Joske's flagship store at Alamo and Commerce Streets in downtown San Antonio, Texas. This postcard is believed to depict the store before the 1909 expansion.

A postcard believed to be depicting the downtown flagship store after it was expanded in 1909, but before the Art Deco facade was added in 1939.

Joske's, founded by German immigrant Julius Joske [1] in 1867, was a department store chain originally based in San Antonio, Texas. In December 1928 Hahn Department Stores acquired the company along with the Titche-Goettinger department store of Dallas, and three years later Hahn became part of Allied Stores. Allied was taken over by Campeau in 1986, and Campeau in turn sold the Joske's chain in 1987 to Dillard's. All Joske's stores were then quickly converted into Dillard's locations. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (823x517, 99 KB) Summary Joskes department store postcard. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (823x517, 99 KB) Summary Joskes department store postcard. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (813x524, 123 KB) Joskes department store postcard. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (813x524, 123 KB) Joskes department store postcard. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The interior of a typical Macys department store. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... The Wilson Building at Elm and Ervay Streets in Dallas, Texas housed Titche-Goettinger between 1904 and 1929. ...      Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ... Allied Stores was a department store chain in the United States. ... Robert Campeau is a Canadian financier and real estate developer born in Chelmsford, Ontario (near Sudbury) on August 3, 1923. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dillards (NYSE: DDS), based in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a major department store chain in the United States, with 329 stores in 29 states as of 2005. ...

Origins

Joske Bros. on Alamo Street in the late 1800s. Eventually Joske's would move one last time, across the street where its flagship store would be built.

Joske's first store, located on Main Plaza in San Antonio and known as J. Joske, opened in 1867 and operated until 1873, when Joske sold it and went back to Berlin for his family. After returning to San Antonio the same year, Joske opened a new store on Austin Street called J. Joske and Sons. Joske moved the store to Alamo Plaza and changed its name to Joske Brothers. Image File history File links Joskes_alamo_street_late_1800s. ... Image File history File links Joskes_alamo_street_late_1800s. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. ...

Flagship store

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (affectionately referred to by locals as "St. Joske's" even years after the acquisition by Dillard's) is surrounded on three sides by the former Joske's flagship store.

Dillard's only occupies two floors of the flagship store's southwest wing.

In 1887 the store was moved across the street to the corner of Alamo and Commerce Streets, overlooking historic Alamo Plaza. New floors and elevators were added during a 1909 expansion. In 1936, the five-level store became the first fully air-conditioned store in Texas, and the store became known as "The Big Store." Image File history File linksMetadata St_Josephpt. ... Image File history File linksMetadata St_Josephpt. ... Image File history File links Joskes_SW_Wing. ... Image File history File links Joskes_SW_Wing. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The store was expanded and renovated again in 1939, sporting a new Art Deco facade as well as the first escalators installed in a Texas store. To make way for this expansion, the rooftop electric sign (the largest electric sign in Texas) where a cowboy was shown lassoing a steer came down. When Joske's wanted to expand again in 1945, nearby St. Joseph's Catholic Church refused to sell its land. Nevertheless, Joske's kept expanding, and St. Joseph's was eventually surrounded on three sides by the store and was jokingly called "St. Joske's." By 1953 the flagship store had been expanded several times. The 551,000-square-foot five-level store was the largest department store west of the Mississippi until its closure in 1987. The long-time slogan for the chain was "the biggest store in the biggest state." 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Asheville City Hall. ... Escalators at Westminster tube station, London An escalator is a conveyor transport device to transport people, consisting of a staircase whose steps move up or down on tracks which keep the surfaces of the individual steps horizontal. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

At one time, a shopper could get a custom-made saddle in the downtown store. Departments included spurs and saddles; appliances; a travel agency; an Oriental rug gallery; a loaning library; a bakery; gourmet foods; and books and toys. Joske's flagship store also featured the Camellia Room (for formal dining), the Chuck Wagon, and the Fountain Room (a coffee shop).

During the Holidays, the flagship store was well-known for its fourth-floor "Fantasyland";^[1] its holiday-themed window displays, including a large window with a toy train set; and the 40-foot-tall Santa Claus^[2] that sat atop the roof. "Rusty the Reinsteer" was the Joske's holiday mascot. A common depiction of Santa Claus. ...

