Battelstein's, Houston, Texas
historic place
Battelstein's, in Houston, Texas, is a historic place. Philip Battelstein, a Lithuanian immigrant, established his first tailor shop here in 1897. The business grew, opening at 812 Main Street in 1924 as a two-story building. By 1950, it had expanded to its ten-story form, designed by architects Joseph Finger and George Rustay. Battelstein's became a prominent high-end department store, mirroring Houston's mid-20th century growth. It expanded to suburban locations in River Oaks in 1953 and Sharpstown in 1961. The downtown store closed in 1981. Battelstein's was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 6, 2020. This building represents a significant era in Houston's retail history.