Grupo Sanborns
Grupo Sanborns is a large chain of stores that began in the early 20th century as a transplant of the American coffee shop (diner) to Mexico City. Sanborns stores are not easily classified as a junior department store or any other format commonly found around the world, as they are known for their sit-down restaurants, and stores also usually have a bar, bakery, pharmacy, newsstand, books, CDs, and compact areas of department store-style merchandise such as cosmetics, candy, home decoration, small appliances, TVs, cellphones and accessories, and small electronics. Sanborns are located across Mexico, as well  as in El Salvador and formerly in Panama. History. The retail company was founded in Mexico City on June 19, 1903, by California immigrants Walter and Frank Sanborn, who also opened Mexico's first soda fountain. The original location and its lunch counter, across from the main Mexico City post office ("Palacio de Correos") is still in operation. During the Mexican Revolution, troops of Emiliano Zapata used a Sanborns branch located where the "Libreria Madero" is today, as a rendezvous point and gathering place. Extant photos show "Zapatista" soldiers enjoying their first restaurant meal at Sanborns' lunch counter. Thus the  Sanborns slogan "Meet me at Sanborns". In 1919, Walter Sanborn, tired of Mexico's political turmoil, returned to the US and left the management of the company to his brother Frank. The trademark of the franchise, the three owls, represent Mr. Frank Sanborn and his sons, Francis and Jonathan. For some time, the official name of the company was "Sanborn´s Hermanos" (Sanborn's Brothers), when Mr. Frank died. Also in 1919, Sanborns acquired its most famous branch location, the 16th century House of Tiles, the Casa de los Azulejos, a major Mexico City tourist attraction and national monument. This is  probably the world's only pharmacy decorated with a mural by José Clemente Orozco. In 1946, Frank Sanborn sold his interest in Sanborns to fellow pharmacist Charles Walgreen Jr. of Chicago. Like Walgreens, Sanborns does not use an apostrophe in its name. In Sanborns' case, it is due to the Spanish language not using apostrophes to indicate possession. Walgreens sold its interest in 1985. Currently, Sanborns is a unit of conglomerate Grupo Carso which itself is controlled by Carlos Slim, the fourth wealthiest billionaire in the world as of 2016. Sanborns controls Sears Mexico (nearly 50 stores). It also owns  about 125 Sanborns stores (a combination of restaurants, drugstores and book and gift shops); 34 Sanborns Cafés; nearly 65 Discolandia, Mixup, No Problem and Tower Records music stores, 65 iShop (Apple Re-seller) stores. Sanborns also operates its eponymous Web site selling electronics, computers, music, books, toys, drugs and more. Due to a drop in sales caused by an economic downturn in Panama, Sandborns' only Panamanian branch closed in January 2020. It had opened in 2007 at Multiplaza Panama at a cost of US$6 million.