Von Maur
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (department store) |
| Founded | January 1, 1872 in Davenport, Iowa, U.S. |
| Founder | J. H. C. Petersen and family |
| Headquarters | Davenport, Iowa , United States |
Area served | Midwestern United States, Southeastern United States, Northeastern United States |
Key people | Charles R. von Maur (co-chairman), Richard B. von Maur (co-chairman), James D. von Maur (president) |
| Products | Department store goods |
| Parent | Von Maur family |
| Website | www |
Von Maur, Inc. (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a U.S.-based department store chain headquartered in Davenport, Iowa. Established in 1872, the company currently operates more than 36 stores primarily throughout the Midwest region.
History
Origins
The enterprise began in 1872 when German immigrant J. H. C. Petersen, alongside his three sons, launched a retail shop within a modest 20-by-50-foot (6 by 15 m) space situated in downtown Davenport, Iowa. Over time, the business grew and relocated to its flagship location—the Redstone Building at the intersection of 2nd and Main Streets in Davenport. In 1916, ownership transitioned when William D. Petersen, son of J.H.C. Petersen, sold the family business to a partnership consisting of R.H. Harned, C.J. von Maur, and Cable von Maur.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
C.J. von Maur, an Austrian immigrant, had previously founded the Boston Store (which was later renamed Harned & Von Maur) in downtown Davenport in 1887. Although under shared ownership, Petersen’s and Harned & Von Maur operated independently for twelve years following C.J. von Maur’s death in 1926. On May 7, 1928, these two entities merged within the Redstone Building, adopting the name Petersen Harned Von Maur—commonly abbreviated as "Petersen's." After R.H. Harned passed away in 1937, full ownership of the store was assumed by the von Maur family.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
1970s–1980s
Marking its 100th anniversary in 1972, Petersen Harned Von Maur launched its inaugural branch at Duck Creek Plaza in Bettendorf, Iowa. Two years later, in 1974, a second branch opened at SouthPark Mall located in Moline, Illinois. By 1976, the company expanded beyond the Quad Cities region with a new store at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines, Iowa. Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Petersen Harned Von Maur steadily established additional locations within shopping centers across Iowa and Illinois. During this expansion phase, it acquired two former Killian's department stores in 1981, situated in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Iowa. As the retailer increasingly concentrated on mall-based operations, it shuttered its downtown Davenport flagship store in 1986.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] The historic Redstone Building that once housed the flagship now serves as the venue for the River Music Experience.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
In 1989, the company simplified its name to Von Maur to emphasize the von Maur family's leadership role. The following year, it relocated its corporate headquarters and executive offices from the Redstone Building to a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) facility on Brady Street near the junction with Interstate 80 in Davenport. This building functions as the central distribution hub for all merchandise, utilizing a dedicated fleet of semi-trucks. Additionally, Von Maur operates its own credit union and credit department alongside an in-house print shop.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Also in 1989, Von Maur acquired former Carson Pirie Scott locations at Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth and College Hills Mall in Normal.
1990s–2000s
Von Maur made a successful entry into the Chicago market in 1994 by opening a 207,000-square-foot (19,200 m2) flagship store within Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois, occupying space previously held by Wieboldt's. Currently, Illinois hosts seven Von Maur stores—the highest concentration of any state. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company extended its footprint into states including Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Nebraska, while simultaneously closing locations in Bettendorf, Iowa, and Muscatine, Iowa. In 2004, Von Maur entered the Michigan market by taking over two former Jacobson's mall locations: one at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and another at Laurel Park Place in Livonia, Michigan. Late in 2005 saw the opening of a new store at Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio, marking the chain’s 23rd location. On January 31, 2007, Von Maur ceased operations at its store within Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reducing its total stores to 22.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Tragically, on December 5, 2007, the Von Maur store located inside Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska became the scene of a mass shooting when a mentally ill teenager entered armed with an assault rifle—resulting in eight fatalities and six injuries before he took his own life.
On September 13, 2008 (Saturday), Von Maur inaugurated its 23rd location—a 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) store—as part of Phase II of The Greene, a development by Steiner Associates located in Dayton, Ohio.
