Sibley's
| File:Sibley's Department Store Final Logo.png | |
| Company type | former subsidiary of : Associated Dry Goods (1957) May Department Stores (1986) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dry goods retailing |
| Founded | Rochester, New York, United States, 1868 |
| Founder | Rufus Sibley Alexander Lindsay John Curr |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Fate | Integrated into Kaufmann's |
| Successor | Kaufmann's (1990–2006) Macy's (2006–present) |
Key people | Rufus Sibley Alexander Lindsay John Curr |
Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, commonly referred to as Sibley's, was a department store chain headquartered in Rochester, New York, with all its outlets situated solely within the state of New York. Its main store, located at 228 East Main Street in downtown Rochester, also served as the corporate headquarters and featured a refined executive dining area on its uppermost floor.
The Department Store Era
Employees of the Boston-based dry goods retailer Hogg, Brown & Taylor, Rufus Sibley, Alexander Lindsay, and John Curr aspired to establish their own enterprise. After evaluating various locations, they chose Rochester as their business site. Their inaugural shop, locally nicknamed "the Boston store," commenced operations in 1868.[1] When they unveiled a new 12-story flagship outlet within the Granite Building, spanning approximately 23-acre (9 ha), it ranked among the nation's five largest department stores at that period.[2]
Following the devastating "Sibley fire" of 1904, which destroyed the Granite Building and much of Rochester’s dry goods district,[3] in 1905 Sibley's relocated to its permanent home at the northeast corner of East Main Street and Clinton Avenue in what became known as the Sibley Building.[4] By 1939, Sibley's had grown to become the largest department store situated between New York City and Chicago.[4]
With suburban expansion after World War II, Sibley's opened its first branch outside Rochester in 1955 at Eastway Plaza in Penfield. The chain ultimately expanded to encompass 15 stores across the Rochester and Buffalo areas. In 1957, ownership transferred to the Associated Dry Goods Corporation.
In 1962, rival retailers B. Forman Co. and McCurdy's collaborated to develop Midtown Plaza, positioned directly across Main Street from Sibley's. An enclosed walkway on the third floor connected Sibley's to this new shopping center as part of Rochester’s Skyway system. Later, in 1969, Sibley's launched a branch at 400 S. Salina Street in downtown Syracuse.
During the 1980s, Sibley's began scaling back operations. In 1980, the entire fifth floor was vacated and leased to General Motors Rochester Products Division for office space. That same year saw the closure of the in-store bakery, followed by the grocery section shutting down in 1981.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The parent company was acquired by May Department Stores in 1986. By 1988, only three floors remained open for retail activities. The Buffalo store ceased operations in 1987,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name with the Syracuse location closing two years later in 1989. Efforts to reduce expenses ultimately alienated the dwindling customer base.
On January 31, 1990, the downtown Rochester flagship closed,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name and its branding was absorbed into May Company's Kaufmann's division. Most suburban branches transitioned to Kaufmann’s before eventually becoming part of Macy's by 2006.
Monroe Community College’s Damon City Campus Located in Sibley Building
In 1991, the State University of New York's Monroe Community College (MCC) inaugurated its second campus within the Sibley Building. This downtown location served as MCC’s urban campus until 2017, when a newly constructed downtown facility opened nearby at Kodak Tower, the headquarters of the Kodak Company.
Present Day – Sibley Square
Currently rebranded as Sibley Square, the historic Sibley Building is undergoing extensive redevelopment. This project aims to preserve the architectural significance of the landmark while introducing a blend of retail spaces, office environments, and high-end residential units. The renovation balances honoring the building’s heritage with incorporating contemporary design elements suited for modern use.
Project Developer
The redevelopment of Sibley Square is managed by WinnCompanies, an acclaimed development firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1971 by Arthur Winn, WinnCompanies has earned recognition for its expertise in property development and management.
Updated Location
The official address for Sibley Square is:
See also
References
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