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Take a piece of Oklahoma retail history along on your next trip with this John A. Brown luggage tag. The department store began in Oklahoma City in 1915 as Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co., then took John Albert Brown's name in 1932. Its story followed shoppers from the downtown flagship to suburban malls before the chain was sold in 1984. For travelers and collectors, this design celebrates a familiar local name and the changing places where generations shopped.
John A. Brown was an Oklahoma department store chain whose roots reach back to 1915, when the Rorabaugh Company acquired Brock's Dry Goods in Oklahoma City and renamed it Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co. In 1932, John Albert Brown bought the business from his cousin and partner, A. O. Rorabaugh, and renamed the store after himself. Brown had also joined John Dunkin in buying Tulsa mercantile store Hunts in 1924; that separate business became Brown-Dunkin and had no formal connection to the Oklahoma City company. After Brown died in 1940, his widow, Della Dunkin Brown, led the company until her death in 1967, when ownership passed to a trust. Dayton Hudson Corporation acquired the chain in 1971 but kept the Brown name. The downtown Oklahoma City flagship closed in the 1970s and was later demolished amid an urban renewal project that did not produce the planned Galleria shopping center. The chain shifted toward suburban shopping malls, including Penn Square Mall and Crossroads Mall. In 1984, Dayton Hudson sold the six-store chain to Dillard's, which quickly renamed the stores. The transition ended the John A. Brown name in retail.
John A. Brown Luggage Tag
$16.99
Sale price
$16.99
Regular price
Take a piece of Oklahoma retail history along on your next trip with this John A. Brown luggage tag. The department store began in Oklahoma City in 1915 as Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co., then took John Albert Brown's name in 1932. Its story followed shoppers from the downtown flagship to suburban malls before the chain was sold in 1984. For travelers and collectors, this design celebrates a familiar local name and the changing places where generations shopped.
John A. Brown was an Oklahoma department store chain whose roots reach back to 1915, when the Rorabaugh Company acquired Brock's Dry Goods in Oklahoma City and renamed it Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co. In 1932, John Albert Brown bought the business from his cousin and partner, A. O. Rorabaugh, and renamed the store after himself. Brown had also joined John Dunkin in buying Tulsa mercantile store Hunts in 1924; that separate business became Brown-Dunkin and had no formal connection to the Oklahoma City company. After Brown died in 1940, his widow, Della Dunkin Brown, led the company until her death in 1967, when ownership passed to a trust. Dayton Hudson Corporation acquired the chain in 1971 but kept the Brown name. The downtown Oklahoma City flagship closed in the 1970s and was later demolished amid an urban renewal project that did not produce the planned Galleria shopping center. The chain shifted toward suburban shopping malls, including Penn Square Mall and Crossroads Mall. In 1984, Dayton Hudson sold the six-store chain to Dillard's, which quickly renamed the stores. The transition ended the John A. Brown name in retail.
| 2.4'' × 4'' | |
| Width, in | 2.40 |
| Height, in | 4.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.20 |
Product features
- Durable 100% acrylic body with glossy printed front
- Adjustable black leather strap with buckle
- One-side high-definition print in vibrant colors
- Rear opening pocket for business card or contact info
- Compact size 2.4” × 4” (6 × 10 cm)
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth