Hannah Levy
Born in Haigerloch, Germany, Hannah Levy and her family were forced to flee to America to escape Hitler’s rise to power. As a young girl in New York City, Levy worked as an elevator girl, one of the only jobs she could get because of her limited English.
Levy, anxious to explore the United States, moved to Denver in 1927 to join her brother, Jack. Together, they opened the Curtis Street Associated Hosiery, a tiny hosiery store. Excited to expand, they bought a dress shop in 1936 and decided to change the name to the now well-known “Fashion Bar.”
The store’s quick success took Levy’s fashion career to new heights. Hannah and Jack soon opened other outlets throughout Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Levy, one of the country’s most well-known women retailers, was extremely dedicated, knowledgeable, and disciplined. On her buying trips, she was known for her fast pace: from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing only a 10-minute breakfast and a 15-minute lunch. She once said, “I work very hard. I see a million things, and when I go back to the hotel in the evening, I think I’m through. But then, I begin to think.” That thinking distinguished her as one of the most innovative buyers. When she would place orders throughout the country, manufacturers would often tell her, “Hey, you’re ahead of New York.”
Levy prided herself on her community spirit. She was recognized for her many significant contributions to civic organizations, being awarded the Humanitarian Service Award by the American Jewish Congress. She was also a generous supporter of Rose Medical Center, Denver Symphony, Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. While she never married, Levy spent most of her time skiing and playing tennis with family and friends after retirement.
Levy, anxious to explore the United States, moved to Denver in 1927 to join her brother, Jack. Together, they opened the Curtis Street Associated Hosiery, a tiny hosiery store. Excited to expand, they bought a dress shop in 1936 and decided to change the name to the now well-known “Fashion Bar.”
The store’s quick success took Levy’s fashion career to new heights. Hannah and Jack soon opened other outlets throughout Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Levy, one of the country’s most well-known women retailers, was extremely dedicated, knowledgeable, and disciplined. On her buying trips, she was known for her fast pace: from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing only a 10-minute breakfast and a 15-minute lunch. She once said, “I work very hard. I see a million things, and when I go back to the hotel in the evening, I think I’m through. But then, I begin to think.” That thinking distinguished her as one of the most innovative buyers. When she would place orders throughout the country, manufacturers would often tell her, “Hey, you’re ahead of New York.”
Levy prided herself on her community spirit. She was recognized for her many significant contributions to civic organizations, being awarded the Humanitarian Service Award by the American Jewish Congress. She was also a generous supporter of Rose Medical Center, Denver Symphony, Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. While she never married, Levy spent most of her time skiing and playing tennis with family and friends after retirement.