In 1905, The Harris’ Company opened its first store in downtown San Bernardino, CA.
Surprisingly, during my research of this article, I found that the Harris Brothers opened their second store in 1908 on State Street in Redlands which later burned down in 1925. The Harris brothers rebuilt this store in 1926. Harris was an important part of Redlands history.
Harris took a chance in 1957 and went with a new concept by opening a large store in Riverside, CA at the Riverside Plaza out of the downtown section. The Harris Company built a reputation for offering high quality merchandise and became the Marshall Field’s of the Inland Empire. Harris had retail competitors like Broadway and Robinson’s but continued to hold its own and consumers flocked to the stores. Harris opened 9 stores total.
Residents remember that during the holidays, the windows were extravagantly decorated and drew many annual onlookers. Later Harris had automated window displays which continued to draw crowds.
In the 1960-1970’s, Harris opened a total of 9 stores in San Bernardino and Riverside County. Harris then sold the company in 1981 to a foreign corporation. Then in 1998, Gottschalk’s purchased the company. But due to the declining market, the Gottschalk’s company filed Bankruptcy in 2009 and all 9 stores closed by August 2009. This was a major blow for Redlands both emotionally and economically.
With the closing of Gottschalk’s, The Redlands mall is shut down now except for the CVS Drug Store located on the East end of the mall. The underground parking lot is gated closed and the doors to Gottschalks are covered.
I think there are probably many residents in this area who feel the same about the closing of the chain. We miss the Harris-Gottschalk’s store!!
Driving by yesterday, I noticed how the City of Redlands has kept the mall neatly maintained but empty and letters fading on the walls. Good-Bye my old friend………but we are ready for something new in its place; perhaps a Macy’s or a Nordstrom’s?
***Sat. Sept. 10 and 11th will be an Electronic Recycling event in the Gottschalks mall parking lot from 9-4 p.m. Address: 100 Redlands Blvd, Redlands CA.
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