Miller & Paine
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (department store) |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Founder | John Eschelman Miller, Dr. Bartlett Paine |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Fate | Purchased by Dillard's |
| Headquarters | Lincoln , United States |
Area served | Nebraska |
Key people | John Eschelman Miller (co-founder), Robert Erle Campbell (chairman) |
| Products | Department store goods, bakery items, candy |
| Parent | Dillard's (from 1988) |
Miller & Paine was a department store located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Established in 1880, the company was purchased by Dillard's in 1988. Before this acquisition, Miller & Paine operated three locations: two within Lincoln—the primary downtown flagship store and another at Gateway Mall—and a third outlet at the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island, Nebraska. It holds the distinction of being among Lincoln’s earliest department stores.
History
John Eschelman Miller moved to Lincoln from Pennsylvania in 1879 and partnered with Dr. Bartlett Paine in 1880 to establish a department store at the corner of 13th and O streets in downtown Lincoln. The original building was constructed in 1898. The store adopted the name Miller & Paine. In 1916, the site saw the erection of a new structure designed by Berlinghof & Davis. By 1935, Miller & Paine had become Nebraska’s first department store to feature air conditioning.
The flagship location housed a basement lunch counter and a Tea Room on its fifth floor. The store was also known for its bakery, famous for cinnamon rolls and crumb cookies, as well as an in-house candy-making operation supplying its candy department. Notably, the cinnamon used for their signature rolls was specially imported, and their macaroni and cheese—served baked in individual bowls—featured sharp English cheddar cheese. Additionally, Miller & Paine owned a farm near Emerald, Nebraska that provided poultry, vegetables, and eggs for their operations.
From 1917 to 1921, John Eschelman Miller served as mayor of Lincoln. Following Miller’s death in 1938, Robert Erle Campbell assumed the role of chairman of the board at Miller & Paine. Campbell also served as Lincoln’s mayor from 1940 to 1941 after being appointed by the city council to fill a vacancy.
In 1960, Miller & Paine expanded by opening a store at Lincoln’s newly established Gateway Mall as an anchor tenant. Later, in 1974, they launched another location within Grand Island’s Conestoga Mall.
The company sold its department stores to Dillard's in 1988. Following this transaction, the stores were rebranded under the Dillard's name. Shortly after acquiring Miller & Paine, Dillard's shuttered the downtown Lincoln location.
Today, Miller & Paine operates as Miller & Paine LLC managing real estate assets in Lincoln. The historic building at 13th and O Streets designed by Berlinghof & Davis remains functional as office space. Furthermore, the iconic Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls once served in the store’s tearooms continue to be produced and retailed by Lincoln-based fast food chain Runza, which acquired the recipe rights in 2007.