The son of Bavarian-born Benjamin Bloomimgdale, Lyman and his brother Joseph and were trained in the retailing of ladies clothing at their father's store. Going into business for themselves, the Bloomingdale brothers new store sold a wide variety of European fashions, anchored through their own buying office in Paris, France. Their success resulted in the business outgrowing its premises and in 1886 they relocated operations to its famous present-day location at 59th Street and Third Avenue where Bloomingdale became one of the most widely recognized brand names in the world.