Dunlaps

Dunlaps was a family-owned regional department-store chain based in Texas that served communities across the central and southern United States. Although the Dunlaps name was used on many locations, the company also preserved the identities of acquired local retailers, operating stores under names such as Stripling & Cox, MM Cohn, Rogers, Clark's, Schreiner's of Kerrville, Hieronimus, Kerr's, Kline's, The White House, and Gabriel's. At its height, the organization operated 38 stores in eight states. The business began around 1890, when H. G. Dunlap established a small general store in Wagoner, Oklahoma, then part of Indian Territory, during the period associated with the Land Rush. The Dunlap operation was later combined with a store established by Dunlap's sons in nearby Coweta. By 1921, the Dunlap Brothers had expanded to approximately 20 stores in eastern Oklahoma. The family subsequently planned to close the business and relocate to California, where it intended to establish another group of stores. A major turning point came through Retha R. Martin, who had joined the company in 1916 and eventually managed its last remaining Oklahoma store in Eufaula. Martin was invited into the partnership with a 40 percent interest and was expected to relocate to California to manage the new venture. Strong trading conditions in Eufaula led the partners to keep him there instead. Under Martin's leadership, the store prospered and became the foundation for the next phase of the business. In 1939, Martin began acquiring stores in West Texas, attracted by the growth of the region's ranching and oil economy. By 1943, the company had 14 stores, concentrated primarily in West Texas and New Mexico, and its headquarters had moved to Lubbock, Texas. The company later developed a broad portfolio through acquisitions, including Goldstein-Migel of Waco in 1976, The White House of Beaumont in 1986, MM Cohn of Little Rock in 1989, Steketee's of Michigan in 1991, and Porteous of Portland, Maine, in 1992. Dunlaps generally allowed acquired stores to retain their established names rather than imposing a single national identity. This approach helped preserve local recognition and enabled the company to operate in markets with different retail traditions and customer profiles. However, the portfolio also became difficult to manage geographically. Some banners, including Heironimus, Steketee's, Katz, McClurkan's, and Goldstein-Migel, were eventually closed or converted to Dunlaps stores because of operating losses, lease problems, or the practical difficulties of managing distant locations. The chain ultimately faced intense competition from larger retailers and increasing financial pressure. Supplier litigation was also identified among the difficulties affecting the business. In June 2007, Dunlaps announced that it would liquidate the company and its associated stores after being unable to obtain financing for a loan intended to keep the business operating. Liquidation sales continued through the middle of 2007, after which the remaining locations closed. Its shutdown marked the disappearance of one of the last small regional department-store chains in the United States.

Dunlaps originated around 1890 as a small general store founded by H. G. Dunlap in Wagoner, Oklahoma, then part of Indian Territory. The store was established during the period of the Land Rush and later became connected with a second Dunlap Brothers store founded by Dunlap's sons in nearby Coweta. By 1921, the family business had expanded to about 20 stores across eastern Oklahoma. The Dunlap family eventually planned to retire from the retail business, close the Oklahoma stores, and move to California to establish a new group of stores. Retha R. Martin, who had joined the company in 1916, had become manager of the final remaining Eufaula store. He was invited to become a partner with a 40 percent interest and was initially expected to relocate to California. Because the Eufaula store was performing well, the partnership decided that Martin should remain in Oklahoma. The store continued to prosper under his management and became the base for the company's later expansion. In 1939, Martin began acquiring stores in West Texas. The region's expanding ranching and oil industries made it an attractive market for a general-merchandise retailer. By 1943, the business had grown to 14 stores, mainly in West Texas and New Mexico, and the headquarters had been moved to Lubbock, Texas. The company's later headquarters were in Fort Worth, Texas. Dunlaps expanded through the acquisition of established regional and local department stores. Notable transactions included Goldstein-Migel of Waco in 1976, The White House of Beaumont in 1986, MM Cohn of Little Rock in 1989, Steketee's in Michigan in 1991, and Porteous of Portland, Maine, in 1992. Other banners associated with the group included Stripling & Cox, Rogers, Clark's, Schreiner's of Kerrville, Hieronimus, Kerr's, Kline's, Gabriel's, Eiband's, Lintz, McClurkan's, Pegues, Hirsch's, Russel's, and several additional local names. Rather than immediately converting every acquired store to Dunlaps, the company often preserved local names and existing retail identities. This multi-banner approach allowed individual stores to maintain community recognition, and the portfolio served markets with differing customer bases. Over time, however, some locations were closed or converted because of losses, lease issues, or the logistical burden of operating distant stores. The company eventually operated approximately 38 stores in eight states. The chain's later years were shaped by competition from larger retailers and the increasing difficulty of financing a small, geographically dispersed department-store group. Supplier lawsuits were also cited among the pressures on the business. In June 2007, Dunlaps announced that it and its associated store banners would cease operations because it could not obtain financing for a loan intended to keep the company afloat. Liquidation sales were conducted over the following months, and the last locations closed by mid-2007. The closure ended the history of a family-owned regional department-store group that had survived through local-store acquisitions and a deliberately decentralized brand structure.

