Parisian Passport Cover
3.9" x 5.8" / Black
$28.99
Sale price
$28.99
Regular price
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GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Take a piece of department store history along on your next trip with this Parisian Passport Cover. Parisian began in Birmingham in 1877, founded by sisters Estella and Bertha Sommers, and grew to serve shoppers across Alabama, Florida, and the Midwest. After decades of family ownership and corporate transitions, the Parisian name ended in 2013. This travel accessory connects journeys today with the story of a regional retailer whose changing footprint reflects the broader evolution of American shopping.
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 Passport Cover
$28.99
Sale price
$28.99
Regular price
Take a piece of department store history along on your next trip with this Parisian Passport Cover. Parisian began in Birmingham in 1877, founded by sisters Estella and Bertha Sommers, and grew to serve shoppers across Alabama, Florida, and the Midwest. After decades of family ownership and corporate transitions, the Parisian name ended in 2013. This travel accessory connects journeys today with the story of a regional retailer whose changing footprint reflects the broader evolution of American shopping.
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.
| 3.9" x 5.8" | |
| Height, in | 5.79 |
| Width (Closed), in | 3.94 |
| Width (Open), in | 8.03 |
| Depth, in | 0.39 |
Product features
- Two card slots plus pockets for boarding passes or IDs
- Cruelty-free black PU faux leather exterior
- RFID-blocking lining to protect against skimming
- One-size fits most passports (3.9″ × 5.8″)
- Vibrant front-cover print with potential edge fading on darker solids
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth