From today's (Monday's) Shreveport Times.
Farewell on the passing of the last department store
January 31, 2005
News last week that the oldest department store in Louisiana was closing its doors this March made me feel, well, naked. At the time, I was wearing an overcoat, shirt, shoes and underwear, all purchased from Lewis & Company of Ruston. My son Kevin Hilburn had given me after-shave from Lewis' -- 10 years ago.
Indeed, there is no article of clothing in my closet that does not come from Lewis'. I'm a loyal client when a business of whatever kind -- especially a local business -- gives me good service.
At Lewis', they knew my collar size, my shoe size and my mother's and daddy's name. I never had a charge card, but nobody ever asked for it. When I wrote a book, Lewis' sold it, between the perfume and pajamas. The Lewis first cousins, last owners of the 140-year-old retail store, wanted a hometown boy's work for its hometown customers. It seemed natural.
Lewis' sales personnel extended this kind of courtesy and attention to all its customers for over a century. A big purchase would get you a thank-you note from the sales person.
Lewis' sales people carved out careers of their own at the retailer. Generations of Louisiana Tech students established their first credit at the store. Older people just called and had delivered what they wanted. It all seemed natural in business.
Richard and William Lewis were not fourth-generation burnouts. Indeed, the pair broadened their inventory and continued to specialize in name brands and customer service and good sales people. It's a wonder they kept it going so long. Their business forebears would be proud of them.
The thing is, corporations and customers alike don't value service and loyalty in the Wal-Mart era. Salesmen today are just order-takers and you better know your own shirt size. There is no loyalty in the market. Local business undercuts other local business. Cut-throat. Survival of the cheapest. It isn't natural, but it's true, and that's why Lewis' died an unnatural death.
After being blown away by Lewis' demise, I stopped by Patterson's barbershop (113 E. Mississippi) for a comfort haircut. Patterson's is just down the street from Lewis'.
Patterson's was founded in 1920 and three generations of Hilburns have had their hair clipped in there -- from my dad to my son, Greg Hilburn. George Leachman swore to me that he would not shut down Patterson's without permission from me or Greg. That's only natural.
When I told my friend Dixie Griffin of Ruston my world was collapsing with the end of Lewis', he typically said, "Wiley, get a wider world."
He's right. I'm not going naked because Lewis' is shutting down (I want Dixie to know this). Change is inevitable, and times change -- often for the best. Actually Lewis' died a natural death, but it's a tragedy anyway. An American business tragedy. Lewis' was the last department store in Louisiana -- maybe America.
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Originally Posted by CARTEK
