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GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Start the day with a reminder of Parisian and its place in American department store history. Founded in Birmingham in 1877 by sisters Estella and Bertha Sommers, the business grew from Alabama into Florida and the Midwest. Its story includes family leadership, regional expansion, and transitions through major retail companies before the Parisian name ended in 2013. This coffee mug offers former customers and collectors a daily connection to a store remembered across generations. It is a considered gift for department store history enthusiasts and anyone who cherishes local shopping memories.
Parisian was an upmarket American department store chain founded in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1877 by sisters Estella and Bertha Sommers. They sold the business to Carl Hess and William Holiner in the 1920s. In 1950, Emil Hess and Leonard Salit acquired it and introduced its first credit program; after Salit's death, the Hess family took control. Parisian expanded beyond Birmingham during the 1960s, opening in Decatur, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, and Montgomery, and reached 13 Alabama stores by the mid-1980s. Its first out-of-state locations were in Pensacola and Sarasota, Florida. Australian property firm LJ Hooker bought Parisian in 1988, then sold its share back to the Hess family in 1989 after filing for bankruptcy. By the early 1990s, the chain had entered Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Proffitt's acquired Parisian in 1995; after buying Saks Fifth Avenue in 1998, it renamed itself Saks Incorporated. Belk bought Parisian from Saks in 2006 for $285 million, and 24 locations became Belk by September 2007. Four stores transferred to The Bon-Ton in 2006 continued using the Parisian name under a time-limited agreement. Those naming rights expired in January 2013, ending the brand.
Parisian Ceramic Coffee Mug
$12.99
Sale price
$12.99
Regular price
Start the day with a reminder of Parisian and its place in American department store history. Founded in Birmingham in 1877 by sisters Estella and Bertha Sommers, the business grew from Alabama into Florida and the Midwest. Its story includes family leadership, regional expansion, and transitions through major retail companies before the Parisian name ended in 2013. This coffee mug offers former customers and collectors a daily connection to a store remembered across generations. It is a considered gift for department store history enthusiasts and anyone who cherishes local shopping memories.
Parisian was an upmarket American department store chain founded in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1877 by sisters Estella and Bertha Sommers. They sold the business to Carl Hess and William Holiner in the 1920s. In 1950, Emil Hess and Leonard Salit acquired it and introduced its first credit program; after Salit's death, the Hess family took control. Parisian expanded beyond Birmingham during the 1960s, opening in Decatur, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, and Montgomery, and reached 13 Alabama stores by the mid-1980s. Its first out-of-state locations were in Pensacola and Sarasota, Florida. Australian property firm LJ Hooker bought Parisian in 1988, then sold its share back to the Hess family in 1989 after filing for bankruptcy. By the early 1990s, the chain had entered Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Proffitt's acquired Parisian in 1995; after buying Saks Fifth Avenue in 1998, it renamed itself Saks Incorporated. Belk bought Parisian from Saks in 2006 for $285 million, and 24 locations became Belk by September 2007. Four stores transferred to The Bon-Ton in 2006 continued using the Parisian name under a time-limited agreement. Those naming rights expired in January 2013, ending the brand.
| 11oz | 15oz | |
| Height, in | 3.74 | 4.61 |
| Diameter, in | 3.15 | 3.43 |
Product features
- Microwave-safe for quick reheats
- Dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup
- Available in 11oz and 15oz sizes
- Glossy white ceramic with vibrant, long-lasting print
- Lead- and BPA-free, comfortable C-handle
Care instructions
- Clean in dishwasher or wash by hand with warm water and dish soap