 1308 Mathis Ferry Rd. Cohen leaves behind his wife, Elinor Cohen; his daughter, Kim Cohen Dye; his son, Harris Cohen; his sister, Sara Gordon; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild, according to his obituary.
