Can you imagine if one of Mexico’s best-known department stores had started with a simple chest of clothes? Although today we associate Liverpool with large buildings, storefronts, and shopping malls, its history began in 1847, right in the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center.
Long before online shopping, this business took its first steps in the streets of Centro, when small shops and markets were at the heart of daily life in the capital.
What’s interesting is that those humble beginnings would eventually grow into one of the country’s most famous business stories.
How did Liverpool come to be in Mexico City’s Historic Center?
Liverpool’s history dates back to 1847, when French merchant Jean Baptiste Ebrard began selling clothing and fabrics from a stall located in Mexico City’s historic center.
Back then, “cajones” were small commercial spaces where various goods were sold. They were nothing like the huge department stores we know today.
The business grew little by little, eventually moving beyond its original format to establish itself as a store with a wider variety of products.
An interesting fact is that the name “Liverpool” is linked to the English port of the same name, which played an important role in international trade during the 19th century.
Over the decades, the store evolved and became one of Mexico’s leading department store chains.
From selling clothes out of a dresser drawer to preparing for Primark’s arrival
Nearly 180 years later, Liverpool continues to evolve. In September 2026, the company announced a strategic partnership with Primark, the Irish chain known for its affordable fashion offerings.
The agreement calls for Primark stores to enter Mexico through a franchise model, although the first locations and opening dates have not yet been confirmed.
Thus, that small business that began selling clothing in the Historic Center could also become the gateway for a new international chain to enter the country.
And to think it all started with a crate of clothes on the streets of Mexico City.
