Sanger-Harris
Akard and Pacific
Dallas, Texas (1857/1965)
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY (456,000 sq. ft.)
Lower Level
The Hasty Buffet • Pastry Shop • Candy • Stationery • Calculators • Luggage • Books • Records • Sport Shop • Cameras • Housewares • Decorative Housewares • Hardware • Appliances • Home Entertainment Center • Work Clothing • Auditorium • Stamp and Coin Center
Street Level
Fine Jewelry Salon • Costume Jewelry • Cosmetics • Health/Beauty • Handbags • Small leather Goods • Gloves • Hosiery • Umbrellas • Neckwear • Blouses • Sweaters • Sportswear Separates • Main Place • Millinery • Budget Lingerie • Casual Dresses • Junior Shops • Ladies’ Shoes • The Coffee Shop
Store for Men Men’s Furnishings • Men’s Shoes • Men’s Hats • Men’s Sports Furnishings • Men’s Sportswear • Men’s Clothing • Young Men’s Shop
Second Level
Sportswear • Gallery Dresses • Gallery Sportswear • The Woman’s World • Coat Shop • Suit Shop • The Four Seasons Shop • Daytime Dresses • Contempo Dresses • Miss Harris Shop • Miss Dallas Shop • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Shoe Salon • Millinery • Young Couture Shops • Young Elegant’s Shop • Custom Collection • Designer’s Circle • The Specialty Shop • Clubhouse • Anne Klein Collection • Specialty Shop Shoes • Beauty and Wig Salon • Better Lingerie • Sleepwear • Loungewear • The Body Shop • Maternity Shop
Young World Young Teen Shop • Young Texan Shop • Twixteen Shop • Children’s Shoes • Children’s’ Accessories • Girls’ Lingerie • Girls 3-6x • Girls 7-14 • Boys 4-7 • Boys 8-20 • Young Juniors • Infants’ Wear • Children’s Wear
Third Level
Bed Linens • Bath Linens • Silver • China • Glassware • Gift and Decorative Shops • Accessories • Lamps • Pictures and Mirrors • Sewing Machines • Fashion Fabrics • Art Needlework • Draperies • Curtains • Carnation Room Restaurant
Fourth Level
Living Room Furniture • Bedroom Furniture • Dining Room Furniture • Upholstered Furniture • Occasional Furniture • Bedding • Old World Galleries • Carpets and Rugs • Oriental Rug Shop • Optical Center
BRANCH STORES
33,000 sq. ft.
Zang and Beckley, Dallas, TX
103,000 sq. ft.
242,000 sq. ft.
Mesquite, TX
107,000 sq. ft.
Irving, TX
139,000 sq. ft.
Arlington, TX
164,000 sq. ft.
Town East Mall (1972)
Mesquite
160,000 sq. ft.
300,000 sq. ft.
152,000 sq. ft.
Hulen Mall (1977)
Ft. Worth, TX
199,000 sq. ft.
North Hills Mall (1978)
North Richland Hills
199,000 sq. ft.
Colin Creek Mall (1980)
Plano
199,000 sq. ft.
Tyler (1981)
4700 S. Broadway
98,000 sq. ft.
Just wanted to say what a fantastic site you have here. Sanger Harris ("Sanger Harris in the first place...") was our department store of choice growing up in Dallas, and I remember being amazed by the intricate tile mosaics above the entrances to all their stores. Keep up the great work and I'm looking forward to seeing the page for Dallas' own Titche-Goettinger as well. You may want to consider Stripling & Cox and Leonard's, both of which were Fort Worth-based. Leonard's was bought by Dillard's in the early 1970s and Stripling's shut down a few years ago.
ReplyDeletewow, amazing that there aren't any comments since 2010. Sangers holds a special place for me because it was not only my first job but I also lived nextdoor to Mrs Sanger in the little country town of highland park. Those were good times.
DeleteThank you, James for your kind comments. I will take your suggestions, and at some point I may include moree information about Sanger Brothers and A. Harris, the two stores that merged to form Sanger-Harris.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed your enthusiasm for the mosaics which were a part of many of Sanger-Harris branch stores. Along with Wanamaker's organ, Field's Tiffany dome, and many others, this aspect of the store was important in making a unique impression upon customers like your family. In our somewhat more soulless society, you don't find much that is really unique, especially at one of today's Big Box stores.
My decision to keep all photographs in the black-and-white realm doesn't do justice to this great, artistic feature of Sanger Harris. Your comment, though, reminds us of a one-of-a-kind aspect of such a memorable store.
Don't know what made me Google Sanger Harris today, but nice to see these photos.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Red Bird Sanger Harris 1979 - 1981.
Don't you miss that kind/class of department store?
Peace to you.
Thanks again!
Just purchased a charge coin for A.Harris & Company.Nice addition to my charge coin collection
DeleteDear Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteI don't know what made you Google it either, but I am glad you did.
I do miss these stores. It was nice to visit another city, and see how different the stores were. Today, I am afraid, if you travel in the US, you just find more of the same thing. I also think this is bad, because stores like Sanger-Harris (or Field's in Chicago or Hudson's in Detroit) were really a part of their communities, a tie with the past, and a part of the local lifestyle with which we could identify in a small-scale way. We have really lost that, haven't we?
On a deeper level, even, those local stores were managed locally, ran locally, and really enriched their communities. People who owned and knew how to run a department store lived right in our communities, and made them unique and richer places. Today, these people are in Cincinnati or somewhere like that, and all we have are people who know how to run a cash register.
