‘Part of my life.’ Belk’s pending bankruptcy stirs memories of first jobs, family ties

With more than a century rooted in the Charlotte community, Belk department store has been a part of many people’s lives here, from first jobs to supplying clothes for special occasions and even finding love.

Now, as the company prepares to file for bankruptcy Wednesday, concerns over its fate have prompted a wave of nostalgia for long-time customers and former workers alike.

People bought prom dresses here. Wedding outfits. Jewelry for spouses. Makeup, jeans and shirts. Maybe they worked on the other side of the counter selling those goods to their friends and neighbors.

Several generations of Belks owned and ran the company before its 2015 sale to private investment firm Sycamore Partners for $3 billion. The sale saddled the company with over $2 billion in debt. The coronavirus pandemic, declining department store sales and online shopping growth proving too much to overcome.

While other businesses have come and gone, local historian Tom Hanchett called Belk department stores the most visible company in Charlotte’s history.

“Belk has been a hometown stalwart for as long as any of us have been alive in a way that very few other corporate entities are,” he said. “They’ve been part of what makes each community special while knitting together communities all across the South.”

Growing up with Belk

When she needed Easter dresses growing up, Krystal McCants Hulett said her mother would always take her to Belk.

What’s more, her first job was at the Belk at the Richland Fashion Mall in Columbia, working part-time as an associate/sales cashier. She continued to work there during college and summer breaks.

Those retail lessons helped her later in life, said the 45-year-old Charlotte resident, who now works for Wells Fargo. “Belk helped me with my customer service skills and get into corporate America,” she said.

She still shops at Belk, mostly at Northlake and SouthPark malls. The store sells her favorite apparel brand, New Directions, has a “huge” selection of dresses and offers designer brands like Michael Kors.

Hulett also shops there with her 4-year-old son, Cameron, who helps pick out his own outfits. “Belk is one of the few stores that sell boy’s suits,” she said.

During the pandemic she’s shifted to online shopping, but misses going to the store. She said Belk has something for everybody and every generation.

“I hope they do stay alive,” Hulett said. “A lot of families grew up shopping there and now they’re taking their kids there.”

Finding love at Belk

Karen and John Townsend, both 57, met while working at the SouthPark mall Belk store in the 1980s.

Karen Townsend started there at 16 while in high school. At that time, everyone loved the mall, so she wanted a job at Belk.

“I still hang out with friends from high school who also worked at Belk,” she said. “It was a good time and great memories.”

Back then, she said the store had a basement and sold fabric, and there even was a candy department.

She met her husband-to-be working in the men’s department during the summer of 1982 when both were in college. They married in 1985.

“The first time I saw him, he was going into the (job) interview,” Townsend said. “He caught my eye.”

Occasionally, local celebrities like televangelist Jim Bakker and then-wife Tammy Faye would grab her attention. They’d bring an entourage and go on “shopping sprees.”

Townsend remembers meeting Belk family members on their way up working in the family business. And, that’s where the Townsends would shop for their own children, now grown.

“I knew where things were and knew the people who worked there for a long time,” she said.

Now, she’s a Realtor working across the street from SouthPark mall. “I hope they don’t leave, that would be a really big loss for the area,” Townsend said.

First job at Belk

Tricia Jetton’s first job was at Belk in 1985, during her senior year at Myers High School.

Thanks to her late mother’s scrapbooking, she even has her first paystub.

She was on the teen board, whose members helped promote Belk interacting with the public, handing out perfume samples, being in parades and pushing in-store promotions. Jetton also donned the Rodney the Reindeer mascot costume during the holiday season to give out candy canes to children in the store.

“I remember the kids kind of running away from me,” she said. “It was a lot fun. I made great friends. It didn’t seem like a job.”

She also made her modeling debut on Bob Lacey’s “PM Magazine” local television show. “We were dancing on a glass stage and it had lights, disco looking and modeling clothes for Belk,” Jetton said.

Jetton continues to shop at Belk for formal gowns for annual charity events, like Charity League of Charlotte, which she’s a part of. “It’s been an important part of our community in Charlotte for a long time,” she said.

More than three decades at Belk

Darrell Williams of Fort Mill, S.C., worked for Belk for a quarter of the company’s history.

He retired in 2014 after a 35-year career in corporate communications, having worked with the second and third generation of Belk family. He worked closely with John Belk, former chairman of the company and past Charlotte mayor, and his brother Tom Belk, who was president of merchandising. He also worked with Tom Belk’s sons, Tim Belk, former CEO, Johnny Belk, former chief operating officer, and McKay Belk, president of advertising and marketing.

Belk and then Ivey’s department store planned and developed SouthPark mall, which opened in 1970. “The Belks made SouthPark happen,” Williams said.

Long careers with Belk were common, Williams said. The company offered pensions and profit-sharing since the 1950s.

“They really cared about people that worked for them and there was a lot of loyalty as a result,” he said. “We felt like we had ownership in it.”

Plus, he said it felt good to work for a company where its leaders promoted charity and gave back to the community.

One of the most exciting times working there, he said, was celebrating Belk’s centennial. The celebration was yearlong with a series of parties, events and promotions.

Customers looked to Belk for personal service with employees who sold to generations of families.

“Belk became the hometown store. They grew up shopping at Belk, including me,” he said. “That’s what made Belk’s success — the relationships.”

Celebrity appearances at Belk

Belk also brought celebrities and fashion designers to stores to promote things and meet customers.

Among the many people pitching products were fashion icons the late Kate Spade, Tommy Hilfiger and Oscar da la Renta, pop singer Jessica Simpson, chef Emeril Lagasse and actress Kristin Davis.

Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton was there in 2014 as the face of Drakkar Essence cologne. Belk also partnered with him to launch his menswear line MADE Cam Newton in 2013 that included suits, ties, T-shirts and jeans.

In 1999, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, talked about Wedgwood china, and table manners and settings, at the SouthPark store. And then there was Elizabeth Taylor. The late actress was at the Belk in Eastland Mall in 1996 to promote her perfume Black Diamonds.

‘I grew up with Belk’

Following the Observer’s coverage leading up to the bankruptcy filing, a number of readers took to Facebook to share Belk memories. Here’s what some said:

“Belk at Southpark was a huge part of my life! It was a staple place to shop in our family.,” Kristen Bailey said. “So sad what’s happened with them.”

John Tershel said he stocked shoes at the Belk store in high school and that John Belk was his Sunday school teacher. “We always shopped there.”

“I grew up with Belk, registered my wedding gifts there, bought baby clothes for my child,” Tim Hall said.

“This truly is a shame,” Marty Viser wrote. “In our day, Belk was one of the best clothing stores in Charlotte!”

This story was originally published February 19, 2021 at 9:59 AM with the headline "‘Part of my life.’ Belk’s pending bankruptcy stirs memories of first jobs, family ties."