The Rise and Fall of Fashion Bar: Denver’s Iconic Clothing Retailer
Fashion Bar was a prominent clothing retailer based in Denver, Colorado, that evolved from humble beginnings into the state’s largest privately owned chain by the 1980s. The journey began in 1933 when siblings Hannah and Jack Levy, German immigrants, opened the Hosiery Bar at 707 16th Street in Denver. Initially focused on hosiery, the store expanded its offerings after acquiring a nearby dress shop in 1936, rebranding as Fashion Bar.
The Levys’ keen business acumen led to rapid growth. By 1937, Fashion Bar had expanded to five locations across Colorado, including stores in Denver, Colorado Springs, Greeley, and Pueblo. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the company diversified its brand by launching specialty shops such as “FB Men” for men’s clothing, “Stage” targeting young women, “Hannah” catering to women aged 35 and older, and “Young Set” for children’s apparel. This strategic diversification contributed to the company’s substantial growth. By the 1980s, Fashion Bar employed over 1,700 people across more than 84 specialty clothing stores, solidifying its status as Colorado’s largest privately owned chain.
The passing of co-founders Hannah and Jack Levy in the mid-1980s marked a turning point for the company. In 1992, the Levy family sold Fashion Bar to Houston-based Specialty Retailers, Inc. Following the acquisition, the new owners began phasing out the Fashion Bar brand, with the last Denver-area store closing its doors on January 31, 1997.
Fashion Bar’s legacy is preserved through various archival collections, including those at the Denver Public Library and the University of Denver’s Beck Archives, which house photographs, architectural records, and other memorabilia chronicling the company’s significant impact on Colorado’s retail landscape.
