First, a small collection of photos of Banana Republic Travel & Safari stores I’ve purchased online from news archives.
A customer (and son) making a purchase at the Greenwich, CT Store. Dated 1986.Location unknown. The poster in the window is the 1985 Summer Wanderlust catalogue cover.The Dallas Galleria Store. SF Examiner article. Patrica and Mel Ziegler at the BR Bluxhome St. offices in San Francisco. Mel Ziegler at his desk in San Francisco. SF Examiner article.Patricia Ziegler at her desk, note the original art for catalog #12 is on the wall behind her. SF Examiner article. The second Mill Valley location on 59 Throckmorton Ave. From the Metropolitan Home Magazine article.Assistant manager Scott LaChute checks on the progress of the New Orleans Riverwalk location in August 1986. Photo courtesy Neal Moore. Taken from the employee newsletter “The Communique”, this shows the front counter at the Costa Mesa store in Orange County, CA. Opening day at the Grant Ave. store included a hired doorman, Englishman Cyril Clayton who is done up in a Pith Helmet, Safari Jacket, Ghurka Shorts and a Swedish Bandoleer. A page from the June 1984 newsletter shows various views of the floor of the Grant Ave, Store. I love the stacks of Pith Helmets!
This is not an official BRT&SCo Holiday card, but it’s the next best thing. Our friend Gary Pinkerton shares with us this Christmas card from photographer Robert Castellano who took a lovely winter wonderland photo of the Banana Republic at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, CO. The card is dated 1999 but it was clearly taken the 80s during the Travel and Safari Era. Beautiful.
Check out this awesome photo sent in by @paulcollections of him in front of the St. Louis store in the mid 1980s. Jeep, tusks, fake trees. This is what you want from a shopping experience, am I right?
The photos below are images taken from around the internet. Where possible they are credited.
Unknown location, but a classic BR storefront.
Look at this glorious 1987 photo from Natick, Massachusetts. A great view of the jeep outside the store, it must have had kids playing on it all the time.
A jeep in a mall next to a mural.
This photo is so tiny, it breaks my heart. It shows a life sized giraffe and I wonder if it is the Stanford Store. Taken from the Seamworks article, a photo from Mel and Patricia Ziegler.Taken from the Seamworks article, a photo from Mel and Patricia Ziegler.A press photo, looks like Mel and Patricia doing publicity for the book.Chris Stewart/ SF ChronicleGary Fong/ SF ChronicleBrian Moss/ SF ChronicleDonald Fischer and Mel Ziegler in Mel’s office. Mike Maloney /SF ChronicleBeverly HillsFrom the BR Guide book, the Beverly Hills store. Travel Bookstore on Grant Ave. in San Francisco. Patricia Ziegler in front of the first store at 76 E. Blithesdale Ave, Mill Valley, CA. Beverly Hills famous airplane.The Philadelphia Store. Mel Ziegler.
Possibly the best Banana Republic store photos ever, these come from retail architect Wayne Ferrell who worked on the stores.
Location unknown. Things I love to see: Tusk door handles! Giant tusks entrance. Framed catalogue covers! The sign in beautiful red, mustard yellow and deep green. So many hats! The small sign with a black and white catalogue illustration next to the shirts. Safari jackets right at the entrance, staged with a red shirt (I’m guessing Costa Brava). So wonderful. Dated Spring 1987 judging by the catalog attached the the shelves. Amazing interior shot, you can see the jeep in the background. I believe this is from Washington DC, the Georgetown area. I visited this store and bought Jungle Fatigues and a wool overcoat.
About The Author
Robyn Adams
Robyn's fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying the clothing and giving her the catalogs. She loved the clothes and as an artist she was drawn to the illustrations. She went on to study illustration at art college in BR's hometown of San Francisco and worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA as a graphic designer and illustrator with Secret Fan Base . She's been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.
4 Comments
John Hickman on December 7, 2019
Robyn, I am reaching out to you as I too, have been a long fan of the old Banana Republic. In fact, in 1985 I traveled all over the world until 1987. I recall buying several clothing items out of the catalogs, which I too loved.
The quality of the merchandise was exceptionally good. I still have several, including my Safari Jacket that I wore in Brazil.
I was wondering if you could share any information as to else might have picked up that line of quality clothing. I especially love the Egyptian cotton khaki shirts!
My only two regrets: the old Banana Republic Travel & Safari is no more, and I didn’t keep their wonderful catalogs!
“Unknown location, but a classic BR storefront.” this is valley Fair Mall in san Jose California, I shopped there back when i was in college , the Jeep was one of the coolest things about the shop
Robyn, I am reaching out to you as I too, have been a long fan of the old Banana Republic. In fact, in 1985 I traveled all over the world until 1987. I recall buying several clothing items out of the catalogs, which I too loved.
The quality of the merchandise was exceptionally good. I still have several, including my Safari Jacket that I wore in Brazil.
I was wondering if you could share any information as to else might have picked up that line of quality clothing. I especially love the Egyptian cotton khaki shirts!
My only two regrets: the old Banana Republic Travel & Safari is no more, and I didn’t keep their wonderful catalogs!
Hi John, thanks for writing. I need to put together a resource list for places to get similar goods now.
So great to see all these photos!!
Thanks, Robyn!
“Unknown location, but a classic BR storefront.” this is valley Fair Mall in san Jose California, I shopped there back when i was in college , the Jeep was one of the coolest things about the shop