J. B. White was a regional department store chain headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The company originated as J. B. White & Co., founded in 1874 by James B. White (also recorded as James Brown White), who opened a dry‑goods store on Broad Street in downtown Atlanta.
Development and Expansion
- The store expanded from a single location to multiple branches throughout Georgia and neighboring states over the course of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
- By the mid‑20th century, J. B. White operated flagship stores in major metropolitan areas, including a prominent building on Peachtree Street in Atlanta that became a local landmark.
Corporate Changes
- In 1975, the J. B. White chain was acquired by the retail conglomerate Mercantile Stores Company.
- Following a series of consolidations in the department‑store industry, Mercantile Stores, and consequently J. B. White, were purchased by Dillard’s Inc. in 1998. The J. B. White brand was subsequently retired, and its locations were rebranded as Dillard’s stores.
Legacy
- The J. B. White name remains associated with historic commercial architecture in Atlanta; the former flagship building, known as the J. B. White Building, has been repurposed for mixed‑use development while retaining its original façade.
References
- Corporate histories of Mercantile Stores and Dillard’s Inc.
- Historical records of Atlanta retail establishments, 19th–20th centuries.
No verified information suggests that “J. B. White” refers to a notable individual separate from the department‑store chain.
