The first Belk-branded mercantile opened in Monroe, North Carolina, in May 1888. It was originally known as the New York Racket Store. This "Racket Store" moniker was a popular generic name for independently-owned and operated general stores of the 19th and early 20th centuries.  

Photo from Wikipedia / HR Collection   

William Henry Belk, founder of the Belk chain, brought his brother -Doctor John Montgomery Belk- into the business in 1891. At this point, the official corporate moniker became Belk Brothers (or W.H. Belk & Bro.). These headings were in use until John's death, in 1928.

Photo from Wikipedia / Pat Richardson

The Belk organization thrived by establishing thirty-four "merchandising partnerships;" the first having been created in 1914. Some of these were Belk-Simpson (Greenville, SC), Belk-Lindsey (Orlando, FL) and  Belk-Stevens (Winston-Salem, NC).

Graphic from Belk Department Stores, Incorporated 

Eventually, all of the different merchandising partnerships began to get untenable. A singular -and unifying- Belk logo was introduced in 1967.

Graphic from Belk Department Stores, Incorporated

A new concern -Belk, Incorporated- was formed in 1998. A program was initiated to do away with the remaining 112 merchandising partnerships. This was accomplished in 2010, when the 1960s-vintage trademark - in use for over 40 years- was retired. This new logo is used as a nameplate for the HAYWOOD MALL store, in Greenville, whose mall entry is seen above.

Graphic from Belk, Incorporated