Curated Texan
With All The Media Attention, The Store’s Fans Line Up To Demand That 1618 Main Street Remains Open
What happens when a great lady may be put out to pasture before her time? When the Neiman Marcus downtown Dallas store, the brand’s mothership, announced that its 110-year-old headquarters might become extinct, the world took notice, as did Texas fan and New York-based art historian and urban preservationist Andrew Cronson. Here, he weighs in on why the grande dame location matters to Texas…and the world.
Growing up as a young child, I remember seeing “The Polar Express,” a beloved story about a young boy who was offered a surreal ride on a train to the North Pole to understand the true meaning of Christmas. In one of the scenes, the locomotive passes by Herpolsheimer’s, depicting this dreamlike defunct store from Grand Rapids with dazzling animatronic displays and neon signage in full splendor. For a brief moment, watching that, it felt like it was real. One of the overarching themes in the film is wonderment, which allows us to look with new eyes at what we see and imagine the impossible. It is a remarkably complex concept that only becomes more salient years later to serve as more than just sentimentality.
I was so fortunate to grow up in a family rooted in instilling an appreciation of culture from a very young age. We often went to museums, the opera, the philharmonic—all these extraordinary honors. I would watch “This Old House” on PBS from a very young age, which showed the value of craftsmanship and that we still can renew what is old. That all came to a turning point at just 16 or 17 when I learned not only that one of the largest mansions in America was minutes on foot from my home, but that it was slated to be demolished in good condition with little opposition. That kind of short-sighted thinking came across as incredibly unsustainable and nihilistic when there are generally, without question, profitable alternatives that can be attained instead. It shaped my worldview that getting involved personally whenever possible is essential to have a better future for our built and natural environment. Accepting the consequence of apathy is far too heavy a burden to bear.
Despite the differences in my background, Neiman Marcus remains so compelling. The old era of malls and department stores has remained alive for the store amidst rapid change in the brick-and-mortar industry. Flagship locations especially hold the lion’s share of interest from the public looking for some of the few experiences that can’t be automated in a digital era. The moments, the sights, the smells, the people–a repertoire that could not be fabricated authentically for all the money in the world. Every inch has a story.
Neiman Marcus has made a name that has been represented in cultural lore and a record of publication spanning multiple generations as one of the most celebrated of all time. That status was earned with a loyalty that was the envy of entire industries, across a cross-section of all backgrounds. It spoke to a rare longevity of persistence in even the most trying of circumstances. The store’s flourishing success intersected with many of the defining moments in America’s history, using them as a springboard and inviting everyone associated with the store to partake in that exceptionalism. This physical presence is what keeps that spirit alive.
The assuredness of purchasing from a store like Neiman Marcus provides a sense of respect for the self-doubting, even today, much akin to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Their merchants’ choosing to stock a line or a designer was an endorsement of worthiness in a sea of duplicates and goods that were of lesser standard. Expertise consumers sought to enhance their background. It is a discovery that is hard to imagine in our current era of the internet and social media. The shining beacon for the store was that it curated the very best of what could be found from all over the world. By its very nature, much was exclusive. What was fit for the best of society would be good for anyone of good sensibility and exceptional distinction. Though tastes shift like a pendulum over time, core principles that undergird what is of taste have not changed. The emotional connection between people and their merchandise is what made them so enormously special.
As a shopper of Bergdorf Goodman (part of the Neiman Marcus store family), I was most fortunate to know Betty Halbreich, who was one of the progenitors of personal shopping in America. Until her death at 96, Halbreich was an icon in her own right and an authority on fashion history. Her client list included socialites, celebrities, heads of state, and businesspeople for nearly half a century. Even more so than who she dressed, she garnered respect for her instincts that transcended all boundaries. For those who could find Betty Halbreich Solutions down a nondescript corridor on the third floor, they knew they were entering someplace incomparable. Halbreich was known for her wisdom combined with humor and wit, which became a sought-after commodity for anyone searching for style. She fulfilled a deep need for people to be seen on a subsurface level for who they truly are. The skills of empathy and the ability to understand deeply were her greatest powers. Betty was so committed to class and nurturing the best things in life, making her a great role model. The moments she spent with me between her actual clients are something that will always be cherished. Knowing who she was and what she stood for compels me to uphold the Neiman Marcus legacy to keep a little bit of that magic alive in her honor.
Perhaps more than anything else, Neiman Marcus was the apotheosis of aspiration for both shoppers and designers who hoped to be sold there. It reminded us of that universal longing to broaden our horizons to better ourselves, to be who we dreamed of being. Taking great leaps of faith and establishing our own voices. Seeing what we can work toward…to feel what it is like to have become someone of accomplishment–is needed to imagine that these lofty ambitions can be realized and that we all can participate. Going back to the Texan roots of self-determination, that notion of opening the door of opportunity for anyone is a part of the guiding values of the state and really of our proud nation.
For more information on Neiman Marcus’ illustrious past, visit here.