My goal with the Museum is to show how rich, worthwhile, and beautiful the heritage of these stores was. I am glad you showed up, and asked the question.
Peace be to you, too! (We could all use it, couldn't we?)
The Sanger-Harris at Akard & Pacific opened around 1965 and was the first store to use the mosaic and arch architecture. The old downtown Sanger's at Main/Elm/Lamar was the typical hodgepodge of old buildings acquired over the years. Those buildings are now El Centro Junior College.
ReplyDeleteIt was particularly sad to see the Valley View Sanger's close because I had the most "history" with that store. Over the years, however, we shopped at almost all of them.
Sanger Bros. had a rather dowdy reputation until Federated merged it with A. Harris--a much more upscale store.
Sanger-Harris also had branches at:
ReplyDeleteQuail Springs Mall - Oklahoma City, OK
Crossroads Mall - Oklahoma City, OK
Southroads Mall - Tulsa, OK
Woodland Hills Mall - Tulsa, OK
El Con Mall - Tucson, AZ
Foothills Mall - Tucson, AZ
Coronado Center - Albuquerque, NM
I shopped at the Sanger Harris in Oak Cliff Harris site by myself for the first time. My mother trusted me with a "charge card" and dropped me off to shop for a new dress. It must have been in the mid 1960's. I still have the dress and very fond memories of this store. It is now "Nolan Estes Plaza" and is owned by the Dallas Independent School District.
ReplyDeletewow every one is gone makes feel like you only dreamed you lived here back then , have been searching for old pictures of the old sears on ross ave and th eone in okacliff on Jefferson they are only a memory now ! I use to work at th eold anger harris build on main bacl when it was Tithes in 1975 gosh how I miss them old stores and th enice people tahnk you for sharing your pictures he brought back great memories of my family now gone granma teri west Texas
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Sanger-Harris in Plymouth Park (Irving) from about 1979-1983 or '84. I loved that store. The friendships, the customers, everything was great. I miss having the store to go and shop in. It was a special place with great memories. Kelly
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me what year A. Harris merged with Sanger-Harris?
ReplyDelete1965
DeleteSanger Brothers (Sanger's) bought A. Harris & Co. in 1961, forming Sanger-Harris. The store operated both existing department stores in Downtown Dallas, at Lamar and Main (former Sanger's) and Main at Akard (Former A. Harris)until the new Sanger-Harris at Akard and Pacific was opened in 1965.
ReplyDeleteBAK
I believe Oak Cliff Harris Center was the only suburban location of A. Harris prior to the merger with Sanger's. It was built around the time that the "White flight" from Oak Cliff began and I don't remember it staying open for very long.
ReplyDeleteThe Sanger's stores with the arches and mosaics were quite dramatic when they were built, but look definitely dated now. At least that was architecture and not the featureless boxes that are built now. Department stores used to have their own personalities and that's what I miss most. Now that everything has been "Macy-ated" or otherwise homogenized, the stores and merchandise are the same in Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, etc. There's nothing special about shopping anymore because every store seems to be the same as every other store. No personality. Nothing to make them stand out from everyone else.
As Teri commented above, I, too, have memories of the Sears stores on Jefferson Ave. in Oak Cliff and the one at Ross & Henderson. We used to shop at the Ross Ave. location frequently and I remember the store always smelled like candy and popcorn.
Sanger Harris is now own by Dart Transit on 1401Pacific Downtown Dallas, TX. I have to pull up the history about building.
ReplyDeleteSangers never owned the land at Pacific and Akard -- and in the height of the real estate boom, they had offers to the space above the store. They had 100 year lease or something like it with I believe the Baptist church. The downtown building (Federated had letters for stores -- SH was "X") was X-0, and was used for indoor scenes in the early episodes of the TV show Dallas, as "Pam" (Victoria Principal) worked at "The Store."
ReplyDeleteX-1 was Highland Park; X-2 was Preston Center through X-13 which was Collin Creek.
If these memories interest you, I recommend you read Bill Bryson's Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid -- about when where you lived was unique.
Thank you for the fascinating information . . . especially the book recommendation
ReplyDeleteBAK
Wow... I worked in the Wohl Shoe Office in the Downtown Dallas store in 1979. Used to lunch in the Carnation Room. Great memories!
ReplyDeleteI loved Sangers (and Sanger-Harris). It was the first place I ever remember shopping with my mom when I was a little girl. I loved the downtown store, especially the Christmas room they had every year. It was in a large, separate room on the top floor, I believe. It was erected on a huge platform maybe 3-4 feet high. It had a train that ran all around the perimeter of the display, if memory serves me correctly. In the middle was a huge Christmas sort of town or display. It was a magical delight.
ReplyDeleteI later worked in Sanger's in Preston Center in the young men's department when I was in college at SMU. Working there was a treat for a college girl because I met so many cute guys. Even went out with one of them! And I was amazed by my ability to sell them lots of clothes because they didn't really know what they wanted or what went well together! I miss that store so much
Thank you for a walk down memory lane with Sanger-Harris. I loved that store. It really is too bad that there is nothing now to compare to the class and style of that store. They offered affordable luxury and style to the upper middle class shopper.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI bought a storage unit here in El Paso, Texas. I got two mink fur coats that have tags on them saying Sanger Harris. This website has taught me a little piece of history. No idea what to do with old fur coats, but still cool.
