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On Aug. 12, 1965, bright-faced models posed with former Nashville Mayor Beverly Briley in the War Memorial Auditorium to promote Castner-Knott’s Fashion Happening show. The event featured 60 student models from Nashville high schools and colleges showcasing designs from the beloved department store. 

Locals Charles Castner and William Knott first opened Castner-Knott in 1898. It soon became a community staple, drawing in Nashvillians for over 90 years. The store garnered a legacy as a place to try new fashions and flock to during holiday seasons. Runway shows featuring local models frequently debuted new collections and gathered the community together. 

Following a commercial expansion in 1906, the store relocated to a five-story building on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Church Street. After a successful long-term run, Castner-Knott closed its Nashville flagship store in 1996.