Stanley Marcus: A Retail Legend Who Still Inspires Me

I've spent more than 30 years working in ecommerce, but my love of retail started long before I ever built a website.

And when I think about the people who influenced how I approach business, one name immediately comes to mind: Stanley Marcus.

If you grew up around Dallas, you know Neiman Marcus wasn't just another department store. It was an institution. There was something special about walking through those doors. The merchandise, the displays, the attention to detail. Even if you weren't buying anything, you felt like you were experiencing something.

Stanley Marcus understood that.

He joined the family business in 1926 and helped transform Neiman Marcus from a Dallas specialty store into a name recognized around the world. But what I've always admired wasn't simply the luxury merchandise or the famous customers.

It was his understanding of what makes a store worth visiting in the first place.

He understood presentation. He understood quality. He understood that shopping could be an experience rather than just a transaction.

And he understood something I think many retailers have forgotten: customers notice the little things.

The End of an Era in Dallas

On September 30, 2026, the original downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus flagship closed its doors for the last time.

That one stings. I remember my first time in the store and it was life changing. I worked downtown at the time and would pass it every day and most days I would just stop in and walk around. 

The first Neiman Marcus opened in 1907. A devastating fire destroyed that original store in 1913, and the company rebuilt nearby, opening the magnificent Main Street location in 1914.

Think about that for a minute. That building survived more than a century of changing fashions, economic ups and downs, wars, recessions, and the arrival of online shopping.

And now it's closed.

I know retail changes. Goodness knows I've watched enough of those changes firsthand. But there are certain stores that become part of a city's identity, and downtown Neiman Marcus was one of them.

It's sad to see that chapter end.

What Stanley Marcus Taught Me About Retail

I never met Stanley Marcus, but I have admired his approach to business for years.

He wasn't afraid to do things differently. He believed in offering something special, whether that meant finding extraordinary merchandise, creating beautiful displays, or making customers feel appreciated.

That philosophy has stayed with me.

When I launched Beauty Cafe in 1997, ecommerce was still a relatively new concept. We didn't have Shopify, social media, or a dozen apps promising to solve every problem.

We had to figure things out as we went. Boy did we. 

But even then, I knew I wanted my customers to feel like they were shopping at a real store run by a real person. Not some faceless company taking their credit card number.

I still feel that way today.

Whether I'm working on Beauty Cafe or designing a Shopify store for a client, I want the experience to feel thoughtful. I want customers to find what they're looking for without jumping through hoops. I want the business owner's personality to come through.

And yes, I want the store to look beautiful.

But beautiful isn't enough if the experience is lousy.

Some Things Never Go Out of Style

Today, we talk endlessly about conversion rates, automation, customer journeys, and all the latest ecommerce technology.

Those things matter. I work with them every day.

But I sometimes wonder whether we've become so focused on technology that we've forgotten the basics.

Does the customer feel welcome?

Can they find what they need?

Are we offering something worth coming back for?

And if something goes wrong, do we take care of them?

Stanley Marcus built his reputation in a very different retail world, but those principles still apply.

A beautiful Shopify theme won't make up for poor customer service. Neither will a clever marketing campaign or the latest AI tool.

Good retail is still good retail.

I wish the downtown Neiman Marcus could have remained open forever. I know that's not realistic, but a girl can wish.

And while the doors on Main Street have closed, I hope the lessons Stanley Marcus taught generations of retailers aren't forgotten.

Because after all these years, I still believe the best businesses are the ones that make people feel something.

And that's something no app can do for you.