Photo via @neimanmarcus on Instagram.
Neiman Marcus’ flagship store in downtown Dallas will shutter on March 31. This news comes less than a year after the company’s merger with Saks Fifth Avenue and the announcement of their CityPlace offices closing. While the Marcus name has undeniably made its mark Citywide as one of the founding families, they also have a rich history in our neighborhood.
Our neighbors
Neiman Marcus co-founders Carrie Marcus and Al-Neiman lived at 5803 Swiss Avenue. The duo were neighbors to Bishop Joseph Pat-rick Lynch from the Catholic Diocses of Dallas and Collett H. Munger, the manager of Munger Place.
Stanley Marcus was also located squarely in our neighborhood, on Nonsuch Road in a 1938 home. The property faced the possibility of a tear down by the owners at the time, Mark and Patricia Lavvorn.
The tides shifted after community and media push back in 2008, resulting in the residence receiving a historic designation a couple years later — which prevents alterations to the original home’s exterior. In 2009, Stanley’s home was placed in the lap of two architects from W2 Studio, Melissa and Ryan Williams. The duo was tasked with executing renovations from the owners. After the home underwent the renovations, Lavvorn placed the home on the market for $5.4 million.
Stanley’s father, Herbert Marcus lived at 6735 Westlake in a 1927 home. His widow, Minnie Lichtensein lived in the home until her death in 1979. The residence hosted many fashion and business dignitaries during the couple’s time, including a party for the Texas Centennial in the summertime of 1936.
The name living on in media
Stanley Marcus was featured in the documentary film Mr. Stanley: The Merchant Prince. The film, made by Dallas-based filmmakers Mike Mullins and Miles Hargrove of M3 Films, was nominated for Best Documentary at the La Jolla International Film Festival in 2018.
The great niece of Carrie Marcus Neiman wrote a book, titled A Girl Named Carrie: The Visionary Who Created Neiman Marcus and Set the Standard for Fashion, that was released in 2021, outlining Carrie’s role in the making of Neiman Marcus. In the book, Carrie is described as “the quiet genius behind the success of the internationally famous emporium known as Neiman Marcus,” according to Paper City.
