Arkansas' William T. Dillard opened his first store -in Nashville, Arkansas- in February 1938. 
Photo from Dillard's Annual Report 2018


The Dillard's name was (temporarily) retired in 1960. It was reinstated for a new store at Austin, Texas' HANCOCK CENTER. This unit opened for business in February 1964.


The original HANCOCK CENTER store operated under a "Dillard's of Austin" banner. The associated logo included a depiction of the Lone Star State state house.
Graphic from Dillard's Department Stores


This alternate logo was in use for a short time during the summer of 1964.
Graphic from Dillard's Department Stores


Oklahoma's Brown-Dunkin chain was purchased by Dillard's in 1959. The Brown-Dunkin nameplate was used for this store, which anchored Tulsa's SOUTHLAND CENTER. This shopping hub opened in 1965.
Photo from the Beryl Ford Collection / Tulsa City-County Public Library


Likewise, Dillard's placed the Blass (Gus Blass Company) nameplate on this store at Little Rock's PARK PLAZA. The mall had been dedicated in 1960, with the store beginning business in 1965. Dillard's had acquired the Joseph Pfeifer chain in 1963. It was merged with the Blass operation in 1967, creating the Pfeifer-Blass division. The PARK PLAZA store would operate under that nameplate for 7 years.


By 1974, all stores operating under the Mayer & Schmidt, Brown-Dunkin, and Pfeifer-Blass names were consolidated under the Dillard's heading. This store, which anchored Tulsa's WOODLAND HILLS MALL, was dedicated in 1976.