Straus Clothing has been a part of the rich North Dakota history since 1879. We are the oldest family owned retail business in the state.

1879 - Adolph Sternberg opened store in Sanborn ND

1882 - Moved store to Valley City ND

1897 - M. G. Straus opened store in Casselton ND

1907 - Mr. Straus bought Valley City Store from his cousin’s estate and had his nephew Herman Stern run the store

1936 - Purchased Esquire Shop in Fargo ND where Herman’s son Ed started his management career

1941 - Moved to larger quarters in Fargo ND

1950 - Expanded store in Fargo ND

1955 - Purchased Havig store in Grand Forks ND and opened in that location

1957 - Bought Globe Clothing in Fargo and moved into their location with a new store

1963 - Easter Sunday brought disaster as fire destroyed the Fargo store

1964 - Moved back to the same location on completion of a new building

1966 - Opened a second store in Grand Forks ND at South Forks Shopping Center

1970 - Purchased Beck’s in Jamestown ND

1972 - A second Fargo location was opened at the West Acres Mall where Ed’s son John, a third generation Stern, became part of the management team. Another son, Rick, joined the management team at the downtown location.

1978 - Moved downtown store in Grand Forks to Columbia Mall, putting both Grand Forks locations in shopping centers

1979 - Celebrated our 100th ANNIVERSARY

1996 - Straus opened its first Web site

1997 - Consolidated our Fargo stores into one new large store on the busiest street in North Dakota. The move proved to be very successful, as customers and employees have enjoyed the new convenient location.

1998 - Recognized as oldest family owned retail business in ND

1999 - Featured in Associated Press article in newspapers throughout America (click here)

2004-  Opened contemporary shop called aka in downtown Fargo

2010-  Consolidated the contemporary aka shop into the main Straus Clothing store on 13th Ave S in Fargo.  The aka department brings many new, young customers to the Straus Clothing store

2011-  Received the L.B. Hartz Professional Achievement Award from the MSUM School of Business