Expansion

Concentrating on keeping the downtown flagship store a destination location, Joske's of Texas (as the chain became known as) did not expand to a suburban location until 1957, when it opened its second store in the Las Palmas Shopping Center in southwest San Antonio. Illustration of the backyards of a surburban neighbourhood Suburbs are inhabited districts located either on the outer rim of a city or outside the official limits of a city (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In January 1965, Joske's purchased rival Wolff and Marx with its downtown flagship and North Star Mall locations. Joske's stated that there would be no immediate changes in operation of Wolff and Marx, however, in less than a month the seven-story downtown Wolff and Marx store was closed because the store did not have escalators and the building had passed its useful life as a modern department store. Joske's sold the downtown Wolff and Marx building in 1968, and the building is now known as the Rand Building. The North Star Mall Wolff and Marx location was replaced in 1969 with a new five-level Joske's, its third San Antonio-area store. 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... A pair of Texas-sized cowboy boots near the Saks Fifth Avenue greets drivers along Loop 410. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Year 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

The chain expanded into Houston in 1956 and into Austin in 1971. Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas County Travis County  - Mayor Will Wynn Area    - City 669. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

Joske's purchased two mall locations in El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona (Joske's first and only location outside Texas), from Liberty House in 1978. A panoramic view of El Paso, Texas from the north. ... Nickname: Valley of the Sun Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: Country United States State Arizona Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area    - City 1,230. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

In 1979 Allied's Titche-Goettinger's stores (more commonly known as Titche's) in Dallas were renamed Joske's. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ... The Wilson Building at Elm and Ervay Streets in Dallas, Texas housed Titche-Goettinger between 1904 and 1929. ...

In 1985 Allied Stores consolidated Joske's three Texas divisions — Dallas, Houston and San Antonio — into one central division based in downtown Dallas. The three independent operating and merchandising staffs in the separate divisions were consolidated into a single, larger unit, and Robert T. Mettler was named president and chief executive officer of the combined organization. The corporate office was based at its Downtown Dallas store at Main and St. Paul streets, occupying the top three floors of the seven-story building. At the time, Allied's Joske's division had 6,200 employees, including 800 at its corporate offices, and 27 stores. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

End of an era

The southeast wing of the closed flagship store currently houses a Limited Express on the street level.

In 1987 after Allied's acquisition by Campeau, the then 27-store Joske's chain was sold to Dillard's, a then 115-store chain based in Little Rock, Arkansas, ending over 100 years of Texas-based retailing. Image File history File links Joskes_SE_Wing. ... Image File history File links Joskes_SE_Wing. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Robert Campeau is a Canadian financier and real estate developer born in Chelmsford, Ontario (near Sudbury) on August 3, 1923. ... Dillards (NYSE: DDS), based in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a major department store chain in the United States, with 329 stores in 29 states as of 2005. ... Nickname: Rocktown, The Rock, Capital City Coordinates: Country United States State Arkansas County Pulaski Founded 1821 Incorporated 1831 Mayor Jim Dailey Mayor-Elect: Mark Stodola [1] Area    - City 302. ...

The San Antonio Conservation Society requested that Dillard's keep the Joske's name on the downtown San Antonio flagship store. The society wrote a letter to then Dillard's President William E. Dillard II urging that the store name be retained.

After the acquisition, the massive flagship store was divided up, with Dillard's occupying only a portion of the five-level building. The remaining area of the building was converted into lease space and a retail atrium for Rivercenter (which was under construction at the time of the buyout) and an AMC movie theater. Even with the division of the building into other uses, portions of the structure, including the old "bargain basement," remain unoccupied to this day. Though a redevelopment plan was revealed in October 2006,^[3] in which the Joske's facade along Commerce Street would be restored, bringing back the windows and brick that were covered in one of Joske's own renovations before Rivercenter was built, and tenants would be added for the 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space currently vacant on two upper floors. San Antonio's Historic and Design Review Commission approved the redevelopment plan on October 4, 2006.^[4] Rivercenter is a shopping mall located in downtown San Antonio, Texas along the River Walk. ... AMC Promenade 16 multiplex in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, California. ...

Former Joske's locations

Arizona

• Metrocenter Mall, Phoenix, Arizona (opened 1973 as Rhodes, became Liberty House, sold to Joske's 1978, became a second Dillard's location 1987, sold to JC Penney 1997)

Metrocenter is a large mall in Northwest Phoenix next to Interstate 17 and the amusement park, Castles n Coasters. ... Nickname: Valley of the Sun Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: Country United States State Arizona Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area    - City 1,230. ...

Texas

Austin

• Highland Mall, Austin, Texas (opened 1971, became Dillard's 1987)

Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas County Travis County  - Mayor Will Wynn Area    - City 669. ...

Beaumont

• Parkdale Mall, Beaumont, Texas (opened 1972, first level became Dillard's Men's Store 1987; 2006 store was expanded as sole Dillard's location)

Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Jefferson County Mayor Guy Goodson Area    - City 222. ...

Corpus Christi

• Sunrise Mall, Corpus Christi, Texas (closed 1987)

Nickname: Sparkling City by the Sea Location in the state of Texas Counties Nueces County Mayor Henry Garrett Area    - City 1,192. ...

Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex

• Downtown Dallas, Dallas, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger 1929, became Joske's 1979, closed 1987; 456,000 sq. ft.)
• NorthPark Center, Dallas, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger 1965, became Joske's 1979, became Dillard's 1987; 200,000 sq. ft.)
• Prestonwood Town Center, Dallas, Texas (opened 1979, became Dillard's 1987, closed 1998; 140,000 sq. ft.)
• Red Bird Mall (now Southwest Center Mall), Dallas, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger 1975, became Joske's 1979, became Dillard's 1987; 100,000 sq. ft.)
• Preston Forest Village Shopping Center, Dallas, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger, became Joske's 1979, shuttered 1987; 117,000 sq. ft.)
• Irving Mall, Irving, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger 1971, became Joske's 1979, Dillard's already operated a store, sold to Foley's 1987; 160,000 sq. ft.)
• Town East Mall, Mesquite, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger 1971, became Joske's 1979, became Dillard's 1987, replacing existing store that was sold to JC Penney; 160,000 sq. ft.)
• Richardson Square, Richardson, Texas (opened as Titche-Goettinger 1977, became Joske's 1979, became Dillard's second location 1987, closed 1995; 140,000 sq. ft.)

     Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ... NorthPark Center is an upscale shopping mall located in north Dallas, Texas (USA) with over 120 stores and anchors. ...      Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ... Prestonwood Mall opened in 1979, at the adjacent to Dallas Parkway between Arapaho and Belt Line Road. ...      Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ... Southwest Center Mall (formerly known as Red Bird Mall) is a distressed shopping mall located in Dallas, Texas. ...      Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ...      Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ... Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. ... Mesquite is a suburb of Dallas, Texas, located in Dallas County and Kaufman County, Texas. ... Richardson Interurban Depot, 1908 Nickname none Location Location within the state of Texas Government County Dallas County Collin County City Manager Bill Keffler Geographical characteristics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 74. ...

El Paso

• Cielo Vista Mall, El Paso, Texas (opened 1974 as Liberty House, sold to Joske's 1978, became Dillard's 1987)

A panoramic view of El Paso, Texas from the north. ...

Greater Houston

• Baybrook Mall, Friendswood, Texas (opened 1978, became Dillard's 1987, replaced 2002)
• Greenspoint Mall, Houston, Texas (became Dillard's 1987)
• Gulfgate Mall, Houston, Texas (opened 1956, became Dillard's 1987, closed 1997)
• Northline Mall, Houston, Texas (opened 1965, Dillard's closed 1987)
• Post Oak (freestanding), Houston, Texas (opened 1963, became Dillard's 1987)
• Town & Country Mall, Houston, Texas (opened 1983, became Dillard's 1987, closed 2003 with Memorial City store opening)
• Westwood Mall, Houston, Texas (became Dillard's 1987, closed 1998)
• Willowbrook Mall, Houston, Texas (opened 1981, became Dillard's 1987, sold to Lord & Taylor 1997 [closed 2004] and moved to larger space vacated by Macy's)
• Brazos Mall, Lake Jackson, Texas (opened 1979, became Dillard's 1987)
• Pasadena Town Square, Pasadena, Texas (opened 1982, became Dillard's 1987, closed 2006)

Friendswood is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas, partially in Galveston County and Harris County, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area. ... Greenspoint Mall is a shopping mall located in Houston, Texas, at the intersection of Interstate 45 and Beltway 8. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Uptown Houston Uptown Houston, or the Uptown District, is mainly centered around the the Galleria, the largest and most prestigious shopping mall in Houston. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... This article lacks information on the importance of the subject matter. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Willowbrook Mall is a 1. ... Nickname: Space City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Area    - City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Lake Jackson is a city located in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area. ... Nickname: Strawberry Capitol Location in the state of Texas. ...

San Antonio

• Alamo Plaza (flagship), San Antonio, Texas (opened 1887, portion of original store reopened as Dillard's and Rivercenter lease space 1988)
• Ingram Park Mall, San Antonio, Texas (opened 1979, became a Dillard's Home Store 1987)
• Las Palmas Shopping Center, San Antonio, Texas (opened 1957, closed before 1987, now an H-E-B Grocery Store and other shops)
• North Star Mall, San Antonio, Texas (opened 1969, became Dillard's 1987)
• Windsor Park Mall, San Antonio, Texas (opened 1976, lower level became a Dillard's Home Store and upper level a food court in 1987, closed 2002)

Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ... Ingram Park Mall is a shopping mall located in the northwest section San Antonio, Texas off Interstate 410 and Ingram Road. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ... H.E. Butt Grocery Company (abbreviated H-E-B) is a Texas supermarket chain with over 300 stores and 56,000 employees. ... A pair of Texas-sized cowboy boots near the Saks Fifth Avenue greets drivers along Loop 410. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ...

References

1. ^ Then & Now: New memories. MySA.com (November 28, 2004). Retrieved on 9 October 2006.
2. ^ Paula Allen: Santa rode Joske's Christmas wave. MySA.com (December 19, 2004). Retrieved on 9 October 2006.
3. ^ Redevelopment plans afoot for downtown mall. MySA.com (October 4, 2006). Retrieved on 9 October 2006.
4. ^ Mall makeover plan gets tentative approval. MySA.com (October 5, 2006). Retrieved on 9 October 2006.

October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• The Handbook of Texas Online (Texas State Historical Association) The history of Joske's