My grandmother worked at the Main Street store for years and Mr. Marcus always talked to my dad when he was a kid. He always emphasized to my dad that business was something you learn on the job so if you go to college, do something in the liberal arts or fine arts to expand your mind.

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The manager was right — some longtime shoppers closed their accounts in protest — but Marcus stuck with his decision. At the time of the flagship's closure, the Main Street store had been open for 112 years.

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These victories were achieved through the efforts of Civil Rights activists, along with support from Neiman Marcus president Stanley Marcus, who was an early advocate for desegregation. The Neiman Marcus Dallas store manager purportedly warned Marcus that he would destroy his business this way.

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The downtown Neiman Marcus flagship was one of the first major Dallas businesses that broke with these practices. In 1961, the company desegregated its Zodiac Room, a swanky lunch spot frequented by Dallas elites. Later, they welcomed Black shoppers to come and buy clothes without restrictions.

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For instance, they had to try on clothes over their clothes, put on protective covers when trying on hats, or weren't allowed to make returns once they brought the clothes home. These policies stemmed from racist fears that white customers would refuse merchandise previously worn by Black shoppers.

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