‘Put Dallas on the map’ | Former Neiman Marcus employees react as historic flagship is set to close after more than 100 years

 

The company made the announcement it would shut down the flagship Tuesday.

DALLAS — The iconic Neiman Marcus flagship store, a cornerstone of downtown Dallas since 1914, will close its doors permanently on March 31 marking the end of an era in Texas retail history.

The closure of the 1618 Main Street location represents more than just the loss of a department store. For generations, the flagship location served as a cultural touchstone that helped establish Dallas as a major fashion destination.

“What put Dallas on the map even independent of fashion was that store,” said Rawlins Gilliland, a former Neiman Marcus director who worked as a director at the company in the 1990s. “It was a very romantic part of Dallas when Dallas wasn’t very romantic.”

Under the leadership of Stanley Marcus, the store became a magnet for celebrities and international dignitaries, including Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco. The flagship hosted legendary Fortnight events that brought international fashion and culture to Texas.

Kate Sheldon, who worked as a corporate buyer for Neiman Marcus in the 1990s, remembers the store’s allure even before her employment there when she was just a college student. 

“I used to drive down to the flagship store to see the really fine fashion and would treat myself to a Godiva chocolate bar just to get my ticket for parking validated,” she said.

The closure will also mean the end of the store’s famous Zodiac restaurant, known for its signature popovers with strawberry butter and chicken consommé. These culinary traditions have been as much a part of the Dallas social scene as the store’s fashion offerings.

“The way vendors around the world know about Dallas is because of Neiman Marcus,” Sheldon said. “Neiman Marcus put Dallas on the map as a fashion epicenter.”

A company spokesperson cited an unresolved disagreement with the property’s landlord as the reason for the closure.

Despite the store’s closing, its impact on Dallas’s identity remains indelible. As Gilliland reflected, “Growing up in a hometown, you want to feel like there’s something about it you can be proud of. Well, it was Neiman Marcus!”

 

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