Since so many will no longer wear real fur, they could be made into beautiful Teddy Bears or donated to theater costume depts
DeleteI remember the giant wagon wheel chandeliers in the downtown store. They would be considered ugly now. I think that store was built in the 60's. Right around the corner from the now-defunct Times Herald. The furniture department was over-the-top, really amazing antiques and furnishings. During the oil bust in the eighties it seemed that Neiman's and Sanger's were the same store. Neiman's brought more middle of the road merchandise in and oddly, Sanger's seemed to get better quality things. The best merchandised Sanger-Harris stores were Preston Center and Valley View. I as I recall the Big-Town Sanger's was originally a Neiman-Marcus, which closed quickly (Mesquite did not fit their market niche) and became a Sanger's store. I remember too that Sanger-Harris store designers did a great job with lighting in their stores. The in-store displays were as good or better than anything you'd see in New York or Chicago.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a fur jacket in perfect condition at a thrift shop. Probably Fox. The label says "The Fur Salon"Sanger Harris. I Google's Sanger Harris in an attempt to find out something about the jacket's value and I found your site. Did all of the branches of the store have fur salons? I am intrigued that the jacket has survived in such perfect condition and that it found its way to Southwest Virginia.
ReplyDeleteThe Big Town Sanger's did not have a fur salon, as I recall. Mesquite folks were not high end and everyone with money drove downtown, to NorthPark, or Valley View, once it waa built.I worked through high school in the Big Town juniors department and loved that job. I was a supervisor at 17 and they prepared me for my business career. I stayed through my second year of college, about 1984.
DeleteSanger Harris at Town East Mall in Mesquite actually did have a fur salon when I started working there in 1986. Not sure how long it lasted but there were many high-end customers that shopped there willing to spend the money. All walks of life shopped in Mesquite. The mall had recently been remodeled in the common areas so it was a nice place to shop. Not sure how things have changed from then to now.
DeleteI worked at that Sanger Harris store in Town East Mall in Mesquite as well, between 1987-1989 and they still had the fur salon. But it had become Foley's by that time. I had the best wardrobe then- great memories!
DeleteAds from the 1970s state that Sanger-Harris Fur Salons were located Downtown, Preston Center, Six Flags Arlington, Town East, Valley View, and Hulen Mall.
ReplyDeleteIt is a testimonial to the value of fur garments, that if of good quality, and well-cared for, they can last and last.
Bruce
Trivia Note: On the TV show "Dallas" while Sue Ellen worked in "the Store" which we all knew was suppose to be Neiman-Marcus (surprisingly, she was a salesperson one week and the next week was a Buyer...that happens everyday); the interior scenes of "the Store" were actually shot in Sanger-Harris, not NM.
ReplyDeleteI have been rooting around in my attic and found the A. Harris & Company Employee Annual Picnic at Kid Springs Dallas Texas picture date July 21, 1921. It is framed and in perfect condition. I believe my wife's grandmother worked at the store which was located at Elm and Lamar downtown Dallas which is now El Centro College. As you know when Sanger Bros bought A. Harris Co and then built the Sanger Harris dept. store on Pacific Ave and after it closed the company I worked for, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, bought the building around 1994 and turned it into their headquarters building. I worked in the remodeled building from 1996 to when I retired in Dec. 2010. It still had the old elevators and escalators which were in constant maintenance. In there a way I could post the picture on the website for all the see? Thanks Richard Jarrett
ReplyDeleteHello, Richard!
ReplyDeleteHow very interesting. In the future, I will be expanding the Sanger-Harris exhibit to show the Sanger Brothers and A. Harris stores before they became Sanger-Harris. If you'd like to scan the picture, and send to bakgraphics@comcast.net, I'd be happy to post it.
Bruce
I have found a old small banjo it has a decal with pleasure in capital letters then portland meter&franks oregon its all wood neck and body just was wondering if you could let me know something about it please
ReplyDeleteI worked at Downtown Sangers in 1968 and then transfered to Preston Center. I loved the people and class the stores had. I remember Jo Butler. I have alot of fond memories from there.
ReplyDeleteJo Butler is my mother.
DeleteI found a womans hat today at a local thrift store and it is marked "Sanger of Dallas" What years would this hat been a part of .
ReplyDeleteThanks
John
It was actually Pam that worked at "The Store" not Sue Ellen, but it's in one of the early seasons of Dallas (available on DVD BTW) that Sue Ellen was shown shopping for baby clothes, later walking down Pacific in front of the store. The bags she was carrying clearly showed the Sanger Harris logo on them--at the time, the store used a manila folder-colored bag with a chocolate-brown print of the arches and the Sanger Harris logo. Another scene showed Sue Ellen bringing the bags into an apartment.
ReplyDeleteAlso, YouTube videos have surfaced with 2 rare Sanger Harris TV ads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeGAbCkSr2Q (starting at :42)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXP0tvoxRtI
John (sangerharristribute@hotmail.com)
Great website! Finding this page brought many wonderful and sweet memories...I was an in-store staff illustrator that drew merchandise for the all newspapers that carried Sangers advertising. Although I'm not gay, it was my very first time working with gay men who were supportive and creative. One memory I'll NEVER forget was a layout artist who was about 65 years old, gay and flamboyant, but a wonderful guy. One morning he was showing some old photos...Army paratroopers, black faced, heavy equipped, ready for a jump. Eisenhower was speaking to them. I asked how/why he had these photos? he said "that's me!". Sure enough, there he was! You could see him quite clearly...a member of the 101st Airborne Paratroopers getting ready to jump into France on D-Day! My perception of gays was changed forever that day. My Sangers experience is one I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteI worked for Sanger Harris from 1974 til a couple of months after they were bought out in the mid 1980's. Sorry don't remember the year 85 or 86 maybe. I started work downtown Dallas and later transfered and promoted out to the Valley View store. I started as stockboy two levels underground and rose to an assistant department manager with inventory control etc.
