Famous-Barr

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The Famous-Barr Co.
Industry Retail
Fate Converted to Macy's
Successor(s) Macy's
Founded 1911
Defunct 2006
Headquarters St. Louis, Missouri
Products Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
Parent The May Department Stores Company (1911-August 30, 2005) <b/r> Federated Department Stores, Inc. (August 30, 2005-September 9, 2006)
Website www.macys.com

The Famous-Barr Co. (originally Famous & Barr Co.) was a division of Macy's, Inc. (formerly Federated Department Stores). Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri in the Railway Exchange Building (St. Louis); it was the flagship store of the 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.

Famous-Barr was created in 1911 through the merger of The William Barr Dry Goods Co. and previously May-owned The Famous Clothing Store.[1] Famous-Barr was the first air conditioned department store in the United States. In 1991 it took operational 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 converted most of Macy's regional department stores to the Macy's nameplate. The downtown Saint Louis store and headquarters was first downsized and then eventually closed in the summer of 2013 with the remaining retail employees moved to other stores and headquarters staff moved to Earth City.

A Famous-Barr store entrance

See also

References

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