the origin of "Big B"

Display World magazine; June 1968.

Display World magazine; June 1968

LiveMalls is honored to present an article from the 1968 edition of Display World magazine that described the process and ideas behind the design of the iconic but recently retired.Belk and Leggett logos.

A friend of LiveMalls, Dave Aldrich, from the incomparable retail blog, Pleasant Family Shopping, found this and sent it to me. It is truly a great addition to the blog and our Belk Archive. Many thanks to Dave, and I hope that everyone will enjoy the read.

Dillard's (former Leggett and Belk); Patrick Henry Mall, Newport News, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

Dillard's (former Leggett and Belk); Patrick Henry Mall, Newport News, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

Dillard's (former Leggett and Belk); Patrick Henry Mall, Newport News, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

Dillard's (former Leggett and Belk); Patrick Henry Mall, Newport News, Virginia. Mall entrance. (photo by Pat Richardson)

former Leggett, Belk and Dillard's; Chesterfield Towne Center, Richmond, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

former Leggett, Belk and Dillard's; Chesterfield Towne Center, Richmond, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

former Leggett, Belk and Dillard's; Chesterfield Towne Center, Richmond, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

former Leggett, Belk and Dillard's; Chesterfield Towne Center, Richmond, Virginia. Exterior view. (photo by Pat Richardson)

Belk (former Leggett); Valley Mall, Harrisonburg, Virgina

Belk; former Leggett (Valley Mall), Main exterior entrance. Originally uploaded by Joe Architect.

Belk (former Leggett), Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville, Virginia. Photographed 07/21/08.

Previously on LiveMalls
Belk (former Leggett), Liberty Fair Mall

Belk (former Leggett), Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville, Virginia. Photographed 9/22/07.

Previously on LiveMalls
Belk (former Leggett), Liberty Fair Mall

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Upper level exterior entrance. Photographed with camera phone 6/22/07.

Previously on LiveMalls
Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall

Belk (former Leggett), New River Valley Mall, Christiansburg, Virginia. Mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 3/23/07.

Leggett, Newmarket North Mall, Hampton, Virginia

Leggett, Newmarket North Mall, Hampton, Virginia. Escalator well, July 30, 1975. (Photo from Hampton Roads Daily Press, scanned by Anita Rose)

The Leggett department store at Newmarket North Mall in Hampton, Virginia, opened to much fanfare on July 30, 1975. At 126,000 square feet, it was, at the time, the largest Leggett store ever built and featured the latest in merchandising and contemporary design.

Unfortunately, this store and the chain it was a part of are no more. Leggett Newmarket North closed in the mid-1990s due to underperformance, and the Leggett family sold its stores to sister chain Belk in 1997. Newmarket North Mall would ultimately cease to be a retail center, and is now known as NetCenter, an office park.

Fellow mall blogger Anita Rose, of That Mall’s Sick and That Store’s Dead, scanned the newspaper article highlighting Leggett Newmarket Fair’s opening from microfilm and generously contributed the information to LiveMalls.

Thank you to Anita for this invaluable look at the past.

Leggett, Newmarket North Mall, Hampton, Virginia. Escalator well, July 30, 1975. (Photo from Hampton Roads Daily Press, scanned by Anita Rose)

Leggett, Newmarket North Mall, Hampton, Virginia. Article on grand opening, July 30, 1975. (Article from Hampton Roads Daily Press, scanned by Anita Rose)

former Belk, downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, during demolition, 1989. (Pat Richardson)

Leggett (now Belk), Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke, Virginia, 1990 (Virginia Film Office)

>Belk-Yates, Thomasville, North Carolina. Changing the lights in the Belk "B", 1988. (Pat Richardson)

Leggett, downtown Hampton, Virginia, Summer 1989. Closing of the store (symbolized by the mannequins wearing the Leggett bags) -- the new Leggett had just opened at the Patrick Henry Mall and the downtown store was almost closed. (Pat Richardson)

Picture inside one of the Belk Outlet Centers (Gastonia, North Carolina) from 1992 (note bag in front of picture). These would later merge with the Belk "Tags" stores -- these were a different division of Belk outlet stores. (Pat Richardson)

Find more Belk memories like these in The Belk Archive

"You're The Reason"

To celebrate Belk's 100th Anniversary in 1988, associates received a special birthday card which featured a unique collage featuring memorabilia from Belk and Leggett’s' first 100 years in business.

Above is the outside and inside of the card. Below is an original hang-tag banner celebrating the 100th anniversary.

These images come to LiveMalls courtesy of Patrick Richardson.


Find more Belk memories like these in The Belk Archive

Belk, Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville, Virginia. Photographed with camera phone 1/26/06.

Belk, River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia, Mall entrance under renovation in 2005-2006. Photographed with camera phone 9/28/05.

Belk, River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Mall entrance detail. Photographed with camera phone 9/28/05.

Belk, River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Cosmetics and Fragrances department under renovation. Photographed with camera phone 9/28/05.

Belk, River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Men's Chaps Ralph Lauren sportswear department. Photographed with camera phone 9/28/05.

Belk, River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Escalator well. Photographed with camera phone 9/28/05.

Previously on LiveMalls
Belk, River Ridge Mall

Belk, Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Main entrance facing Piedmont Drive. Photographed with camera phone 5/30/05.


Belk, Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Lower level side entry, facing Central Avenue. Photographed with camera phone 5/30/05.



Belk, Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Upper level mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 5/30/05.


Belk, Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Lower level mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 5/30/05.



Belk, Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Escalator well. Photographed with camera phone 5/30/05.

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Upper level exterior entrance. Photographed with camera phone 6/22/07.

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 9/27/05.

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Upper level mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 9/27/05.

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Lower level mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 9/27/05.

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Escalator well. Photographed with camera phone 9/27/05.

Belk (former Leggett), Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Men's Tommy Hilfiger sportswear department. Photographed with camera phone 9/27/05.

Belk, Charlottesville Fashion Square, Charlottesville, Virginia. Mall entrance, main store. Photographed with camera phone 7/25/05.

Belk, Charlottesville Fashion Square, Charlottesville, Virginia. Mall entrance, Men's & Home Store. Photographed with camera phone 7/25/05.

Belk, Charlottesville Fashion Square, Charlottesville, Virginia. Center of Men's & Home Store. Photographed with camera phone 7/25/05.