Fashion Bar (Denver, Colo.)
Biography
Siblings Hannah, Jack and Edward Levy immigrated to America in the 1920s. Jack Levy came to America in 1923, headed to Denver, and began working at his uncle's business, Hilb and Company. Edward Levy reached Denver in 1925 and also started working for Hilb and Company, eventually becoming the president. After working in New York City for 20 months at menial jobs, Hannah moved to Denver in the fall of 1927. Jack started as a traveling salesman for the Hilb company and Hannah as a shop-girl at Neusteters Department store, before Jack opened a hosiery store, which evolved into the Fashion Bar Corporation. Despite the Great Depression, the enterprise flourished, and within three years, Fashion Bar grew to five clothing stores. William Weil, a distant cousin, became a salesman for the company, and in 1968, he became president of the company. By the 1980s, Fashion Bar employed over 1700 people in over 84 specialty clothing stores. Fashion Bar became the largest privately owned chain in Colorado. Hannah and Jack Levy remained involved in the business until their deaths. The Fashion Bar Company was sold in 1992. Hannah and Jack Levy remained involved in the business until their deaths. The Fashion Bar Company was sold in 1992.
Sources: https://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=268 (article by Jeanne Abrams (2016).
Tales of a Little Trunk by Hannah Shwayder Berry.
Obituaries.
Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:
Box 7, 1970
(11) boxes of color slide film
Box 10, 1950-1990
(1) framed photo of Fashion Bar store front; (1) framed photo of 15th annual Christmas party (1951); (1) small framed photo of downtown Greeley store; (1) large advertising copy scrapbook (1980s)
Box 12, 1900-1993
(1) framed photo of Denver Street James Hotel, future site of first Fashion Bar store (c. 1900); (1) framed photo portrait of Jack Levy (c. 1970).
Box 13, 1934-2002
Box contains eleven (11) file folders, five (5) of which are from the personal papers series. The file folders contain the Weil family tree; a copy of William Weil's high school diploma, Japanese Language School reunion booklet, and identification cards; William Weil's memorial service materials; William Weil's 2002 correspondence; and Kathe Jervis' 2002 correspondence.
Box 13, c. 1880 - 2002
Box contains eleven (11) file folders, six (6) of which are from the photographs, scrapbooks, and clippings series. File folders contain portrait photos of Weil ancestors; Levy family photos; photos of Bill and Elise Weil; scrapbook pages; newspaper clippings about William Weil; and a VHS of family photos entitled "Weil: Reflections 1944-1990".
Box 15, 1950-1970
(1) large bound scrapbook
Box 16, 1938-1953
(1) large ledger containing Fashion Bar sales 1938-1953
Box 18, 1953-1993
(2) large bound scrapbooks of Fashion Bar; (1953-1976) & (1976-1993).
Box 20, circa 1975
Contains Fashion Bar token and thin plastic garmet bag.
Container 19, 1970-1980
Fashion Bar oversize architectural drawings
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 26
- Collection 2
- Subject
- Jews 14
- Denver (Colo.) 10
- Colorado 7
- Department stores 7
- Photographs 7
- Jewish men 5
- Jewish businesspeople 4
- Fashion 3
- Jewish merchants 3
- Clothing trade 2
- Jewish families 2
- Jewish families -- Colorado 2
- Merchants 2
- Social life and customs 2
- Stores, Retail 2
- Bakeries 1
- Businesspeople 1
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) 1
- Clothing and dress 1
- Correspondence 1
- Dairy farming 1
- Diplomas 1
- Family histories 1
- Family-owned business enterprises -- Colorado -- Denver 1
- Funeral service 1
- Identification cards 1
- Immigrants 1
- Industrialists 1
- Jewish businesspeople -- Colorado 1
- Jewish businesspeople -- Colorado -- Denver 1
- Jewish pioneers 1
- Jewish women 1
- Memorial service 1
- Oral histories 1
- Photograph albums 1
- Portraits 1
- Special events 1
- Suitcases 1
- Video Home System (VHS) 1
- Wedding anniversaries 1
- Weddings 1 + ∧ less