| Type | Department Store |
| Location | Metropolis, Gotham City, Fawcett City |
| Owner(s) | Mr. Lacey |
| Featured in | Superman Comics and other DC publications |
- “Lacey's is the place to go when you just don't know.”
- ―Lacey's Department Store
Lacey's Department Store (also known as Lacey Department Store) is a popular chain of department stores with key locations across a world inhabited by superheroes. It originates from the 1939 comic book series Superman, having first appeared in issue #21 titled "The Robber Knight" and since then made occasional appearances in other Detective Comics publications.
Overview
Lacey's Department Store is a renowned chain of upscale department stores with locations in some of the most bustling and iconic cities of a world inhabited by superpowered heroes and villains. With flagship stores in Metropolis, Gotham City, Fawcett City, and beyond, Lacey's has built a reputation for offering high-quality apparel, luxury cosmetics, home necessities, and seasonal holiday events that draw in shoppers from all walks of life.
The chain was founded by the eponymous Mr. Lacey, an ambitious entrepreneur who established Lacey's flagship store in Metropolis—an eight-story retail complex that stands as the largest and most prestigious location in the chain. With its grand architecture, sprawling floors filled with designer fashion and high-end merchandise, and its reputation as a shopping landmark, Metropolis' Lacey's has become a staple for the city's elite, professionals, and even the occasional superhero in need of a disguise or gift.
While Lacey's is primarily a place of commerce and celebration, it has not been immune to the dangers of a superpowered world. Over the years, the store has been the backdrop for numerous criminal attacks and heroic rescues, proving that even the most luxurious shopping destinations are not beyond the reach of super chaos.
History
Lacey's Department Store was founded years ago by Mr. Lacey and his business partner, Casper Smythe. Initially, the two worked together to establish the store as a premier shopping destination, but their partnership quickly soured when Smythe was caught attempting to embezzle company funds. Despite this betrayal, Mr. Lacey chose not to press charges, showing a surprising degree of mercy toward his former partner. However, as a consequence of his actions, Smythe was stripped of his ownership stake and position within the company, reduced to working as a mere cashier—a humiliating demotion that he resented deeply.
For years, Smythe harbored a lingering sense of entitlement toward Lacey's, believing that a part of the company still rightfully belonged to him. However, he never acted on these feelings—until the arrival of the loathsome Mr. Phelps. Hired as Lacey's assistant manager, Phelps was a short-tempered, domineering figure who delighted in tormenting Smythe and other employees. His constant bullying only deepened Smythe's bitterness, fueling a quiet but growing contempt for Mr. Lacey and the business he had once co-founded.
Ultimately, Phelps' mistreatment of Smythe pushed the former businessman past his breaking point, giving rise to the enigmatic knightly villain known as Sir Gauntlet—a vengeful figure clad in medieval armor who sought to ruin Lacey's through acts of sabotage and theft, all in the name of an "honorable" revenge.
Appearances
- Superman #21: The Robber Knight
- Mary Marvel #20: Mary Marvel and The Sinister Twins!
- Strange Adventures #84: The Radioactive Invasion of Earth
- Dark Mansion #10: They Walk by Night
Trivia
Lacey's in Arkham Knight
- The store is a pastiche of the department store chain, Macy's.
- The store makes a cameo appearance in the 2015 video game Batman: Arkham Knight among many other retail Easter Eggs in Gotham.