The Popular (department store)
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1902 in El Paso, Texas |
| Founder | Adolph Schwartz |
| Defunct | November 6, 1995 |
| Fate | Dissolved, Assets Sold |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | El Paso, Texas |
Key people | Edward Schwartz, CEO |
| Services | Sale of clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, and housewares. |
Number of employees | 600 |
Popular Dry Goods Company—commonly referred to as The Popular and affectionately known as La Popular among its predominantly Spanish-speaking customers—was a regional department store chain based in El Paso, Texas. The retailer offered a wide range of products including nationally recognized brands in apparel, shoes, bedding, furniture, jewelry, cosmetics, electronics, and household goods. By the time it ceased operations in 1995, The Popular operated four stores within El Paso: located downtown, at Bassett Center, Northgate Center, and Sunland Park Mall. Throughout much of its history, it held the distinction of being the largest department store locally owned in El Paso.
History
The origins of the Popular Dry Goods Company trace back to 1902 when Hungarian immigrant Adolf Schwartz established the business. Prior to founding The Popular, Schwartz had launched two other retail ventures in the region: Tres B (an acronym for Buena, Bonita, Barata—meaning Good, Pretty, Cheap) and The Fair in 1900. After closing The Fair in 1902, he inaugurated The Popular together with his nephew Maurice Schwartz and additional family members. In 1907, the store relocated from its initial site at the northeast corner of El Paso and Overland Streets to a building at Mesa and San Antonio Streets. By 1914, this location expanded to encompass three floors.
In 1917, Schwartz modernized The Popular by converting it from a general merchandise outlet into a contemporary department store housed within a six-story edifice at Mesa and San Antonio.
A notable anecdote shared by Schwartz’s granddaughter Ann Goodman Schaechner recounts an incident during the Mexican Revolution involving rival leaders Pancho Villa and Francisco Madero, who both visited The Popular simultaneously. According to her account, one leader was on the basement and first floor while the other occupied the second or third floor. A vigilant store clerk discreetly attended to both men by moving between floors to prevent their paths from crossing. This careful management ensured that neither adversary encountered the other inside the store, allowing The Popular to retain both as valued patrons.
Adolph Schwartz passed away from a heart attack on March 3, 1941, at age 74. Following the retirement of his nephew Maurice Schwartz, leadership transitioned to Maurice’s sons Herbert M. Schwartz and Albert J. Schwartz who continued managing the enterprise.
The chain began broadening its footprint in 1962 with the opening of a second store at Bassett Center. A third branch was introduced at Northgate (later renamed Northpark Mall) in 1966, followed by another location at Sunland Park Mall in 1988.
Economic challenges struck in 1995 due to Mexico’s recession coupled with a weakened Mexican peso and effects from the newly implemented North American Free Trade Agreement. These factors placed considerable financial pressure on regional businesses including The Popular. Consequently, all stores were shuttered on November 6 of that year. Subsequently, Dillard's acquired The Popular’s credit accounts along with the Bassett Center store while Sears purchased the Sunland Park Mall location. The remaining two outlets were closed permanently.
External links
References
- Commons link is the pagename
- Defunct department stores based in Texas
- Companies based in El Paso, Texas
- Privately held companies based in Texas
- Clothing retailers of the United States
- American companies established in 1902
- Retail companies established in 1902
- Retail companies disestablished in 1995
- Defunct companies based in Texas