Here's a Colorado Cinderella story: what began in 1933 as a Denver hosiery store became Colorado's largest, privately held clothing retailer in 1992.
Siblings Hannah and Jack Levy, German émigrés, opened Hosiery Bar at 707 16th Street in 1933. In 1936, the store became Fashion Bar after the purchase of a nearby dress shop, and the Fashion Bar chain was born.
In 1958, Fashion Bar opened a new distribution center on Denver's South Broadway. The following year, they expanded and remodeled their University Hills location (shown below).
Fashion Bar continued to expand during the 1960s. In 1963, Fashion Bar stores opened in Boulder and Lakewood's Westland Shopping Center. In February 1964, the company announced plans for the construction of a new downtown Denver shopping destination at 16th and Tremont Place, designed by architect Richard L. Crowther.
The 16th Street store opened in early December 1965—just in time for the holiday shopping season.
By September 1966, the company's 15th store had opened at the Bear Valley Shopping Center. During the 1970s, Fashion Bar diversified its brand, opening specialty shops for men ("FB Men" and "L'Uomo"), young women ("Stage"), women 35 and older ("Hannah"), and children ("Young Set"). FB Design carried furniture and household designs.
When Fashion Bar turned 50 in 1983, the company boasted a fleet of 83 stores.
Fashion Bar's co-founder, Hannah Levy, passed away in 1984, and Jack H. Levy, died in April 1985.
After the deaths of its co-founders, Fashion Bar made plans to expand further west. Two stores opened in the Los Angeles area in 1988.
On June 2, 1992, the Levy family was bought out by Houston-based Specialty Retailers for $14.7 million. Specialty Retailers began shutting down the 71 Fashion Bar stores in 1995.
The last Denver-area Fashion Bar stored closed on January 31, 1997.
Photos and architectural records of Fashion Bar can be found in the Richard L. Crowther Architectural Records (WH1504)
Comments
I worked at 401 S. Buckley…
I worked at 401 S. Buckley Rd. Aurora, distro center 1983 till closing 1992. I worked for Bill Hydebrink (did I spell it right?) on the dock/driver. Bill H was probably the most descent , caring boss I ever worked with. He would invite all dock/drivers to his home in CHERRY CREEK twice during the year winter/summer, then we would drive to a pizza place Bonnie Brae on s. University blvd. where he took care of all the expense. I feel blessed that I worked in that area. This is the way that I remember FB
I will always remember THE COAT SALE. We would come to the warehouse on SAT. Everyone enjoyed the preparation for the upcoming sale. Working on SAT. seemed like a special little club and we got donuts & coffee. What fun times. I just had lunch with two X co-workers of FB warehouse yesterday, Feb 21st,2024. I will treasure their friendship forever. We all look somewhat the same but their is snow on the roof LOL. We are all so lucky to have been a part of this great establishment and the DENVER history that was before our time. THANK YOU FB
REMEMBERING F B BILL DAVIS
I worked at 401 S. Buckley…
I worked at 401 S. Buckley Rd. Aurora, distro center 1983 till closing 1992. I worked for Bill Hydebrink (did I spell it right?) on the dock/driver. Bill H was probably the most descent , caring boss I ever worked with. He would invite all dock/drivers to his home in CHERRY CREEK twice during the year winter/summer, then we would drive to a pizza place Bonnie Brae on s. University blvd. where he took care of all the expense. I feel blessed that I worked in that area. This is the way that I remember FB
I will always remember THE COAT SALE. We would come to the warehouse on SAT. Everyone enjoyed the preparation for the upcoming sale. Working on SAT. seemed like a special little club and we got donuts & coffee. What fun times. I just had lunch with two X co-workers of FB warehouse yesterday, Feb 21st,2024. I will treasure their friendship forever. We all look somewhat the same but their is snow on the roof LOL. We are all so lucky to have been a part of this great establishment and the DENVER history that was before our time. THANK YOU FB
REMEMBERING F B BILL DAVIS
Not sure if this site is…
Not sure if this site is still active but I this weekend donated totes full of original Christmas decor from late eighties from Fashion Bar including red balls 3 sizes with the white FB script on them to ARC thrift in Centennial , as well as Broadway Southwest jewels from the trees in Cosmetics. I never understood Fashion Bars expenditures on new Christmas trim every year with the predominantly Jewish beliefs of the family.
Not sure if this site is…
Not sure if this site is still active but I this weekend donated totes full of original Christmas decor from late eighties from Fashion Bar including red balls 3 sizes with the white FB script on them to ARC thrift in Centennial , as well as Broadway Southwest jewels from the trees in Cosmetics. I never understood Fashion Bars expenditures on new Christmas trim every year with the predominantly Jewish beliefs of the family.
I LOVED Fashion Bar! While…
I LOVED Fashion Bar! While working downtown, I spent a lot of my paycheck there on my lunch hours. No regrets!
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