At Heritage Society, a Walk Down Memory Lane for Fans of Sakowitz Department Stores

Steve Wyatt and Joyce Echols, Lynn Wyatt, Robert Sakowitz

A SOPHISTICATED CROWD gathered at the Forest Club in Memorial for the Heritage Society luncheon, celebrating the organization's 67th anniversary and highlighting a bit of Houston retail-biz history.

With his sister Lynn Wyatt looking on adoringly from a front table, Robert T. Sakowitz, longtime executive at his family's Sakowitz department stores, gave a fascinating keynote address that covered the history of the regional retail giant, which was started by his grandfather, an eastern European immigrant, in 1902.

Sakowitz and Wyatt enjoyed some banter during the talk, laughing at how, growing up, everyone always thought Lynn got her beautiful clothes for free — but they actually had to pay. They did get employee discount, they said.

The menu for the luncheon, emceed by Catherine Anspon, was a tribute to the Sky Terrace restaurant at the Downtown Sakowitz store, including vichyssoise, shrimp remoulade salad and a pecan ball with chocolate sauce for dessert. Décor of the affair, including the trio of floral vases on each table, also nodded to the old eatery, a favorite of the ladies-who-lunch set for many years.

Guests included Phoebe Tudor and city officials including Sallie Alcorn, Robert Gallego, Amy Peck and Carolyn M. Johnson.