The 30,000-sf Stage store along the 16th Street Mall and Tremont Place can trace its commercial roots to 1933. It is situated across the mall from the Denver Pavilions retail, movie and restaurant complex. German immigrants Jack Levy and his sister Hannah had founded the Hosiery Bar on the property, three years later changing it to the Fashion Bar. In 1965, Fashion Bar had built its flagship store at its current location in the 16th Street Mall.

Just eight years ago, Houston-based Specialty Retailers Inc., a subsidiary of Stage Stores, had paid $14.7 million for the Fashion Bar chain and 71 other stores. Along with the purchase came a name change. The same year Specialty Retailers had bought Fashion Bar and began leasing the store from Congress Development Ltd., a privately held company that is also is based in Houston. Stage Store, in the midst of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has ticketed 121 stores to be sold.

Retail experts say the building will be a cinch to sell or lease. For years, the Downtown Denver Partnership had discussed the potential redevelopment opportunities that exist for the structure.