Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, established a trading post in 1860 in Gila City, Arizona Territory.

In 1892, the Phoenix store was reopened under the management of Michael's son Baron Goldwater and performed well.

Seven of its stores were rebranded as parts of the J. W. Robinson's, May Company California and May D&F divisions.

At this time, May sold the Tucson stores to Dillard's because of overlap with its recently acquired Foley's unit.

Following the Federated Department Stores purchase of May in 2006, several of the remaining former Goldwater's locations became Macy's, while the former flagship location at Scottsdale Fashion Square was demolished to make way for Barneys New York, which itself closed in 2016.