Sanger–Harris
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 Former entrance of the Sanger-Harris building at Valley View Center (opened 1973, closed 2008, demolished 2019) | |
| Company type | Department store |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Fate | Consolidated with Foley's |
| Successor | Foley's Macy's |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas |
| Products | Apparel, footwear, bedding, furniture, electronics, jewelry, cosmetics, housewares |
| Parent | Federated Department Stores, Inc. |
Sanger–Harris (later rebranded as Sanger Harris) was a department store chain headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Owned by the retail conglomerate Federated Department Stores, it emerged from the 1961 consolidation of two historic Dallas-based retailers: Sanger Brothers and A. Harris and Co.—both established in the 19th century.
At its peak, the chain operated twenty stores primarily throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, with additional locations in Oklahoma and Arizona. In 1987, Federated integrated Sanger–Harris into its Houston-centered Foley's division, which was later absorbed into Macy's in 2006. The majority of former Sanger–Harris outlets have since been either demolished or extensively renovated.
History
The formation of Sanger–Harris in Dallas originated from the 1961 merger between the four-store Sanger Brothers Dry Goods Company—established in 1868 by five Sanger siblings[1] and acquired by Federated Department Stores in 1951—and the two-store A. Harris and Company of Dallas, founded in 1887 and purchased by Federated in 1961.
In 1965, a new downtown Dallas flagship store was constructed to replace the original flagship locations of both companies. According to business lore, the company declined an opportunity to establish a presence in the then-new shopping center known as NorthPark Center. During the late 1970s, the brand eliminated the hyphen from its name—changing from 'Sanger–Harris' to 'Sanger Harris'—a move purportedly intended to distinguish itself from local competitor Neiman-Marcus. The chain maintained its position as an upper-moderate retail destination until January 1987 when it was merged into the Foley's division. The combined entity was sold to The May Department Store Company a year later. Since Federated’s acquisition of The May Department Stores Company in 2005, most former Sanger–Harris stores have operated under the Macy's banner starting in 2006.
Architecture
Sanger–Harris stores are recognized for their unique architectural elements, prominently featuring large white marble columns alongside an abstract mosaic composed of 1-inch (2.5 cm) tiles. This distinctive style was first introduced with the 1965 downtown flagship store, which showcased the columns and mosaic wrapping around three sides of the building. Subsequent stores, beginning with the 1970 location at Six Flags Mall, incorporated this design on smaller entrances, with most mosaics being individually created for each store. Brenda Stubel, one of Dallas’s pioneering female architects, designed many of these mosaics.
Between 1965 and 1982, nearly all Sanger–Harris department stores included the characteristic mosaic and column features. While many of these locations have been either demolished or remodeled, some original elements remain. For instance, the downtown flagship still retains its marble columns, although the mosaic tiles were removed when it was converted into office space. Presently, the only surviving mosaics are found at Hulen Mall, Woodland Hills Mall, and The Shops at RedBird. Attempts to save mosaics from demolished sites such as Valley View Center and Collin Creek Mall were unsuccessful due to the murals being embedded in thick asbestos-based stucco without a metal lath, which made extraction and preservation prohibitively expensive.
Sanger Brothers (1868–1961)
| Location | Years of operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dallas Elm St./Lamar St./Main St. block Dallas |
1870s–1965 | This store operated until the new Sanger–Harris flagship opened at Pacific/Akard in 1965; the original building now serves as the El Centro College campus within the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD). |
| Highland Park Village Highland Park |
?–1987 | Foley's retained this site after acquisition. Subsequently, it was occupied by Sakowitz, and currently hosts various other retailers. |
| Big Town Mall Mesquite |
1959–1987 | This location shuttered following the Foley's merger and was demolished along with the mall. |
| Preston Center Dallas |
?–1987
(Foley's continued until 2001) |
Foley's maintained this store until relocating to NorthPark Center. The building was later subdivided for multiple tenants. |
A. Harris & Co. (1887–1961)
| Site | Operating years | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Main and Akard Streets (Kirby Building) Dallas |
?–1965 | This location remained open until the new Sanger–Harris store launched at Pacific/Akard in 1965; it currently serves as an apartment complex. |
| A. Harris Center Beckley Avenue at Kiest Boulevard Dallas |
?–1975 | Functioned as a Sanger–Harris branch until the Red Bird Mall (later Southwest Center) store opened; presently, it is Nolan Estes Plaza, part of the Dallas Independent School District. |
Sanger–Harris (1961–1987)
| Site | Operating years | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Park Irving |
1963–1987 | This store was shuttered when Foley's relocated to a former Joske's at Irving Mall. The property was sold to an adjacent church and later demolished. | |
| Downtown (flagship) Pacific and Akard Streets Dallas |
1965–1987 (Foley's continued until 1990) |
Foley's maintained operations here until closing in 1990; today, this building houses the headquarters of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. | |
| Six Flags Mall Arlington |
1970–1987 (Foley's operated until 2005) |
