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
This was very interesting
This was very interesting indeed. I have mixed emotions about FB. I truly wish I had been smarter back then and contacted the owner, at least Hannah, when I went through this situation: I LOVED the Fashion Bar store(s) and was an avid shopper there. I had a credit card but it was in joint name with my husband. We had a business together (photography studio on west side of town). Mind you, we're talking 1960's! He moved out, filed for divorce & left me with a 2 year old baby boy. Being a single mother, I got a job in downtown Denver and applied for a credit card in my own name. When the "powers that be" contacted me about it, they said I had to pay off the balance on the card and then I would be given a card in my own name. Great! I paid it off and then they REFUSED to give me a card! I was crushed and then angry as a wet hen. After that, I no longer shopped at FB. That grieved me because I really did like everything I got there!
Thanks for reading and
Thanks for reading and commenting, Marti!
I was a manager of Fashion
I was a manager of Fashion Bar stores for many years. We were so far ahead of our time.
We're glad this post brought
We're glad this post brought up many memories. Fashion Bar was very chic during its time. It would be interesting to see how they would do in this business climate if they had not been closed down. Glad you enjoyed the post!
I worked at the Bear Valley
I worked at the Bear Valley Fashion Bar, while going to High School… 1973 to 1976; it was the best job I have ever had. The store manager Joe Gavora (I’m sure I’m spelling his name incorrectly) was such a great guy to work for. Bear Valley had a May D&F, at the west end of the mall, Kenny Shoes was across the way, and there was Furs Cafeteria where you could get a great meal for a reasonable price while working retail. I wish I knew whatever happened to all those great people… Al in men’s suits, Harry in men’s furnishings, Sherry & Bev the cashiers, and of course Joe the store manager; wherever you are I will never forget you. Thank You FB
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your memories with us, Mike! I hope some of the people you mentioned will read this post, see your comments, and reconnect with you!
I managed their stores for
I managed their stores for many years. FB was known for fashion and always ahead of the game.
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your background, Orie! Sounded like it was a fashion-forward place to work!
I worked for the " original "
I worked for the " original " Fashion Bar group and the Speciality Retailers version which was stuck with the bad accounts of Fashion Bar while Levy trust collected on the inhouse charge cards in good standing. Fashion Bar should have never been sold but rather simply shut down. The last years of the Levy era were HORRID , turning on their long term clients , poor merchandise and merchandising and aggressive sales force to meet quotas in rundown stores and malls . SRI inc. got the damaged reputation poor locations and crap goods from the Levy trust As for all the buyers , managers , and majority of staff left SRI after 60 days for it was a whole different beast and being spoiled by Levy era were unable to adapt. They damaged the brand further by the trash talk when they landed at other retailers.
Thanks for reading and
Thanks for reading and commenting, Dan.
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