Gus Blass Department Store
The Gus Blass Company Department Store was founded by Gus Blass and Max Heiman near Little Rock's steamboat landing in 1871, and within a few years occupied several storefronts on the 300 block of Main, including 307-309-311, which held its wholesale operation. Fire swept the block sometime after 1900.
The extant building at 310-322 Main Street was designed in the style of Lewis Sullivan by architect George R. Mann and constructed in 1912-1913. A fire damaged the facade in 1916. A Candy Kitchen operated inside the building. The even side of the 300 block of Main also held a U.S. Post Office, the Rose Building, and the offices of optometrist Ralph Hannah.
The store was purchased by William T. Dillard in February 1964. It was renamed Pfeifer-Blass in 1968 in a merger with nearby department store Pfeifer's. The Blass location was permanently closed in July 1972.
References
- Leroy Donald, "Owner Finds New Home for Store Behind Facade," Arkansas Gazette, October 23, 1983.
- Ray Hanley, Little Rock (Arcadia Publishing, 2007), 25.
External links
Street View of the former Blass Store |
