Famous-Barr, St. Louis, Missouri, was a division of Federated Department Stores. It was formerly the hometown division of May Department Stores, which was acquired by Federated on August 30 2005. On February 1, 2006, it was subsumed into the newly created Macy's Midwest division. Famous-Barr Co. was created in 1911 through the merger of The William Barr Dry Goods Co. and previously May-owned The Famous Clothing Store. In 1991 it took operation control of the L. S. Ayres division in Indiana, and in 1998 took on The Jones Store in Kansas City when May acquired that chain in the aftermath of the Dillard's acquisition of Mercantile Stores Co. Both chains retained their names, but shut down their headquarters.
The Famous-Barr name was retired on September 9, 2006 when Federated Department Stores converted most of May's regional department stores to the Macy's nameplate.
The original 1924 Famous-Barr store is still in operation in downtown St. Louis, attached to the now defunct St. Louis Centre. It now operates as a Macy's.
