Store Profiles: Foley's

Foley's was founded in Houston, Texas in 1900 as Foley Brothers, by Irishmen Patrick and James Foley, as a small store focusing on dry goods for men. In 1905, they expanded to carry women's and children's products. In 1917, the Foley's sold their chain to Galveston merchants George and Robert Cohen, and in 1922, Foley's moved into a 3-story building in Houston.

Ironically, the store was first acquired by Federated Department Stores in the mid-1940s. In 1947, Foley's opened a new flagship store at 1110 Main Street, which was heralded as the department store of the future. In 1951, the store held their first Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In 1960, Foley's opened their first branch store in Sharpstown, Texas; shortly followed by a third store in Pasadena, Texas. During the 1970s, Foley's expanded throughout Texas, adding stores in Austin, and expanding into San Antonio during the 1980's. In 1987, Foley's was merged with Federated's Dallas-based Sanger-Harris, with operations consolidated in Houston. The addition of Sanger-Harris also added stores in Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico.

In 1988, Federated was acquired by Campeau Corporation, which sold Foley's and Filene's to May. Following the May merger, a few underperforming stores were closed, and May began to work to build new stores and renovate old ones. In 1993, May D&F was merged with Foley's, bringing Foley's to the Colorado market and returning it to the Oklahoma City market. In 1995, Foley's left Tucson with the transfer of the existing Foley's stores to Robinsons-May,and in 2001, Foley's entered Louisiana by acquiring several Maison Blanche stores.

With the acquisition of May by Federated, the Foley's brand returned full circle to it's owner of over 40 years.

Foley's: February 12, 1900 to September 9, 2006 at 9:30am CST