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Add a reminder of St. Louis retail history to your desk with this Famous-Barr mouse pad. From Motte’s, founded in 1874, the business grew into a clothing store before David May merged it with William Barr Dry Goods Co. in 1911. Famous-Barr later became known for its downtown department store and branches throughout the region, serving generations of shoppers before its name gave way to a larger national operation. This desk accessory celebrates a memorable local brand and its place in Midwestern 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 Mouse Pad
$14.99
Sale price
$14.99
Regular price
Add a reminder of St. Louis retail history to your desk with this Famous-Barr mouse pad. From Motte’s, founded in 1874, the business grew into a clothing store before David May merged it with William Barr Dry Goods Co. in 1911. Famous-Barr later became known for its downtown department store and branches throughout the region, serving generations of shoppers before its name gave way to a larger national operation. This desk accessory celebrates a memorable local brand and its place in Midwestern 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.
| 9" × 8" | |
| Width, in | 9.00 |
| Height, in | 8.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.06 |
Product features
- Smooth, low-friction surface for effortless mouse movement
- Full-front color print with bright, accurate reproduction
- Ultra-thin 1/16" (1.58 mm) high-density foam core
- Non-slip rubber base that grips the desk
- Rectangular shape with one-sided print
Care instructions
- Use warm water and dish soap to clean spots off your pad. It's not necessary to soak the whole pad. For hard-to-clean spots use a soft-bristled brush.