ReplyDeleteSanger Harris was a big part of me growing professionally and personally. Believe me I was really terrible (or rude) some of the years. Maybe even "stuck up". I Still have items from Sanger Harris at home and even a Key id tag from A. Harris that was found while cleaning out a small storage area once. I even graduated from the El Centro College where it orginally started. I miss the old friends, but you do grow apart as time passes.
Burl 'Blu' Law
This is amazing. I started working at Sanger-Harris Plymouth Park(Irving) in December of 1986 part-time. Went through both mergers Sanger-Harris to Foley's to Macy's still working part-time while holding down a full-time job. I just retired from Macy's this month (still part-time)after 25 years I finally gave it up.
ReplyDeleteAnyone Remember the Sanger Harris Wearhouse sales????
ReplyDeleteI bought a two piece sectional sofa in 1981 or 1982 from Sangar Harris in Tyler Texas. It was brown with removeable cushions with a low profile. It was our first "real" piece of furniture and cost a small fortune to a newly wed couple ($2000). It is 30 years old and we still have it. Quality product to say the least. I would love to know who manafactured it. I cannot find a name on it anywhere. Does anyone out there know? Maybe someone who worked for Sangar Harris in the furniture division could give me a clue. I miss that store.
ReplyDeleteI worked at X2 for one year..opened..X11..grew up at Sangers..I got my degree in Poli Sci..but if not for the DGM I worked for that one year.. when I had given up on life ..she gave me a compass. Go back to school and come back.. Randi Imari? from Macys..that came to Preston center..Thanks..
ReplyDeleteThe Sanger-Harris at Plymouth Park in Irving was the greatest. I walked by it every day going to and from Crockett Junior High. A very sad day when it closed. An even sadder day when it was torn down. Makes you wonder how much longer Plymouth Park Shopping Center will be around. I believe the first phase was built about 1956. As a little kid, I would sneak over to the shopping center on a Saturday morning to go to Playthings and M. E. Moses.
ReplyDeleteAAAHHH but you forgot about the one in Tucson AZ....
ReplyDeleteI also spent a lot of time at the Plymouth Park score with my mom (much to my chagrin). I lived just a few streets down, on the other side of Lively Elementary. When I was 4 or 5, I remember the store staff having to shut down the escalator (hit the emergency button) when I started getting pulled up the escalator while messing around.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Plymouth Park shopping center, one of my favorite memories was the Chateau theater there. The Plymouth Park center felt like a smalltown Texas town square. It was a pretty cool setup. It seems a lot different now when I roll through town.
Recently, I acquired a Fur coat that I know nothing about except what the 2 labels say...which are as
ReplyDeletefollows:
The collar - 'The Fur Salon
Sanger-Harris
Dallas'
The label on the inside of the left side of coat -
'ESTEVEZ
FURS'
And also, there is the name JOAN on the lining.
Could you give me some more information on this
Fur and what it's value might be?
Thank you so much, Kim
I today googled Sanger-Harris, dont know why but I did, guess I Was going down memory lane. I am in London now, but lived in Dallas many many years ago. I remember Sangers very well. Loved that store. What happened to stores these days? Sangers was my first credit card too! I remember being in high school and Sangers helped us students out by letting us come help them do inventory at Town East mall to help raise money. I miss those days. Well, shame times have changed but there you go. I recently went on a trip to Dallas and TOwn east itself is NOT the same, it lost it's class, same with Valley View! What happend dallas???? I bet I still have my Sangers card somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI am a building engineer in the old Preston Center location and would love to talk to someone about the history of the building.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Sanger Harris Preston Center from 1967 to 1974! It was "the store" to shop at during its era!! Highland Park was so much smaller and Valley View
Deletehadn't been built yet! Great memories... If only those walls could talk !!!
What a wonderful site! I remember as a child growing up in Dallas shopping downtown at the department stores: Sanger Bros., A. Harris, and Titche's. Beautiful stores, with luncheon counters, tea rooms, bargain basements. We 'dressed up' to go downtown and rode the city bus. Shopping was a special event, not an everyday activity.
ReplyDeleteGreat info and images here! Does anyone know who the architect of the archway storefronts was? Also, do you have an up-to-date list of how many of them remain standing? Thanks,
ReplyDeletechrisgreenla@gmail.com
I have two ceramic parrots made by Modglins of California. One has a price sticker from A. Harris and Company--$5.50. I didn't connect that with Sanger Harris until I saw this site. Such and interesting website.
ReplyDeleteI remember in mid to late 60s Sangers spent several months renovating an old Morris Store Bldg. In the Pleasant Grove Shopping Center on Buckner Blvd. It was only open a very short while. Any info? Thanks Al
ReplyDeleteI did a search from 1960-1969 of the Dallas Morning News and there wasn't any apparent reference to such a location.
