Fashion Bar and Levy Family Papers

The Fashion Bar originated with a small hosiery shop started by Jack Levy in 1933 and managed by his sister Hannah Levy. Born in the town of Haigerloch, near Stuttgart in Southern Germany, both Hannah, Jack and another brother emigrated to America in the 1920s. Jack went to Colorado to join other family members who had come to Colorado much earlier. After a few years in New York City, Hannah also moved to Denver, Colorado. Late in 1927, Hannah and Jack's parents and other family members moved to Denver, where the entire family was reunited once more.

Jack started as a traveling salesman and Hannah as a shop girl in Denver's Neusteter's before opening their own store, which evolved into the Fashion Bar Corporation. Despite the Great Depression, the enterprise flourished and within three years it grew to five clothing stores that were later named Fashion Bar. In 1940, Jack and Hannah Levy bought out their partner and took full control of the business. Later they brought William Weil on board as manager and later he became president of the company.

Hannah and Jack were part of the business community and philanthropists in Colorado and the Jewish community, and remained involved in the business until their deaths. By the 1980s Fashion Bar employed over 1700 people in over 80 stores.