Closed by Foley's and demolished in late 2016 along with much of the mall. | |
| Town East Mesquite |
1971–1987 (Foley's operated until 2006; currently Macy's) |
Foley's retained this location, which now operates as a Macy's. | |
| Valley View Center Dallas |
1973–1987 (Foley's until 2006; Macy's until 2008) |
Initially held by Foley's and later Macy's; subsequently closed and demolished between 2017 and 2019. | |
| Southwest Center (formerly Red Bird) Dallas |
1975–1987 (Foley's until 2006; Macy's closed in 2017) |
This branch remained open under Foley's and Macy's until its closure in 2017. | |
| Hulen Mall Fort Worth |
1977–1987 (Foley's operated until 2006; now Macy's) |
Continued under Foley's and Macy’s management. | |
| North Hills Mall North Richland Hills |
1979–1987 (Foley's closed in 2001) |
Foley’s shut this store upon moving to nearby North East Mall. The building was demolished when the mall was razed. | |
| Collin Creek Mall Plano |
1980–1987 (Foley's operated until 2006; Macy’s closed in 2017) |
Maintained by Foley’s and Macy’s before closing in 2017; demolished in 2019. | |
| Sanger Harris Plaza Tyler |
1982–1987 (Foley’s operated until 2006; Macy’s closed in 2017) |
Retained by Foley’s and Macy’s until closure in 2017; later renovated into a Hobby Lobby and Mardel Religious goods store. | |
| Southroads Tulsa |
?–1987 (Foley’s tenure uncertain) |
Initially kept by Foley’s; both store and mall were demolished for redevelopment. Foley’s moved across to Promenade Mall. | |
| Woodland Hills Tulsa |
1982–1987 (Foley’s operated until 2006; currently Macy’s) |
"This site was held by Foley’s and Macy’s. Notably, it features the last remaining Sanger–Harris mosaics on its north facade." | " |
| " Crossroads Oklahoma City |
" 1986-1987 (Foley’s until 2006; < br/> Macy’s until 2008) |
" Originally opened as John A. Brown from 1974 to 1984, then Foley’s from 1986 to 2006, followed by Macy’s until its closure in 2008. The building was subsequently repurposed as an auto parts warehouse. As of As of 2022[update], the site is undergoing conversion into a private charter school." | " |
| " Quail Springs < br/> Oklahoma City | " 1986-1987 < br/> < small> (Foley’s through 2006; < br/> Macy’s closed in 2016) | " This location originally operated as John A. Brown from 1980 to 1984, then Foley’s from 1986 to 2006, followed by Macy’s until February 2016 when it closed. The building was demolished in spring 2017 to accommodate a standalone Lifetime Fitness facility built on what had been the parking lot. The former upper-level mall entrance now serves as an additional exterior entry point, while the lower level was removed and filled in. The former department store footprint is now a parking area shared by both the mall and Lifetime Fitness." | " |
| " Foothills < br/> Tucson | " 1985-1987 < br/> < small> (Levy’s until 1985; < br/> Foley’s through 1994) | " Initially retained by Foley’s; presently repurposed with outlet stores." | " |
| " El Con < br/> Tucson | " 1985-1987 < br/> < small> (Levy’s through 1985; < br/> Foley’s through 1997; < br/> Robinsons-May through 2006; < br/> Macy’s closed in 2007) | " Originally held by Foley’s, later converted to a Robinsons-May, then a Macy’s before being demolished for construction of a Walmart Supercenter." | " |
| " Coronado Center < br/> Albuquerque | " 1984-1987 < br/> < small> (Foley’s through 1988) | " Initially retained by Foley’s before closure; later returned occupying a different space formerly used by Goldwater's and May D&F. Currently occupied by a JCPenney." | " |
In popular culture
- Early episodes of Dallas featured the downtown Dallas location in two separate plotlines:
- In one storyline, a young woman of modest means consents to surrender her baby to Sue Ellen (portrayed by Linda Gray). Sue Ellen is then shown shopping for infant clothing and supplies at a department store. Pam (Victoria Principal) notices Sue Ellen and questions her presence there. Sue Ellen attempts to explain it as purchasing items for charity. Subsequently, Sue Ellen is seen walking past the downtown Dallas store, carrying shopping bags prominently marked with the Sanger Harris branding. She later delivers the bags to the baby's mother but instead encounters J.R. (Larry Hagman) at the residence.
- In another plot, Pam decides to seek employment outside her home and goes to "the store" for an interview accompanied by her friend Liz Craig (Barbara Babcock). The front facade of the downtown Dallas store is clearly visible as Pam approaches the entrance. After securing the position, scenes showing the side entrance on Akard Street are used to depict Pam's workplace.
- The 1986 film True Stories includes a fashion show set in a mall located in Virgil, Texas. As the event is about to start, the camera captures the mall’s exterior, revealing a Sanger–Harris storefront among others. This particular exterior was actually that of Big Town Mall in Mesquite.
- During screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Dallas, audiences would often sing the Sanger–Harris jingle "You can always tell a Sanger Harris man" when Dr. Frank-N-Furter descended an elevator wearing heels and fishnet stockings.
- Prank call artist Lucius Tate frequently impersonated a Sanger–Harris collection agent when making calls to his targets.
See also
- Levy's
- Neiman Marcus
- Sanger, Texas
- Titche's
- List of department stores converted to Macy's
- List of defunct department stores of the United States
Bibliography
- Rosenberg, Leon Joseph. Sangers': Pioneer Texas Merchants. Texas State Historical Association, 1978. ISBN 0-87611-037-5.
- Meyer, Lasker M. Foley's (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing, 2011. ISBN 978-0-7385-7928-3.
References
- ↑ Goldman, Kay. "Isaac Sanger." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 2, edited by William J. Hausman. German Historical Institute. Last updated July 25, 2012.