• 2007

  Liquidation and closure

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  Dunlaps announces that it cannot obtain financing to continue operating. Liquidation sales close the remaining stores by mid-year.

• 1992

  Porteous is acquired

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  Dunlaps acquires Porteous of Portland, Maine, extending its portfolio beyond its central and southern operating base.

• 1991

  Steketee's is acquired

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  The company acquires Steketee's, a Michigan department-store chain.

• 1989

  MM Cohn is acquired

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  Dunlaps acquires MM Cohn of Little Rock, Arkansas.

• 1986

  The White House is acquired

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  The company acquires The White House of Beaumont, Texas.

• 1976

  Goldstein-Migel is acquired

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  Dunlaps acquires Goldstein-Migel of Waco, Texas.

• 1943

  The chain reaches 14 stores

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  Dunlaps has 14 locations, primarily in West Texas and New Mexico, and moves its headquarters to Lubbock, Texas.

• 1939

  Expansion into West Texas begins

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  Retha R. Martin begins acquiring stores in West Texas, focusing on the growing ranching and oil region.

• 1921

  Dunlap Brothers reaches approximately 20 stores

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  The Dunlap family business has expanded to about 20 stores across eastern Oklahoma.

• 1890

  H. G. Dunlap establishes the original general store

  [1]Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org

  H. G. Dunlap establishes a small general store in Wagoner, Oklahoma, then part of Indian Territory.

A community-oriented regional department-store group offering general merchandise across markets with different income profiles, while retaining the names and traditions of many acquired local retailers.

• Clothing

  Apparel

  Clothing was a core department-store category across the Dunlaps network. The exact assortment varied by location because the company served different communities and retained the identities of many acquired local retailers. Available reference material identifies apparel as a typical product category but does not provide a detailed brand-by-brand merchandise breakdown.

• Home goods

  Home and household merchandise

  Dunlaps stores also carried household goods and home-related merchandise as part of their general department-store offer. The range was location-dependent and could differ among the Dunlaps-branded stores and the acquired banners that continued to operate under local names.

• Department-store merchandise

  General merchandise

  The chain's general-merchandise format allowed it to serve a broad customer base rather than a narrowly defined specialty segment. Stores operated under different local banners and were described as catering to most classes depending on location.

• Supplier litigation before liquidation

  Reference material states that lawsuits from suppliers contributed to the pressures surrounding Dunlaps before its 2007 closure. The available account does not identify the suppliers, claims, court proceedings, or resolutions, so the matter cannot be characterized more specifically.

  Source

Read more

• 2007

  Liquidate the company and associated storesStrategy

  Background

  Dunlaps faced strong competition, supplier litigation, and an inability to obtain financing for a loan intended to support continued operations.

  Action taken

  The company announced a going-out-of-business process and conducted liquidation sales across its remaining locations.

  Aftermath

  All remaining stores closed by the middle of 2007, ending the chain's operations.

  Source

• 1939

  Expand through West Texas acquisitionsStrategy

  Background

  The company sought growth in West Texas, where ranching and oil activity were supporting regional prosperity.

  Action taken

  Retha R. Martin began acquiring stores in the region, creating the foundation for a broader multi-store operation.

  Aftermath

  By 1943, the business had 14 stores, primarily in West Texas and New Mexico, and had moved its headquarters to Lubbock.

  Source

• Retain local store identities after acquisitionsStrategy

  Background

  Dunlaps acquired retailers with established names and community histories in multiple regions.

  Action taken

  The company generally kept acquired stores operating under their existing trade names instead of converting the entire portfolio to Dunlaps.

  Aftermath

  The approach preserved local traditions but left the company managing a geographically dispersed group of banners, some of which were later closed or converted.

  Source

1. 1Dunlapsen.wikipedia.org