Byck’s

Byck’s was a high end fashion forward ladies clothing store in Louisville, Ky with trunk shows from American designers. Byck’s was ahead of its time in being one of the first downtown stores In KY to have integrated dressing rooms.

Byck’s got its start when Louis W. Byck opened a shoe store at 416 4th St. in 1902. A 1909 ad refers to locations in Atlanta and Savannah as well. Locations varied, but remained on 4th St. until 1924. That year, Byck’s moved to 532-534 S. 4th, an Art Deco building (still standing in 2023) and in 1925 Byck’s began selling quality ladies clothing as well as shoes and hosiery. Dann C. Byck, Sr. became president in 1923. In December of 1946, Byck’s added a suburban store at 3738 Lexington Rd. in St. Matthews. When Dan Byck, Sr. died in 1960, his wife Mary Helen Byck took the reins. Through the 1970s and 1980s Byck’s expanded to suburban malls – to Oxmoor Mall in 1971 and Bashford Manor in 1974. In 1982 the 4th St. store moved to the Louisville Galleria. They opened a store in Lexington, KY at the Fayette Mall, as well. This store closed in 1988. In January 1991, Byck’s closed the Bashford Manor Mall store and on July 23, 1991, they closed all remaining stores. Mary Helen Byck died one day later.

Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1930s evening cape

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a pair of 1940s shoes

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a pair of late 1940s shoes

Courtesy of Hoillis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1950s suit

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1950s suit jacket

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1950s hat

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1980s suit

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans