Belk, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the United States' largest privately held department store chain.^[1] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 360 pixelsFull resolution (2315 × 1041 pixel, file size: 29 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Belks logo. ... A private company is a company that is independently owned. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. ... Nickname: Location in Mecklenburg County in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: , Country United States State North Carolina Counties Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Government  - Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area  - City  280. ... Drawing of a self-service store. ... Look up slogan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... Nickname: Location in Mecklenburg County in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: , Country United States State North Carolina Counties Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Government  - Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area  - City  280. ... The interior of a typical Macys department store. ...

History

Beginnings

Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk, the store was first called "New York Racket" and then "Belk Brothers," after William Belk made his brother, John, a partner.^[2] The business grew steadily, relying on "bargain sales" and advertising to grow the business. Today, the chain is still family-owned and currently has more than 275 stores in 16 Southern states, particularly in the Carolinas.^[3] The southernmost Belk store is located in Fort Myers, FL. In 2005, Belk generated US$2.45 billion in sales and employed 17,900 people.^[2] Historic Southern United States. ... The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. ...

Belk claims to distinguish itself from competitors by offering attentive customer service and a "hassle-free" return policy.^[4] If a customer loses the receipt and still wants to return an item that was paid for with the Belk credit card, the transaction can be completed using the Belk card as proof of purchase in order to process the return.

During the fourth quarter of 2005, Belk completed the sale of their private label credit card division, Belk National Bank, to GE MoneyBank. Consumers were issued new Belk credit cards replacing the old ones issued by BNB. All new Belk cards are now issued by GE Money Bank.^[3]

Proffitt's, McRae's, Parisian

On July 5, 2005, Belk completed the purchase of 47 Proffitt's and McRae's department stores from Saks Incorporated. Belk converted the 39 Proffitt's and McRae's stores to the Belk nameplate on March 8, 2006.^[5] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... McRaes is a department store chain based in Jackson, Mississippi. ... Saks Incorporated (NYSE: SKS) is an operator of department stores in the United States. ...

Belk purchased 38 Parisian department stores from Saks Incorporated on October 2, 2006. Although most Parisian stores will be converted to the Belk namplate by September 12, 2007, nearly a dozen Parisian stores are slated to close or have been closed. Four stores in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, plus a store under construction in Michigan, were sold by Belk to The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. // Parisian is a moderate to upscale U.S. chain of department stores, based in Birmingham, Alabama known for its superior level of personalized service and limited distribution of specialty brands such as Juicy Couture, Karen Kane, BCBG Max Azria, Garfield & Marks, Tahari, Jig Saw, 7 For All Mankind, Diesel, Paper... Saks Incorporated (NYSE: SKS) is an operator of department stores in the United States. ... The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. ...

Belk additionally traded its newly-acquired Parisian location in Collierville, Tennessee, with Macy's parent Federated for a Macy's (former Hecht's) in Wilmington, North Carolina, during the second quarter of 2007.^[6][7] Collierville is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee and a suburb of the Memphis metropolitan area. ... Hechts, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. ... Wilmington is a city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Partnership names

Beginning in 1921 with the Leggett Bros. stores of Virginia, the Belk family formed various partnerships with other merchandisers in different markets. (This complex story is chronicled in a book^[8] about the evolution of the company.) This unusual corporate ownership structure resulted in dual or hyphened names on many of their stores. In 1998, Belk bought out or merged away this partnership structure and formed Belk, Inc. from its 112 existing Belk companies, with certain well-established partnership names allowed to remain.^[2] Some of the dual names used included: Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ...

• Belk Beck (formerly in High Point, North Carolina and Burlington, North Carolina)
• Belk Beery (formerly in Wilmington, North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia)
• Belk Broome (formerly in Hickory, NC and Spruce Pine, North Carolina)
• Belk Brothers (Monroe, NC)
• Belk Daughtridge (Rocky Mount, NC)
• Belk Gallant (formerly in Atlanta, Georgia and Manchester, Georgia
• Belk Hagins (formerly in Americus, Georgia and Dawson, Georgia)
• Belk Harry (Salisbury, NC)
• Belk Hensdale (formerly in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Lumberton, North Carolina, and officially, though never signed, in Laurinburg, North Carolina)
• Belk Hudson (formerly in Brunswick, Georgia, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Palatka, Florida and Valdosta, Georgia)
• Belk-Jones (formerly in Stuttgart, Arkansas)
• Belk Leggett (formerly in Danville, Virginia and Durham, North Carolina*)
• Belk Lindsey (formerly in North Florida, Puerto Rico)
• Belk McNight (Greer, SC)
• Belk Matthews (formerly in Macon, Georgia and Warner Robins, Georgia, also in Cramerton, NC)
• Belk Rhodes (formerly in Rome, Georgia, Carrollton, Georgia and Cedartown, Georgia)
• Belk Robinson (Charleston, SC)
• Belk Schrum (Lincolnton, NC)
• Belk Simpson (formerly in Kentucky, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina
• Belk Stevens (Winston-Salem, NC and Burlington, NC)
• Belk Tyler (formerly in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Elizabeth City, North Carolina and other parts of northeastern North Carolina).
• Belk Williams (Clinton, NC)
• Belk Yates (formerly in Asheboro, North Carolina and Siler City)
• Gallant Belk (Anderson, SC)
• Hudson Belk (still used in The Triangle)
• Kirkpatrick-Belk (York, SC)
• Leggett (formerly in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Delaware)
• Matthews Belk (still used at the Gastonia, NC location)
• Parks Belk (formerly in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia)
• Stephenson Belk (Rockingham, NC)
• White-Parks-Belk (Spartanburg, SC)
• Williams Belk (Sanford, NC)

* The Belk Leggett in Durham was changed to a Hudson Belk and has since closed. Nickname: Location in Guilford County and the state of North Carolina Country United States State North Carolina Counties Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Forsyth Government  - Mayor Rebecca Smothers Area  - City  95. ... Nickname: Motto: Ill Tell The World Location of Burlington within North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States State North Carolina County Alamance County Founded 1857 (Company Shops) Founded 1886 (Burlington) Incorporated February 14, 1893 Government  - Mayor Stephen M. Ross Area  - City  21. ... Wilmington is a city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. ... Coordinates: , County Chatham Government  - Mayor Otis S. Johnson Area  - City 202. ... Hickory is a city located in Catawba County, North Carolina. ... Spruce Pine is a town in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States. ... Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. ... Location of Rocky Mount within North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States U.S. state North Carolina County(s) Edgecombe, Nash Founded Circa March 22, 1816 Incorporated February 28, 1907 Mayor Frederick E. Turnage Area    - City 92. ... Hotlanta redirects here. ... Manchester is a city located mostly in Meriwether County, Georgia, with a small portion in Talbot County, Georgia. ... Americus is a city located in Sumter County, Georgia. ... Dawson is a city located in Terrell County, Georgia. ... Salisbury is a city located in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. ... Cross Creek Linear Park Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. ... Lumberton is a city located in Robeson County, North Carolina. ... Laurinburg is a mid-sized city in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States, that consists of a Wal-Mart, Golden Corral and a few other fast food resturaunts. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Georgia Coordinates: , Country United States State Georgia County Glynn Government  - Mayor Bryan Thompson (R) Area  - City 25. ... Spartanburg is the largest city and the county seat of Spartanburg CountyGR6 in South Carolina, and is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina. ... Location in the State of Florida Coordinates: County Putnam County Incorporated January 8, 1853 Government  - Mayor-Commissioner Karl N. Flagg Area  - City 19. ... The city of Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. ... Location of Stuttgart in Arkansas. ... Nickname: River City, City of Churches Motto: A World Class Organization Country United States State Virginia County Independent City  - Mayor R. Wayne Williams, Jr. ... Nickname: Location in North Carolina Country United States State North Carolina County Durham County Government  - Mayor Bill Bell Area  - City  94. ... Location in the state of Florida Major cities Jacksonville Fernandina Beach St. ... Greer is a city located in South Carolina. ... Macon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County, It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 75 miles (129 km) south of Atlanta, hence the citys nickname as the Heart of... Nickname: The International City Location in Georgia Coordinates: Counties Houston and Peach Founded September 1, 1942 Government  - Mayor Donald S. Walker Area  - City 59. ... Cramerton is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. ... Rome is the largest city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. ... Panoramic of Carrollton circa 1912. ... Cedartowns historic Big Spring provides water to 10,000 people. ... Charleston, South Carolinas Oldest City Charleston is an American city located in Charleston County, South Carolina. ... Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Greenville is the sixth largest city in the state of South Carolina. ... Winston-Salem is a city located in Forsyth County, North Carolina. ... Burlington is a city located in Alamance County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. ... Nickname: Location of Rocky Mount within North Carolina Coordinates: , Country United States U.S. state North Carolina County(s) Edgecombe, Nash Founded Circa March 22, 1816 Incorporated February 28, 1867 Government  - Mayor Frederick E. Turnage Area  - City  35. ... Nickname: Location in Pasquotank and Camden counties in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States State North Carolina Counties Pasquotank and Camden Government  - Mayor Rev. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Clinton is a city in Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. ... Asheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. ... Siler City is a town located in Chatham County, North Carolina. ... Anderson is a city located in Anderson County, South Carolina. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section can be improved by converting lengthy lists to text. ... York is a city in York County, South Carolina, United States. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... Gastonia is a city in Gaston County in North Carolina, a state in the southeastern United States of America. ... East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the state of Tennessee. ... Southwest Virginia at its greatest geographical definition Southwest Virginia is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. ... Rockingham is a city located in Richmond County, North Carolina. ... Spartanburg is a city located in Spartanburg County in South Carolina, a state of the United States of America, and 98 miles northwest of Columbia. ... Sanford is a city in Lee County, North Carolina, United States. ...

Other notes

• Some Belk stores, such as the Tarboro, North Carolina location, had "Belko" service stations.^[9]
• John Belk, who went on to become mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, was the chairman of the Belk Company. He has a freeway named after him (as does his immediate predecessor as mayor, Stan Brookshire), which is part of Interstate 277, an inner loop around Uptown Charlotte.

Historic Downtown Tarboro, NC. Photo taken by Brad Hufford of FoR ENC. Tarboro is a town located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. ... Service station is a term with different meanings in different parts of the world: In the United States and Canada, it refers to a filling station that also offers such services as oil change and mechanical repairs to automobiles. ... Nickname: Location in Mecklenburg County in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: , Country United States State North Carolina Counties Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Government  - Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area  - City  280. ... Interstate 277 (abbreviated I-277) is a 4. ... Night skyline of Charlotte Center City Charlotte center city (also known as Uptown Charlotte) is the area comprising the township and original city of Charlotte, North Carolina. ...

References

1. ^ Belk, Inc. - Company Profile
2. ^ ^{a b c} Belk, Inc.
3. ^ ^{a b} Belk Official Website
4. ^ Belk, Inc.-- The Company and the Family That Built It
5. ^ http://www.timesnews.net/article.dna?_StoryID=3608580
6. ^ N.C. town lands Collierville's Parisian
7. ^ Macy's store listing in metropolitan Memphis area (38103), accessed on May 17, 2007
8. ^ Belk, Inc.-- The Company and the Family That Built It
9. ^ http://stevenswain.blogspot.com/2006/08/fill-er-up-at-belk.html

External links

• Belk
• Belk-Parisian merger website