<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It brought high fashion to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" rel="" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span>, had the nation's first escalator and even a ballroom where film star Elizabeth Taylor once partied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Mark Foy's department store, known as The Piazza, was a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney "><span>Sydney</span></a><span> landmark on Elizabeth, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets when it opened in 1909.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The building, which still bears the famous name on the intricate exterior, is now home to the Dowling Centre, which houses the city's courts.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-dont-want-to-see-divided-australia-anthony-albanese-defends-broken-promises-negative-gearing-capital-gains-tax/09fd3f11-5bf2-4e07-809b-b3eb609a3e01"><strong><span>'Don't want to see a divided Australia': Albanese defends broken promises</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But after 45 years, Mark Foy's name is back, with a website selling designer clothes, shoes and accessories officially launching next week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Claiming it has 70 per cent off fancy names like Celine, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Missoni and Gucci, the site is being launched by the great-grandson of one of the original Foy family members.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mark Foy is the great-grandson of Hugh Victor Foy, who was once one of Australia's wealthiest men with a mansion at Watson's Bay.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mark-foys-sydney-department-store-revived-new-website-shopping/88dad33a-784f-4884-ade9-282464407533" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-13-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/98f78294-e423-47a6-a7d0-023934dd833f"><strong><span>'Bing, Bing, GONE!': Trump memes Iranian deaths</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hugh was once managing director of the company, which brothers Francis and Mark started.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mark, a former estate agent in Sydney's Eastern suburbs, told Nine.com.au: "My great-grandfather completed 13 buying trips to Europe over 30 years from 1907, travelling by boat to source the very best of European fashion and bring it back to Australia at exceptional value.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In many ways, we are continuing that same philosophy today except instead of loading ships with stock, we can now deliver luxury fashion from Europe directly to your front door."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-what-capital-gains-tax-and-negative-gearing-changes-mean-for-rents-housing-prices-and-supply/30abbf82-e8f5-4833-ad2e-41c45b337fda"><strong><span>What the budget tax reforms mean for rents, housing prices and supply</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The company is credited with bringing European fashion down under, with the first shop opening on 1885 on Sydney's Oxford Street.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Modelled on the grand Bon Marche department store in Paris and resplendent with marble and chandeliers, the grand new building took up almost a whole block.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It even had an underground tunnel to Museum station and in 1950 an ice rink was created inside as part of a display.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Business was so strong two more shops opened nearby.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More branches later opened in Sydney suburbs and the company even had its own factories and warehouses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It sold everything from furniture and fashion to jewellery to flowers, but later, as it fell on hard times, the company was taken over multiple times.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Latterly becoming Grace Bros, the shops finally closed in the 1980s.</span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2023/08/21/11/34/historical-photos-new-book-retro-sydney-celebrates-sydneys-golden-era"><img alt="A new book, Retro Sydney, 1950-2000 by Nathan Mete shows the city in days gone by." sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/xMQaqJhkWkkpy4Jq5pjqEY06hhM=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fc205bf52-a400-40d6-a341-ea2643ba2af5" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/xMQaqJhkWkkpy4Jq5pjqEY06hhM=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fc205bf52-a400-40d6-a341-ea2643ba2af5 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/TU6KfoOdTJhNtIOja5Uyi6PA59I=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fc205bf52-a400-40d6-a341-ea2643ba2af5 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Sydney's 'golden era' captured in historical photos</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2023/08/21/11/34/historical-photos-new-book-retro-sydney-celebrates-sydneys-golden-era">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mark said Sydneysiders have fond memories of the shop which even sparked the put down 'More front than Mark Foys,' because of its mammoth size.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People love the idea of an iconic Australian retail name being brought back in a modern way," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've received messages from people sharing family memories like their parents met at Mark Foy's, old shopping stories and even garments connected to the brand that have been kept for decades, which has been incredibly special to see."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The older Mark Foy also opened the Hydro Majestic Hotel in the Blue Mountains.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/oldest-shops-australia-through-the-years-in-pictures/29d3f8c4-5aeb-43d9-911d-1b507a8aa42a" rel="" target="" title="shop is one of many beloved stores which have been lost over "><span>shop is one of many beloved stores which have been lost over</span></a><span> the years across Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here 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