Dawahares (pronounced DAW-hairs[1]) was an American retail clothing department store chain.
Srur Frank Dawahare, a Syrian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. with only five dollars, Dawahare eventually walked from Harlan to Letcher County as a pack peddler. He established the original Dawahare’s Department Store in Neon around 1918, a business that anchored the town's economy for 71 years and grew into a significant regional chain.[2]
History
Dawahares was founded in 1918 in Neon, Kentucky, by Srur Frank (S. F.) Dawahare, an immigrant from Syria, and remained within the family for four generations.[3][4][2]
In 1979, the company expanded into the Cincinnati, Ohio market by acquiring the five-store Martin's Town & Country chain.[5] The chain operated nearly 30 stores in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia,[6] and Ohio.[1]
It declared bankruptcy in 2008 and liquidated its 22 remaining stores.[7]
References
- Mary Beth Crocker. Style The Cincinnati Enquirer, November 24, 1992, retrieved 24 February 2018^
- Isaac A. Bowles. History of Letcher County The Hurst Printing Company, 1949^
- S. F. Dawahare brief history The Courier-Journal, 1980-08-17, retrieved 2025-07-09^
- Dawahare's (sic) Files for Reorganizational Protection PR Newswire, 2008-05-30, retrieved 2009-03-13^
- Gregg Fields. Dawahare's buys Martin's Town & Country The Cincinnati Enquirer, July 19, 1979, retrieved 24 February 2018^
- Jim Jordan. Dawahare's(sic) to close 22 remaining stores Kentucky.com, 2008-07-04, retrieved 2009-03-13^
- Dawahares closing all stores WKYT, 2008-07-03, retrieved 2009-03-13^