Famous-Barr Metal Sign
7" x 5" (Horizontal) / 0.12''
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
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Celebrate the department-store name that became part of St. Louis life with this Famous-Barr metal sign. The story began with Jesse W. Motte’s 1874 shop, expanded into clothing, and reached a turning point in 1911 when David May formed Famous-Barr with William Barr Dry Goods Co. Its downtown store opened in 1914, followed by suburban branches that carried the name to more shoppers. A fitting accent for a home, office, or collection, this sign recalls a distinct chapter in regional retail history.
Famous-Barr grew from Motte's, a St. Louis boot and shoe store founded by Jesse W. Motte in 1874 at 714 Franklin Street. In 1876, supervisor Joseph Specht became Motte's partner; the business added clothing and moved to 703–705 Franklin Street, appearing in the city directory as Famous, Motte & Specht and becoming popularly known as the Famous Clothing Company. Retailer David May acquired the Famous Clothing Store in 1892 and later acquired William Barr Dry Goods Co. In 1911, he merged the businesses to form Famous-Barr. The company opened a downtown St. Louis department store in 1914, described as the country's first air-conditioned department store. Its first branch opened in Clayton, Missouri, in 1948, followed by a Northland Shopping Center branch in Jennings in 1955. Famous-Barr assumed operational control of L.S. Ayres in Indiana in 1991 and added The Jones Store in Kansas City in 1998; both retained their names. Parent May Department Stores was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. Famous-Barr joined Macy's Midwest on February 1, 2006, and its name was retired that September as most regional stores adopted the Macy's name. The downtown store and headquarters closed in summer 2013.
Famous-Barr Metal Sign
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
Celebrate the department-store name that became part of St. Louis life with this Famous-Barr metal sign. The story began with Jesse W. Motte’s 1874 shop, expanded into clothing, and reached a turning point in 1911 when David May formed Famous-Barr with William Barr Dry Goods Co. Its downtown store opened in 1914, followed by suburban branches that carried the name to more shoppers. A fitting accent for a home, office, or collection, this sign recalls a distinct chapter in regional retail history.
Famous-Barr grew from Motte's, a St. Louis boot and shoe store founded by Jesse W. Motte in 1874 at 714 Franklin Street. In 1876, supervisor Joseph Specht became Motte's partner; the business added clothing and moved to 703–705 Franklin Street, appearing in the city directory as Famous, Motte & Specht and becoming popularly known as the Famous Clothing Company. Retailer David May acquired the Famous Clothing Store in 1892 and later acquired William Barr Dry Goods Co. In 1911, he merged the businesses to form Famous-Barr. The company opened a downtown St. Louis department store in 1914, described as the country's first air-conditioned department store. Its first branch opened in Clayton, Missouri, in 1948, followed by a Northland Shopping Center branch in Jennings in 1955. Famous-Barr assumed operational control of L.S. Ayres in Indiana in 1991 and added The Jones Store in Kansas City in 1998; both retained their names. Parent May Department Stores was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. Famous-Barr joined Macy's Midwest on February 1, 2006, and its name was retired that September as most regional stores adopted the Macy's name. The downtown store and headquarters closed in summer 2013.
| 7" x 5" (Horizontal) | |
| Width, in | 7.00 |
| Height, in | 5.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.12 |
Product features
- 100% white aluminum composite — strong, rigid, and lightweight
- Matte full-color print on one side for crisp, non-reflective finish
- Eleven sizes available; horizontal, vertical, and square orientations
- Includes one mounting block, metal plate, and double-sided tape; customer assembly required
- Indoor use only — durable for interior displays
Care instructions
- Use non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.