Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2020. We have brought it back and updated the timeline to reflect news that Neiman Marcus will be sold.
1907: The first Neiman Marcus store opens in downtown Dallas, founded by Herbert Marcus Sr., his sister, Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband, A.L. Neiman.
1914: The store is destroyed by a fire and moves to its current location at the corner of Main and Ervay.
1916: Neiman Marcus unveils The Christmas Book, a lavish catalog of gift ideas.
1938: The first Neiman Marcus Fashion Award is given. It continues until 1995 and brings designers such as Christian Dior, Anne Klein, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent to Dallas.
1951: A second store opens in Preston Center; it moved to NorthPark in 1965.
1957: Neiman Marcus launches Fortnight, a black-tie gala to raise money for local charities. Every October from then until 1986, Neiman Marcus held the benefit with events that lasted for days. Famous honored guests included Sophia Loren and Princess Margaret.
1960: The 2016 book marks the 56th year of the store’s trademark His and Hers gifts. The first, in 1960, was a pair of Beechcraft airplanes, followed by hot-air balloons, camels, robots, windmills and other over-the-top gift ideas.
1969: The company is sold to Broadway-Hale (later called Carter Hawley Hale). A store is added in Houston.
1971: The chain opens its first store outside Texas in Bal Harbour, Fla.
1972: Carter Hawley Hale buys Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
1973: Stanley Marcus is promoted to chairman and CEO of Neiman Marcus.
1977: Stanley Marcus, 71, retires and remains chairman emeritus and a consultant until he dies in 2002.
1987: The Neiman Marcus Group is created as a public company after it is spun off from Carter Hawley Hale and General Cinema buys 60% of it.
1988: Neiman Marcus buys the Horchow Collection. Richard Marcus steps down as chairman and CEO. For the first time, a family member is not leading the company.
1989: The company reaches $1 billion in sales.
1991: General Cinema buys publisher Harcourt Brace, and the parent company is renamed Harcourt General.
1999: Harcourt General spins off a majority of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman as a separate company, Neiman Marcus Group, but retains a minority interest.
2005: Neiman Marcus Group is taken private by TPG and Warburg Pincus in a $5.1 billion leveraged buyout.
2006: Sales reach $4 billion. The company sells Gurwitch Products and Kate Spade.
2013: Neiman Marcus is sold for $6.1 billion to Ares Management LLC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
2014: Neiman Marcus buys Munich-based luxury online retailer Mytheresa.
2015: Sales reach $5 billion.
2017: Neiman Marcus explores options including a sale of the company.
2018: Geoffroy van Raemdonck is named CEO of Neiman Marcus Group.
2020: Neiman Marcus files for Chapter 11 with plans to emerge from bankruptcy in early fall.
2024: Neiman Marcus confirms it will be sold to the parent company of New York-based rival Saks Fifth Avenue in a $2.65 billion deal. The sale will end 117 years of Neiman Marcus being run from Dallas
SOURCE: Dallas Morning News research
