John A. Brown Metal Sign
7" x 5" (Horizontal) / 0.12''
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
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Bring Oklahoma department store history into view with this John A. Brown metal sign. The retailer grew from a downtown Oklahoma City dry goods business established in 1915 and adopted Brown's name in 1932. Its downtown flagship gave way to a changing retail landscape, as shoppers increasingly visited suburban centers such as Penn Square and Crossroads. Dayton Hudson acquired the chain in 1971, and Dillard's bought and renamed its six stores in 1984. A distinctive tribute for collectors and local history fans.
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 Metal Sign
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
Bring Oklahoma department store history into view with this John A. Brown metal sign. The retailer grew from a downtown Oklahoma City dry goods business established in 1915 and adopted Brown's name in 1932. Its downtown flagship gave way to a changing retail landscape, as shoppers increasingly visited suburban centers such as Penn Square and Crossroads. Dayton Hudson acquired the chain in 1971, and Dillard's bought and renamed its six stores in 1984. A distinctive tribute for collectors and local history fans.
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.
| 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.