Robert Hall Clothes
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| Robert Hall Clothes | |
|---|---|
| Fate | Bankrupt |
| Founded | 1937[1] |
| Defunct | 1977[1] |
| Location | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Clothing |
| Parent | United Merchants and Manufacturers Inc.[1] |
Robert Hall Clothes, Inc., popularly known simply as Robert Hall, was an American retailer that flourished circa 1938-1966. Although based in Connecticut, its warehouse-like stores were mostly concentrated in the New York and Los Angeles basins. According to a Time magazine story of 1949, the corporate name was a complete invention; the actual founder and head was a garment merchant by the name of Jacob Schwab, who "plucked the name out of the air."[2]
The retail chain was a pioneer of the low-overhead, large-facility ("big-box") merchandising technique, which combined cheaply made goods with extensive radio and television advertising. Many Americans who grew up in the 1950s and 60s recall the commercial jingles of the time, which generally began,
When the values go up, up, up
And the prices go down, down, down.
Robert Hall this season
Will show you the reason
Low overhead! Low overhead![2]
which ran until the early 1960s, when the discounter focused heavily on "Back-to-School" jingles:
[Mature male voice:] School bells ring and children sing
[Raucous, annoyed-sounding children:] It's back to Robert Hall again.
Mother knows for better clothes
It's back to Robert Hall again.
You'll save more on clothes for school Shop at Robert Hall![citation needed]
In July 1977, Robert Hall's parent company, United Merchants and Manufacturers, filed for bankruptcy citing losses from the Robert Hall chain. All Robert Hall stores were closed and inventory was auctioned off.[1]
