Developer, former owner of Halpern’s Fabrics, Theone Milman Halpern is dead

THEONE MILMAN HALPERN, the proprietress of Halpern’s Fabrics, a once successful chain of stores located throughout the Southeast and a real estate developer, died at her home on Saturday, October 29, 2016. She was 83.

Halpern was a model for Mademoiselle Magazine, where she was offered a full-time position. Instead, she took a chance and opened up her New Orleans-based business, Halpern’s Fabrics in 1957. At its peak, she oversaw 52 stores in 26 cities stretching from Pensacola to Atlanta up to Memphis and down to Houston.

She was born in Chicago in 1933 and moved to Houma when she was just a 3-year-old. Graduating in 1951 from Stephens College, Columbia, MO., she married and settled in New Orleans.

In addition to her keen business sense, Halpern always had an eye for real estate, and in the 1970’s, she invested in property in the Warehouse and the Lower Garden Districts, renovating historic buildings into several residential apartments and commercial properties.

She closed Halpern’s Fabrics to develop a new company, Halpern’s The Home Furnishings Store & Cafe. Her new company opened in July, 1977 with a prototype store for the Swedish Furniture company IKEA. From humble beginnings, this prototype store evolved into one of New Orleans’ premier furniture retailers, as well as a manufacturer of furniture.

After purchasing the former Coca-Cola Bottling plant on South Jefferson Davis Parkway in late 2000, she oversaw its extensive refitting and renovation, setting it up as a world class manufacturing line for furniture. The former executive offices were redesigned into The Offices 1050, an executive office suites and Conference Center.

After completing completed her last residential renovation in 2007, Halpern opened The Prytania Oaks for business. She and her husband had already opened The Prytania Park Hotel in 1982, a 62-room European Courtyard style hotel. During the early part of her business career she also taught fashion at Newcomb College. Halpern loved to travel and her businesses gave her the opportunity to frequently visit her fabric and furniture partners throughout Asia and on the European Continent.

Halpern was a longtime member of Touro Synagogue and most recently was a member of Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie.

She was predeceased by her husband and business partner Alvin K. Halpern, who died earlier this year in January. She is survived by her daughters Jenifer Halpern and Doriane Schulman (Jack) and her son Edward Halpern (Joelle), five grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Funeral services were held at Gates of Prayer Synagogue, 4000 W. Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA, on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. Rabbi Robert Loewy officiated. Interment in Gates of Prayer Cemetery (Joseph Street) followed immediately.

Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie was in charge of arrangements. Information, (504) 835-2341. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Ochsner Cancer Institute.

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