ReplyDeleteBruce
My grandmother, Edna Merrill, worked at the Oak Cliff location behind the jewelry counter when it was A. Harris and then Sanger Harris. She is 103 now and sadly her health has deteriorated just in the last few weeks. I remember my grandfather and I going to pick her up in the evenings when she got off late. All my wedding crystal and china came from that store. It was sad when
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid in the early 70's, my dad worked for the Tyler paper. Nobody made a fortune working there, but they did have quite a few perks. One was that every year they would buy a family season pass to Six Flags and they had standing reservations at the Lamplighter Inn on I-30 near Big Town (don't think I'd want to stay there these days, but it was a nice place back then). We would get the passes one summer weekend every year and go to Dallas for vacation and school shopping at Town East and Big Town. One distinct memory I have of the Big Town Sanger Harris store was a track that ran around the top of a little in-store boutique(young ladies wear, I think). It contained a conveyor of some sort from which hung various garments that traveled around and around that section of the store. Mom and dad don't remember it, but as a little kid destined to be an electrical engineer I thought it was intriguing. Does anyone else remember this, or better yet have pictures that could be posted here? Cool info here, thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteI, too, grew up in Irving and Euless. I loved Plymouth Park and l loved going to Sanger Harris. The store was elegant. I remember a candy area that my sister and I headed to first everytime mom took us shopping. The salesladies knew my mother by name. How often does that happen now? As my sister and I grew older, we were trusted with mom's charge card. She had cards to many other stores, but only shopped at Sanger Harris. Time goes by and things change. Does anyone remember Cooper's Toyland, Chubby's Restaurant, or E. M. Kahn's?
ReplyDeleteI grew up in New Mexico and every summer I would fly to Dallas to stay with my God parents in Irving... My God mother and I would shop, shop, shop at the Plymouth Park store. We would come home loaded with bags and then have to model all of our beautiful buys for my God father.. Nothing more fun for a 5-10 year old girl!! I wish stores still had character like Sanger Harris did... Even today's Neiman's isn't the same... Theonly thing I find comparbale is Bendel's in NYC
ReplyDeleteI inherit a fur jacket from a 81 year friend Rabbit. From. Sanger Harris can anyone tell me what's. It's worth now?
ReplyDeleteI just took some pictures from the Valley View mall Mosaic and the artist signature is Brenda J, Stubel, I am trying to find who she was. Anyone has an idea? a known artist of the time?
ReplyDeleteD Tate, let me know what you find. Paula, thank you for your interest. If she's still alive, I would love to involve her in the removal, restoration and re-commissioning of her mosaics at ValleyView Mall. My email is kevin@kevinobregon.com, one of the artists whose studio is part of the artist community inside the mall - for now... :)
DeleteI remember when Sanger-Harris opened it's two stores in Tulsa. They were very beautiful. The Woodland Hills Mall store is now a Macy's. It still has the arches at the entrance, but the mosaic has been covered over. The Southroads Mall store is now a supermarket, and the exterior has been completely remodeled.
ReplyDeleteI spent my childhood in Dallas until 1968 and fondly remember Sangers. I'm sorry I had no appreciation for such style until decades later. The Sanger Brothers (Phillip, Isaac, Lehman, and Samuel) knew how to run an operation with people in mind. Too bad that some current businesses don't run that way.
ReplyDeleteIf the Sanger Brothers lived in our time, they could teach some current people a thing or two.
I remember as a young girl shopping at the Oak Cliff Sanger Harris with my mom. If I'm not mistaken, as a little girl I took a modeling class that they offered to little girls and at the end of the session, got to model on a little runway.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Sanger Harris at Valley View from 1978 to 1981 and what fond memories I have some sad ones as two of my co-workers and friends died in Jan of 1980. How I missed them and most of the people I worked for and with.
ReplyDeleteI do hope the new owners keep the outside the same.
Hello, All. I worked for Sanger Harris from 1985-1988, just as Federated was re-naming the stores to Foleys. First at the DC on Regal Row as an A/P manager and then at the flagship downtown as an accountant. I also visited most of the Dallas-area stores for the semi-annual inventory. Downtown was my favorite store, glad to see DART left the mural untouched.
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I could experience Sanger-Harris! I am only 18 years old so I kinda missed the glory days! I am OK with the Foley's merge since it was still a Texas name but they should have keped the Downtown Dallas flagship store. That killed them! I just can not get used to Sanger-Harris now being called Macy's. I mean this is DALLAS TEXAS, NOT NEW YORK CITY! I always still refer to it as Sanger-Harris and the mosaics as the Sanger-Harris mosaic or the Sanger-Harris arches. No way will I call it the Macy's mosaic or Macy's arches! All of my Richardson High School friends now know about Sanger-Harris, I mean what other store sponsored so many teenager events as S-H?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying Macy's is bad or that I dislike it, I just wish the Sanger-Harris name and downtown Dallas store stayed. I mean it seems like quality in General is not quite what it once was. To much importd from China, I've even seen that in Neiman-Marcus. Even the Neiman-Marcus bags say made in China on th bottom. Kinda a sad reflection but I guess that is just how production is today.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Sangers (Main and Lama) in 1950-51 after morning classes at Crozier Tech Hi. I worked in the millinery department. I found this site looking for Mr. John Heathington who was the buyer. He was a ex college professor who became a millinery when a close relative at Consolidated Millinery of Chicago offered him a job "he couldn't refuse." Mr Heathington was a really great man. He would send me to the stock room every afternoon to study. He once sent me to a nearby stock broker/realtor with a check for 50 thousand dollars to pay for 10 rentals he was buying. He told me to sit and watch the stocks prices being posted, by hand, on the board. Maybe that is why I spent 38 years after the army and school in banking. That old building had lots of hidden hallways and stairways. I was once exploring a stairway and it opened up in the Store Manager's office. I just said I'm sorry I got lost and walked out of his office past his secretary and he never said a word.This was during the time when Federated bought out Sangers. I remember the window dressers also but the one person I will never forget is the Fashion co-ordinator. The only name I remember is Jesse. She was a very tall person and extremely nice to everyone. one of my jobs was to deliver the hats selected by "Jesse" to the dressing room at fashion shows. Once upstairs with Ed Sullivan and one time (over a three day period) at the Majestic theater during Lou Walters Latin Quarter Road Show. Once when the stage manager was telling me I would have to leave Mr Walters walked up and said "he works for me. So I got to see each show from off stage. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Newman Lollis and I live in Dallas, Texas. I have the original bronze plaques that were on the buildings of "Sanger Brothers" and "A. Harris". Also I have a photo book from Sanger Brothers Christmas Party in 1926 right before the merger. The christmas presents given to the employees are really funny. Anybody interested call me 214-434-1639 Waynenewman7@att.net
ReplyDeleteI worked in the ladies' shoe department at the Highland Park Sanger-Harris store in the mid-sixties while I was in college. My actual employer was Wohl's Shoe Company, which operated the shoe department as a "leased department." I got my pay through the Sanger-Harris personnel department, but earned it as commission at 9% of sales working for Wohl's Shoes, which was a part of the Brown Shoe Company conglomerate, vendors of Life Stride, Naturalizers, and other well known shoe brands.
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable experience working there was when a college aged girl came in and bought two pairs of boots, and about a dozen pairs of shoes, for a total purchase of around $400. Many days that would be a whole day's worth of sales. She offered a Sanger-Harris "Charge A Plate" and a driver's license as identification. The two matched, and the license fit her approximate age. I called the credit department and the sale was authorized. Boy was I happy. I even helped her load the boxes in her car out front.
Just as I got back to the department, the phone rang. It was the credit department, looking for her grandmother's "Charge A Plate," taken without permission. The entire purchase was eventually returned, and I lost my "big" commission.
I have a 100% cashmere coat with a mink collar really old in good condition and it has a Sanger Harris tag in it I was wondering what it might be worth
ReplyDeleteI was a friend of Eugene Sanger. He lived in Dallas and was a stamp collector, which is how I met him. What I would love to know are the dates of his birth and death. I still remember him fondly from time to time, thinking of his kind nature and outgoing spirit. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the downtown Dallas Sanger Brothers store from late 1955 to 1957. I started in the layaway annex which employed about 6-7 people before Christmas. After Christmas I started my new job there running an elevator operator. We had if remember correctly 6 operators and two starters for the six elevators and 8 floor. The 8th floor was furniture. We specially designed uniforms. A famous designer that designed and made the Branif Airlines uniforms made ours. When I was hired as an operator, I was sent to the tailor on site to be fitted and then sent to the shoe department for fitting of our shoes which the store also furnished. I remember one was bone color and one was navy or black to match our tan and our other navy uniform.. 51/2 inch heels and so expensive. I had the choice of the hat department which I adored or the elevators. I chose the elevators as I could not afford the expensive suits i the hat department which was the first and main floor.
ReplyDeleteI worked there in April 1957 when the now famous tornado hit Dallas. I was not told about it. I was ordered to express everyone on the upper floors to the basement. When the floors were cleared, I parked my elevator and ran to look out the door where people had run and saw the Huge tornado just as it turned at the trinity river and missed our building. It covered the whole sky. It was so scarey. We never knew anything about tornadoes before that day..
I have a picture from possible the late 1890's, early 1900's of a lady who is working on a hat in obviously a work room or showroom. I think she may be a great great aunt of mine. Unfortunately her name was Mary E. Ward (lots of those). I found some listings in the Dallas city directories for some of those years and they list Mary E. Ward as in charge of the Sanger Bros. dressmaking department. I can't verify this. I have been to the Dallas public library and looked through their Sanger Bros. collection and also had the University of Texas at Austin look through their collection. I realize it might be a long shot but does anyone have any ideas of where else to look? Oh yes she also boarded at the Windsor Hotel in one of the directories. Thank you. Dorinda
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful insight into my family history. I loved getting to read the wonderful memories people had working at Sanger-Harris. I was sadly too young to experience the store.
ReplyDeleteSanger-Harris was a wonderful store. I remember the one downtown well and on NW Hwy, it stood alone. It is fascinating reading people's experiences at various stores in the area and this is a fantastic blog. Stores today just do not have the style and character of the ones of decades ago. Anyway, if you want to see the Sanger Harris store downtown on film...check out Dallas, season 2, episode 11. There are many scenes of "Pam" in the store there. ;P
ReplyDeleteI have my great grandfather Edwin N. Tatum`s gold pocket watch which was enscribed and given to him by Sanger Brothers when he retired after 40 years working there 1909-1949
ReplyDeleteI have the original receipt to my ge stratoliner stove that was purchased 12/31/1954 at Stanger Brothers.
ReplyDeletei work at sanger Harris in valley view mall in the houskeeping department in 1980-1981 and it was the most wonderful experience of my life because i was 18 years old
ReplyDeleteI grew up in South Oak Cliff and going downtown was a very cosmopolitan experience for me. When I became a budding coin collector in the early 1960s as silver coinage was going out of circulation (but while you could still get shiny Morgan dollars for face value from the banks), I used to go to a little hole-in-the-wall coin shop (whose name I forget-does anyone else remember it?) on Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff. By the time I was in high school at South Oak Cliff, the beautiful Sanger-Harris had opened up downtown. Their coin shop in the basement was extremely high-end (if you had that kind of money), but they also offered lower-priced coins and stamps for kids like me. I remember both buying and selling coins here, and then going to the Pastry Shop to buy a sweet with my new bounty! Peace and love G
ReplyDeleteSanger Harris was differently ONE of a KIND store..living in fort worth. our locations was hulen mall now macys and north hills mall demolished. late eighties in high school would shop there and charge things at the time grey credit card with light beige script. very upscale.wish they were still around, fond memories.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Hulen Mall SH was being built, just before it opened I got a SH pre-approved credit card application. The name was for a wife that didn't exist. I changed the "Mrs" to "Mr" and returned it. The card in my name came a week or so later. I really did like the Hulen Mall SH! That was my main go-to store for anything they had. It was a comfortable shopping experience! The clerks were all "quality" people and appreciated your business.
