Straus Clothing has been a part of the rich North Dakota history since 1879. We are the oldest family owned retail business in the state.
1879 - Adolph Sternberg opened store in Sanborn ND
1882 - Moved store to Valley City ND
1897 - M. G. Straus opened store in Casselton ND
1907 - Mr. Straus bought Valley City Store from his cousin’s estate and had his nephew Herman Stern run the store
1936 - Purchased Esquire Shop in Fargo ND where Herman’s son Ed started his management career
1941 - Moved to larger quarters in Fargo ND
1950 - Expanded store in Fargo ND
1955 - Purchased Havig store in Grand Forks ND and opened in that location
1957 - Bought Globe Clothing in Fargo and moved into their location with a new store
1963 - Easter Sunday brought disaster as fire destroyed the Fargo store
1964 - Moved back to the same location on completion of a new building
1966 - Opened a second store in Grand Forks ND at South Forks Shopping Center
1970 - Purchased Beck’s in Jamestown ND
1972 - A second Fargo location was opened at the West Acres Mall where Ed’s son John, a third generation Stern, became part of the management team. Another son, Rick, joined the management team at the downtown location.
1978 - Moved downtown store in Grand Forks to Columbia Mall, putting both Grand Forks locations in shopping centers
1979 - Celebrated our 100th ANNIVERSARY
1996 - Straus opened its first Web site
1997 - Consolidated our Fargo stores into one new large store on the busiest street in North Dakota. The move proved to be very successful, as customers and employees have enjoyed the new convenient location.
1998 - Recognized as oldest family owned retail business in ND
1999 - Featured in Associated Press article in newspapers throughout America (click here)
