Assisted by his wife Amelia and sons Fred and Ralph, Simon and his store gradually began to prosper.

By 1870, industry improvements (primarily attributable to the mass manufacture of men's uniforms for the Civil War), led the family to expand the business to include ready-made men's civilian clothing and eventually a complete line of merchandise.

Simon Lazarus served as the first Rabbi of Central Ohio's oldest Reform synagogue, Temple Israel.

After Simon's death in 1877, his widow Amelia continued running the store with their two sons.

Lazarus was interred at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.