October 20, 1947 - the opening of Foley's department store in Houston Texas

Down in Houston, Texas, is what is said to be the most modern department store in the world. Foley's is carefully planned to speed the flow of customers and merchandise. Shoppers park their cars in the garage and walk through a tunnel to the store. All purchases go down a chute to the basement and travel on a belt conveyor to the sorting ring in the garage. Each customer's bundles are waiting for him when he is ready to drive out. The ten-million-dollar store is six stories high, but it has been so built that six more stories can be added if business increases and more space is neeeded.

Foley’s is designed to channel the flow of incoming stock and outgoing customers and purchases with maximum efficiency. 

There are no windows in Foley's except for main-floor displays. Air conditioning provides ventilation: all lighting is artificial.