Special Collections
The Popular Dry Goods Company Records (MS317)
Box 26, Folder 349
Photographer unknown
The Popular in the Masonic building, El Paso, Texas. Circa 1907
By 1904, when The Popular was incorporated, Adolph Schwartz had returned from Europe to become president of the company. The store remained under family ownership until its closure in late 1995.
In 1907 The Popular moved to the ground floor of the Masonic building on the corner of Mesa and San Antonio. Within a few years time, The Popular had taken over the entire Masonic building. In 1916, the Masonic building was demolished and a new six-level store was built in its place (a seventh floor was added later). In 1946 an eighth floor was added to the original building and a five-level building on San Antonio Street was connected to the main building over the adjacent alley. In 1960 The Popular opened a new warehouse and distribution center on Duranzno and Stevens Streets. This distribution center was replaced in 1975 by a new building on Raynolds Street. In 1962 the Bassett location opened and proved to be the most successful of all of The Popular's locations. Subsequent location were the Northpark shopping center and the final location in the Sunland Park Mall.