ReplyDeleteLater, I transitioned into using the Ridgmar Mall store. I was in there often enough to become acquainted with several clerks (all part-timers). A friend's wife got a part-time gig at the Hulen Mall store and hated to leave when another job became open.
I could usually "make out" in last minute Christmas gifts by walking through the kitchen dept at Ridgmar. That worked until Macy's took over . . . the stores are just not the same any more. Not the same mix of merchandise.
I also used to shop at Titches Irving Mall store. A few years after I got their credit card, they merged with SH.
SH was rolled into the Federated Stores family, then similarly with The May Company. Once when I was visiting Ohio, I went into an SA Ayres store and everything looked like SH, except for the name on the building! Same displays, same merchandise, same great customer service. Never did see if my SH credit card worked up there.
THANKS for this great website! Many great memories of "better times"!
It has been a few years since I looked at your website. It has grown tremendously. I live in Dallas, Texas and I have a photo book of the "Sanger Brother's 91st Store-Wide Party May 1948" It has several dignitaries in the photos (about 20 pages). I have identified some, but if anyone that is the Dallas area please contact me if you might be able to help id these people. Also I have the original brass and aluminum plaques that were on the buildings "A. Harris" and "Sanger Brothers". These are not replicas, but the ones that came off the buildings. Contact me at: Wayne Newman 972-533-5008 or nxl120030@utdallas.edu
ReplyDeleteSo enjoyed going down memory lane myself with all the memories. I worked at Sanger Harris Preston Center from 1967 to 1974 in several managerial positions and then went to the downtown location 1974 to 1978. My last position at the downtown store was director of wedding services. I was involved with buying China, Crystal and silver for registered bride's. After I left Sanger Harris, they merged with Foley's as they were both owned by Federated Department Stores. There were only three stores in downtown Dallas and no one could compare to Sanger-Harris! (Stanley Marcus sure tried with his exclusivs)Since I oversaw the wedding registry at all the locations, part of my job description was visiting each of the stores once a month... Each store had its
ReplyDeleteown personality and it's loyal and faithful employees and customers!!! I imagine most of my peers are deceased but each one left a legacy of memories for me!!!
I am writing a proposal to the company who is about to torn down and rebuild Valley View, to save the Mural at Sanger -Harry , later Macy's building at Valley view. I found your page very interesting helpful in terms of the story and architecture, however I need some help with finding the name of the artist. help!!! email me! belindarod9@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
In search of a good photo of the A. Harris Shopping Center in Oak Cliff and/or a photo of the A. Harris or Sanger-Harris Store there. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI started high school in 1975 and my mother took me to the Sanger-Harris at Red Bird Mall for a shopping spree to get me ready to go. The clothes were so nice and I felt like a million bucks. I still have fond memories of Sanger-Harris and all of the other stores at the mall. Malls these days do not have the classy atmosphere that they had back then.
ReplyDeleteSanger-Harris returns to Dallas...at least for three weeks!
ReplyDeleteSanger-Harris, the iconic Texas department store, returns home to Main Street in downtown Dallas
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, El Centro College partners with renowned antique clothier Vintage Martini and the Dallas Public Library to create an exhibit of period apparel, advertising, and other artifacts from this beloved local merchandiser.
Sanger-Harris was once located where El Centro College resides today.
Sanger-Harris was once located where El Centro College resides today.
El Centro College presents "Before El Centro: Sanger-Harris," an exhibit of historic clothing, promotional materials, and other related artifacts from the once iconic Dallas retailer, Sanger-Harris, from October 10, through November 4, 2016, at the H. Paxton Moore Fine Art Gallery.
https://www.prlog.org/12585637-sanger-harris-the-iconic-texas-department-store-returns-home-to-main-street-in-downtown-dallas.html
I was trying to find some information on Google about how when we were kids we would go have our picture taken for free at places like Joske's and Sanger Harris and your web popped up. I haven't had time to read the whole thing but I am so glad you posted these memories I was born in 55 in Dallas and I loved, loved just going in Sanger Harris and other department stores like it especially at the holidays almost brings a tear to my eye remembering those days. Can't wait to finish reading the rest of your site. Again thank you so so much for the Memories. Jody
ReplyDeleteCouple of new publications about Sanger Harris: https://txamagazine.org/2016/09/07/vanishing-sanger-harris-mosaics/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/december/there-is-something-worth-saving-at-valley-view-mall/
Found this site because today i purchased 2 pictures at auction and turned them over to find the orginal price tag with Sanger on it.. I can remember my grandmother taking me shopping there as a very young girl. Just thought i would share my trip down memory lane with yall. Rickanna
ReplyDeletecan you tell me about an event that happened about late 70's early 80's called the "SANGER HARRIS GREAT SKATE"? where can i find archives on this event.
