Bacon's
Encyclopedia
Bacon's was a chain of department store
s based in Louisville, Kentucky
.
Jeremiah Bacon opened a store called Bacon's Dry Goods in 1845 on Market Street near Hancock Street. In 1876 he moved into a structure four times larger than the original. In 1901, Bacon's opened a location on Fourth and Market streets that became its flagship store. The new 115000 square feet (10,683.8 m²) building had entrances on each street and featured a distinctive spiraling atrium. The store remained open until September 6, 1972, when it closed to make way for the Kentucky International Convention Center
.
In 1903, Bacon's sons sold the store to H.B. Clafin who then sold it to Ohio-based Mercantile Stores
in 1914. Bacon's opened a suburban location in St. Matthews
in 1954; locations followed in Shively
in 1956 and Bashford Manor Mall
in 1972. In 1960, Bacon's opened a store in Jeffersonville, Indiana
, but it closed in 1972. Bacon's reentered the Southern Indiana
market with a store in the Youngstown Shopping Center in Jeffersonville, which moved in 1990 to River Falls Mall
. The chain added a location in Owensboro, Kentucky
in 1977.
In 1982, Bacon's revived its Downtown Louisville
presence with a store in the Louisville Galleria (later renamed Fourth Street Live!
). The downtown store closed in 2003. In 1988, it opened a location in Mall St. Matthews
.
Bacon's marketed itself as Kentucky's oldest department store, and often held elaborate sales and celebrations for its anniversiaries. Bacon's also held "Midnight Madness" sales that were popular with shoppers. In the 1990s, Bacon's faced increasing competition from national chains, including Dillard's
, which would often open up locations in the same shopping centers as Bacon's.
Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's in 1998 and the Bacon's name was retired.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s based in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Jeremiah Bacon opened a store called Bacon's Dry Goods in 1845 on Market Street near Hancock Street. In 1876 he moved into a structure four times larger than the original. In 1901, Bacon's opened a location on Fourth and Market streets that became its flagship store. The new 115000 square feet (10,683.8 m²) building had entrances on each street and featured a distinctive spiraling atrium. The store remained open until September 6, 1972, when it closed to make way for the Kentucky International Convention Center
Kentucky International Convention Center
The Kentucky International Convention Center , formerly called the Commonwealth Convention Center, is a large multi-use facility in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It, along with the Kentucky Exposition Center, hosts conventions for the Louisville area...
.
In 1903, Bacon's sons sold the store to H.B. Clafin who then sold it to Ohio-based Mercantile Stores
Mercantile Stores
Mercantile Stores Company Inc. until 1998, was a traditional department store retailer operating 102 fashion apparel stores and 16 home fashion stores in 17 states. The stores were operated under 13 different nameplates and varied in size, with the average store approximating . Store names...
in 1914. Bacon's opened a suburban location in St. Matthews
St. Matthews, Kentucky
St. Matthews is the 20th largest city in Kentucky, United States and is a prominent suburb of Louisville. It is located 8 miles east of downtown Louisville in Jefferson County. It is one of the state's major shopping areas, being home to second and fifth largest malls in Kentucky St. Matthews is...
in 1954; locations followed in Shively
Shively, Kentucky
Shively is a city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 15,157 at the 2000 census. It is located southwest of Louisville, Kentucky and directly adjoins the larger city. Shively is centered around the junction of US 60 and the Dixie Highway.-History:Shively was first...
in 1956 and Bashford Manor Mall
Bashford Manor Mall
Bashford Manor Mall, named for the surrounding neighborhood of Bashford Manor, was a enclosed mall in Louisville, Kentucky which opened in 1973 and once had about 85 stores, including Ayr-Way, Bacon's, Ben Snyder's, Hess's, and Valu Market. Over time, these anchors changed. Ayr-Way was acquired by...
in 1972. In 1960, Bacon's opened a store in Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
, but it closed in 1972. Bacon's reentered the Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana, in the United States, consists of the 33 counties located in the southernmost part of the state. The region's history and geography has led to a blend of Northern and Southern culture distinct from the remainder of Indiana. It is often considered to be part of the Upland South...
market with a store in the Youngstown Shopping Center in Jeffersonville, which moved in 1990 to River Falls Mall
River Falls Mall
River Falls Mall is a shopping center in Clarksville, Indiana, on Lewis and Clark Parkway . From its opening in 1990 until 2006, the center was an enclosed mall, with of gross leasable area. It originally comprised multiple entertainment venues and retail...
. The chain added a location in Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
in 1977.
In 1982, Bacon's revived its Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
presence with a store in the Louisville Galleria (later renamed Fourth Street Live!
Fourth Street Live!
Fourth Street Live! is a entertainment and retail complex located on 4th Street, between Liberty and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It is owned and was developed by the Cordish Company; it was designed by Louisville architects, Bravura Corporation...
). The downtown store closed in 2003. In 1988, it opened a location in Mall St. Matthews
Mall St. Matthews
Mall St. Matthews is a Louisville, Kentucky shopping mall located at 5000 Shelbyville Road in the eastern suburb of St. Matthews.Opened in 1962 and originally named The Mall, it was the first enclosed suburban shopping mall in the state of Kentucky. Located next to the Watterson Expressway, the...
.
Bacon's marketed itself as Kentucky's oldest department store, and often held elaborate sales and celebrations for its anniversiaries. Bacon's also held "Midnight Madness" sales that were popular with shoppers. In the 1990s, Bacon's faced increasing competition from national chains, including Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, which would often open up locations in the same shopping centers as Bacon's.
Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's in 1998 and the Bacon's name was retired.