Famous-Barr
Encyclopedia
The Famous-Barr Co. St. Louis, Missouri
, was a division of Macy's, Inc. (formerly Federated Department Stores). It was formerly the hometown division of The May Department Stores Company, which was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. On February 1, 2006, it was subsumed into the newly created Macy's Midwest
division.
The Famous-Barr Co. was created in 1911 through the merger of The William Barr Dry Goods Co. and previously May-owned The Famous Clothing Store
. Famous-Barr was the first air conditioned department store in the United States. In 1991 it took operation control of the L.S. Ayres
division in Indiana, and in 1998 took on The Jones Store
in Kansas City when May acquired that chain in the aftermath of the Dillard's
acquisition of Mercantile Stores Co. Both chains retained their names, but shut down their headquarters.
The Famous-Barr name was retired on September 9, 2006 when Federated Department Stores
converted most of May's regional department stores to the Macy's
nameplate.
The original 1924 Famous-Barr store is still in operation in downtown St. Louis
, is located in the historic Railway Exchange Building
. It was the home of May Co. before Federated's acquisition. The store now operates as Macy's Central's secondary headquarters. On July 10, 2009 Macy's Inc. announce that they would downsize the downtown flagship store from 7 stories to 3. The store still remains one of the largest Macy Department stores nationwide.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, was a division of Macy's, Inc. (formerly Federated Department Stores). It was formerly the hometown division of The May Department Stores Company, which was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. On February 1, 2006, it was subsumed into the newly created Macy's Midwest
Macy's Midwest
Macy's Midwest, St. Louis, Missouri, is a former division of Macy's, Inc. It had operations in New York, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It was created February 1, 2006 from a reorganization of the Famous-Barr division acquired August 30, 2005...
division.
The Famous-Barr Co. was created in 1911 through the merger of The William Barr Dry Goods Co. and previously May-owned The Famous Clothing Store
The Famous Clothing Store
The Famous Clothing Store St. Louis, Missouri was a division of The May Company. It was established in 1892. In 1905 Famous became May's hometown division when they relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. May's purchse of The William Barr Dry Goods Company; lead the company to merge the Dry Goods...
. Famous-Barr was the first air conditioned department store in the United States. In 1991 it took operation control of the L.S. Ayres
L.S. Ayres
L. S. Ayres & Company was an Indianapolis, Indiana, department store founded in 1872 by Lyman S. Ayres and taken over by his son Frederic in 1896...
division in Indiana, and in 1998 took on The Jones Store
The Jones Store
The Jones Store Company was an American chain of department stores located in the Kansas City area formerly operated by Mercantile Stores Company and the St. Louis, Missouri-based May Co.-History:...
in Kansas City when May acquired that chain in the aftermath of the 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,...
acquisition of Mercantile Stores Co. Both chains retained their names, but shut down their headquarters.
The Famous-Barr name was retired on September 9, 2006 when Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
converted most of May's regional department stores to the Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
nameplate.
The original 1924 Famous-Barr store is still in operation in downtown St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, is located in the historic Railway Exchange Building
Railway Exchange Building (St. Louis)
The Railway Exchange Building is a , 21-story high-rise office building in St. Louis, Missouri connected to the now-defunct One City Center mall. The 1914 steel-frame building is in the Chicago school architectural style, and was designed by architect Mauran, Russell & Crowell...
. It was the home of May Co. before Federated's acquisition. The store now operates as Macy's Central's secondary headquarters. On July 10, 2009 Macy's Inc. announce that they would downsize the downtown flagship store from 7 stories to 3. The store still remains one of the largest Macy Department stores nationwide.
See also
- Stix, Baer, FullerStix, Baer, FullerStix, Baer and Fuller was a department store chain in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1892 to 1984...
an earlier competing St. Louis Department store