Gus Blass Department Store

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Postcard view of Gus Blass Department Store.
Blass Department Store on Main Street.

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