The chain’s 24th outlet had a soft launch on Monday, November 3, 2008 at Corbin Park Lifestyle Center in Overland Park, Kansas followed by an official grand opening on Saturday, November 8, 2008.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
2010s–present
Currently, Von Maur remains a privately owned enterprise managed by members of the Von Maur family, including co-chairmen Charles R. von Maur and Richard B. von Maur, alongside president James D. von Maur. The retailer provides complimentary gift wrapping and shipping services throughout the year. Its primary customer base consists of middle-income shoppers. Over the last five years, Von Maur has extended its reach beyond its traditional Midwestern base, inaugurating locations in Georgia, Alabama, New York, and Oklahoma.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
On September 18, 2010, Von Maur made its debut in the St. Louis, Missouri area by becoming the anchor tenant at The Meadows shopping center in Lake St. Louis.
Later that year, on November 11, 2010, Von Maur revealed plans to establish its first Southeastern store in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. This flagship location involved transforming a former site initially occupied by Lord & Taylor, and later Belk, at North Point Mall into a significantly larger anchor store. The new store officially opened in early November 2011.[1]
In March 2011, reports surfaced that Von Maur would enter Wisconsin by opening a store in the Milwaukee vicinity at a new lifestyle center called The Corners in Brookfield.[2] The planned location was to be integrated with a three-level parking garage and was expected to launch in fall 2014; however, multiple delays postponed the project.[3] This marked Von Maur’s 32nd store when it finally opened on April 8, 2017.[4]
In September 2011, Von Maur declared plans to relocate its Iowa City store from Sycamore Mall to a new site at Iowa River Landing in Coralville.[5]
In November 2011, it was announced that Von Maur would establish its first New York State presence by replacing a Bon-Ton store at Eastview Mall, near Rochester. This northeast expansion opened on October 26, 2013.[6][7]
Early in January 2012, Von Maur announced plans for a second Atlanta-area outlet by occupying the soon-to-be-vacated Bloomingdale's space at Perimeter Mall in north suburban Dunwoody, Georgia. The company’s president expressed an ambition to expand to four or five stores within this market during that period.[8] This three-story retail space of approximately 240,000 square feet (22,000 m2) officially opened on November 10, 2012.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
On November 2, 2013, Von Maur launched its inaugural Alabama store at the Riverchase Galleria located in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham.[9] This location occupies the site originally held by Macy's, followed by Proffitt's, and subsequently Belk.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
The announcement on February 27, 2013 revealed plans for a new outlet in Oklahoma City as the fourth anchor tenant at Quail Springs Mall, taking over from the former Sears space. The 155,000 square feet (14,400 m2) facility opened its doors on October 18, 2014 and became Von Maur’s thirtieth store.[10]
In September of 2016, the company inaugurated their third Georgian location within a former Nordstrom space at the Mall of Georgia situated in Buford.[11][12]
In March of 2016, it was communicated that Von Maur would open an additional Minneapolis-St. Paul area store. This two-level outlet spanning roughly 140,000[convert: needs unit name] launched on October 13, 2018 at Rosedale Center and joined the existing Eden Prairie Center location.[13]
In February of 2017, it was announced that the longstanding Sears location at Woodland Mall in Kentwood—a suburb of Grand Rapids—would close and be replaced by a Von Maur store scheduled for opening in 2019 as part of broader mall renovations.[14]
In February of 2018, Von Maur declared intentions to open a new store within Jordan Creek Town Center located in West Des Moines, Iowa. This outlet commenced operations in 2022 and replaced the previous Valley West Mall location.[15]
In August of 2022, the company announced plans for its inaugural Pennsylvania location at South Hills Village near Pittsburgh.[16]
Dry Goods USA
Dry Goods USA operates as a division of Von Maur. The business originated in 1872 under the name Von Maur Dry Goods, initially occupying a rented 20 by 50-foot space in Downtown Davenport. William D. Petersen sold his Davenport-based store, J.H.C Petersen's Sons, to the Von Maur family. Following the merger of Petersen's with Harned & Von Maur, the company was renamed Petersen Harned Von Maur in 1928, with Dry Goods USA functioning as a subsidiary entity. In 1989, the brand was simplified to Von Maur, while Dry Goods USA continued as a subsidiary. By 2024, Dry Goods USA operates 82 stores across 22 states and is preparing to launch its 83rd location in Delaware, marking its entry into the 23rd state.
- ↑ Von Maur department store chain to enter Atlanta market Archived 2010-11-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 11, 2010
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- ↑ "Twigs." Madison (WI) State Journal, 16 April 2017.
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