ReplyDeleteThought of Sanger-Harris on my way home from work today....I went to Dallas in 1981 to visit a friend for two weeks and ended up staying for 33 years. My first job was working for Sanger-Harris, Valley View. I entered under those wonderful mosaics for several years. I am very sorry to hear they have been destroyed. They, as the store, will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI also miss Valley View Anonymous! I worked at the Mesquite location but at times would head on out to North Dallas to check out that store.
DeleteAnyone know what happened to the clothing line " MS CLAUS" Which was sold at Sanger-Harris Stores?
ReplyDeleteMy first and favorite store was Preston. I bought some great furniture there and Sid Knaster was my salesperson who was in his late 70's. He would see me coming down the elevator and always cry out my last name with a "Mister" in front of it. We had so many good conversations and he took me around to the different departments when I told him I was shopping for a specific product and he introduced me to the sales clerk. Personalized service and fantastic products that could not be duplicated anywhere. I made a large purchase one day and he took me to the restaurant and bought "dinner for two". I had some suits made and their tailors were fantastic and Sid came up when I tried them on and "inspected" them for me as well and the tailors did not get offended. Sid was a treasure and Sanger Harris an ingrained great memory for me. Steve Coffman
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve, for your interesting story, which reinforces the idea that stores like Sanger-Harris were really special places.
ReplyDelete-Bruce
Bruce,
ReplyDeleteI have an auction company in Texas and we have a mirror that has a tag "AMC 0059
1B Baker St. London, W1
Store - Sanger Harris
Dept - 611
Circa - 1860
Shippers - T.K.M. INT. FRT. LMTD."
Can yo possibly tell me if this mirror would have been something that could have been in a Sanger Harris store? Did they get any consignments from overseas to sell in their stores? Been researching for days and would take any sort of insight and help
I worked at Sanger’s from the early 60’s until Marchmof 1966. I started at the store at Main & Lamar, but moved to the one at Akard and Pacific when it was ready to open. I was still at the Main and Lamarr location when the Kennedy assassination occurred. I was secretary for Tony Fahey Leon Rosenberg, and Harry Freeman, with offices on the second floor. (Tony Fahey was tragically killed in a auto accident in 1965.) We had a birdseye view of the Kennedy motorcade minutes before the shootings occurred. I loved my time with Sanger’s and during that time did the typing of Leon Rosenbergs treatise on the history of Sanger brothers . I would love to hear from anyone who might still be around from those years.
ReplyDeleteHow many of the stores had a mosaic mural...and which stores were they?
ReplyDeleteWhen Dallas had the riots downtown in 1974 the head of security an ex-FBI Agent had the main store surrounded on all four sides with security officers armed with pump shotguns and some M-16's (yes fully automatic) a were given orders "if anyone attempts to enter the building then shoot to kill. We have good attorneys and you all are protecting property" The downtown store had no window broken. No graffiti on the building. The store was the only one not touched.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of the horrible police shooting in Dallas in 2016. Anarchy results when people don't stand up for what is right and I am glad the store protected itself, and certainly proud of those who did their duty in this case. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure . . .
ReplyDeleteHappy to find this site. I worked at Town East Mall in Mesquite the years of 1986-87 before I left for my military service. When I started it was Sanger-Harris and then was bought out sometime during that period by Foley's. Town East had a luxurious fur salon in their Mesquite store at that time and there were many upscale shoppers during the weekdays with women that did not have to work outside the home. I was in the junior and petite departments which were right next to one another. Have some great memories. We all dressed so nice and the man all had suits on but were allowed to take off their jackets if they wanted to. The only person not wearing suits was the person selling tennis shoes in the sporting goods department. I have pictures! Good memories and a lot of pride with the sales people in keeping their departments clean and also tidying up the dressing rooms so the clothes would not pile up. Weekends and when the kids were out of school were the busiest days and I am sure nothing has changed in that regards. Made a whopping $3 dollars and some odd cents per hour! Spent most of my salary on clothes at the store. Lol. Have many friendships to this day that I treasure and have lost some from those days too. I loved that job!
ReplyDeleteI did a Sanger-Harris Mother’s Day commercial back in the 80’s; unfortunately, we didn’t have a vcr back then. Anyone know how I might track that down?? I would forever be grateful!!!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to locate a picture of a square antique table that was added to the Sanger Harris Collection. Article was published in Dallas Morning News sometime between 1960 and 1980.
ReplyDeletewww.genealogybank.com has the full Dallas Morning News in its archive, every page. Try that.
Delete-Bruce
I have family in Sanger, TX, which it seems was named after the Sangers' that opened this dept. store. Thanks for this informative site!
ReplyDeleteI worked as a salesman in the ladies shoe department at the Highland Park Village Sanger-Harris when I was in college 19665-1967, then later at the Pioneer Mall store in Irving when I was teaching at South Oak Cliff HS. The S-H shoe departments were actually "leased" departments, operated by Wohl Shoe Company. We were paid strictly on commission, but received a weekly "draw" before being paid at the end of the month. We got 9% of our sales. One could do pretty well, actually. I enjoyed my time there, especially the HP location, which seemed like an old school retail establishment to me. I also got to meet some of the women in the "movers and shakers" circle for Dallas, as many of them shopped at that HP store.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Six Flags Mall Sanger Harris for two school semesters. I also loved shopping there, especially the furniture department which was very nice and had great furniture!
Yes ... I worked at the distribution center 1978 - 1980
ReplyDeleteThe exterior of Big Town Mall’s Sanger Harris has a brief cameo in David Byrne’s 1986 film, “True Stories”!
ReplyDelete