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Fashion Bar (Denver, Colo.)

 Organization

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 1 Collection or Record:

William Weil (Fashion Bar) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: B265
Abstract

William Weil was the manager of the Fashion Bar stores in Denver, Colorado and president by the time of his retirement. The Fashion Bar was a very successful chain of department stores owned by siblings Jack Levy and Hannah Levy. Collection contains photographs, scrapbooks, foreign currency, diplomas, transcripts, correspondence, resumes, family trees, naval service records, divorce papers, and publications from William Weil (Fashion Bar) from 1920 through 2000.

Dates: c. 1875-2002

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  • Subject: Family histories X