Meis of Illiana Ceramic Ornament
Round / One size
$15.99
Product Details & Size Guide
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Honor the story of Meis of Illiana with a ceramic ornament inspired by a memorable regional department store. Founded in Terre Haute in 1928, Meis grew from a downtown business into a chain serving shoppers in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Its history includes The Bottom Half jeans store and the chain's transfer to Elder-Beerman in 1989. For former customers and collectors, this keepsake recalls a familiar retail name and the many communities connected to its nearly six decades of business.
Meis, also known as Meis of Illiana, was a department store chain based in Terre Haute, Indiana. Lucien Meis and Salo Levite founded the business in downtown Terre Haute in 1928, and the original store stayed open until the early 1980s. The chain expanded beyond its founding city, with stores in Indiana communities including Anderson, Kokomo, Marion, and Elkhart; Illinois communities including Carbondale, Danville, and Mattoon; and Paducah, Kentucky. In Terre Haute, Meis also operated stores at Honey Creek Mall, Plaza North, and The Meadows. The company ran a jeans store called The Bottom Half; in 1972, both that business and the other Meis businesses were sold to Brown Shoe Company, now known as Caleres. Brown Group later sold the Meis chain, then comprising ten stores, to Elder-Beerman in 1989. The chain existed from 1928 to 1989 and operated 11 stores at its peak. Its story links a locally founded downtown retailer to regional expansion, a related jeans business, and a late-1980s transfer to a larger department store operator.
Honor the story of Meis of Illiana with a ceramic ornament inspired by a memorable regional department store. Founded in Terre Haute in 1928, Meis grew from a downtown business into a chain serving shoppers in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Its history includes The Bottom Half jeans store and the chain's transfer to Elder-Beerman in 1989. For former customers and collectors, this keepsake recalls a familiar retail name and the many communities connected to its nearly six decades of business.
Meis, also known as Meis of Illiana, was a department store chain based in Terre Haute, Indiana. Lucien Meis and Salo Levite founded the business in downtown Terre Haute in 1928, and the original store stayed open until the early 1980s. The chain expanded beyond its founding city, with stores in Indiana communities including Anderson, Kokomo, Marion, and Elkhart; Illinois communities including Carbondale, Danville, and Mattoon; and Paducah, Kentucky. In Terre Haute, Meis also operated stores at Honey Creek Mall, Plaza North, and The Meadows. The company ran a jeans store called The Bottom Half; in 1972, both that business and the other Meis businesses were sold to Brown Shoe Company, now known as Caleres. Brown Group later sold the Meis chain, then comprising ten stores, to Elder-Beerman in 1989. The chain existed from 1928 to 1989 and operated 11 stores at its peak. Its story links a locally founded downtown retailer to regional expansion, a related jeans business, and a late-1980s transfer to a larger department store operator.
| Heart | Round | |
| Diameter, in | 3.21 | 2.80 |
Product features
- 100% white ceramic construction — strong and durable
- Double-sided print with matte finish option
- Golden hanging string included
- UV-decorated for lasting color
- Available in white or gold gift packaging (single ornament per pack)
Care instructions
- Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt build-up. Avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners. Instead, dampen a cotton wool swab in warm water (just a few drops per liter of water) and gently roll the swab over the ornament and refrain from scrubbing
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
Care instructions: Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt build-up. Avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners. Instead, dampen a cotton wool swab in warm water (just a few drops per liter of water) and gently roll the swab over the ornament and refrain from scrubbing