Harris Company

The Harris Company
Company typeDepartment store
IndustryRetail
Founded1905
Defunct1998
FateMerged, became Harris-Gottschalks
HeadquartersSan Bernardino, California
ProductsClothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, handbags and housewares

The Harris Company was a retail corporation, based in San Bernardino, California, that operated a chain of department stores named Harris', all in Southern California. Philip, Arthur, and Herman Harris – nephews of founder Leopold Harris of what was once the large Los Angeles–based chain Harris & Frank – started the company with a small dry goods store in 1905, and the company eventually grew to nine large department stores, with stores in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Kern Counties.[1]

The chain was acquired by Fresno, California–based Gottschalks in 1998.[2] After the acquisition some of the stores continued to operate under the name Harris Gottschalks. In January, 2009, Gottschalks filed for bankruptcy, and on March 31 announced they were liquidating all stores. All of the original Harris stores that were still operating, were finally closed in July, 2009.

  1. ^ Rodriquez, Aimee L., Richard A. Hanks, and Robin S. Hanks. Images of America; The Harris Company, Arcadia Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7385-5901-8.
  2. ^ FORM 8-K, GOTTSCHALKS INC. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 1998.