Joseph R. Harris Co.

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Joseph R. Harris Co.
company_
fate = Bankruptcy
foundation = 1916
defunct = ?
location = Washington, D.C.
industry = Retail
key_people = Joseph R. Harris, founder
products = Fashion apparel, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =

Joseph R. Harris Co. was a Washington, D.C.-based chain of women's apparel stores.

History

The chain was founded in 1916, in Washington, D.C. by Joseph R. Harris. By the time of its sale in 1971, to the retail conglomerate Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc., it had grown to nine locations in the Washington, D.C. area, and branches in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. ["'Expansive' Garfinckel to Acquire Harris," "The Washington Post, Times Herald", Jan 31, 1971, p. 115.] The company's founder retired as board chairman that same year. ["Joseph R. Harris Sr. Dies, Founded Clothing Chain," "The Washington Post", Nov 20, 1979, p. C4.]

In 1978, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based retailer Gamble-Skogmo, Inc. purchased a 20-percent share of the Garfinckel conglomerate from the Joseph R. Harris family, thereby gaining a controlling interest in it. A court suit resulted in an agreement that Gamble-Skogmo would not acquire any more stock in Garfinckel. ["Retailer Plans to Expand," "The Washington Post", Nov 13, 1977, p. 109.] ["Garfinckel's Battles Gamble-Skogmo Takeover Bid," "The Washington Post", Sep 2, 1978, p. E1.] ["Harris Family Got Premium for Stock," "The Washington Post", Sep 15, 1978, p. E1.] ["Garfinckel Tells of Merger Bid," "The Washington Post", Jan 4, 1979, p. D9.] The following year, Garfinckel sold the Joseph R. Harris Co., then renamed Harris & Friends, to the Petrie Stores Corp. of Cleveland, Ohio. At the time, Harris had 26 stores in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. ["Garfinckel Plans Sale of Joseph R. Harris," "The Washington Post", Mar 29, 1979, p. C1.]

Flagship Store

The original location was at 1212 F Street, NW, in the downtown core shopping district of Washington, D.C. In 1929, they moved to 1224 F Street, NW. The chains final flagship store opened in 1965, and was located at 1336 F Street, NW; a 14,000 square foot store located in space formerly occupied by Capitol Theater in the National Press Club building. ["J.R. Harris to Open New Downtown Store," "The Washington Post, Times Herald", Mar 14, 1965, p. C10.] The site is now occupied by The Shops at National Place.

Former locations

Washington, D.C.

* 1212 F Street, N.W. (original store, 1916 - 1929)
* 1224 F Street, N.W. (flagship store, 1929 - 1965)
* 1336 F Street, N.W. (flagship store, 1965 - 19??)

Maryland

*Hyattsville - Prince George's Plaza
*Wheaton - Wheaton Plaza

Virginia

*Arlington - Seven Corners Shopping Center

References