Younkers
Empire Plaza Mall
From 1975 to 2018, Younkers dominated the west end of the Empire Mall.
In 1974, it was announced that Younkers would be arriving in Sioux Falls. The 106,000 square foot anchor store was to open in the new Empire Mall in late 1975. Some Sioux Falls residents had been to the Younkers locations in Sioux City and Des Moines and were familiar with the name.
Younkers began as a general store in Keokuk, Iowa in 1856. Keokuk is a city in the southeast corner of Iowa, right along the Mississippi River. This location gave the store access to goods shipped along the river. It was started by immigrant brothers Lipman, Samuel, and Marcus Younker, who came to America from Polotzk, Poland. The brothers were Jewish, and as such, closed the store on Sabbath and Jewish holidays. The same year they opened their store, work was begun on a rail line between Keokuk and Des Moines.
In 1874, a fourth brother, Herman, came to the area and opened Younkers’ first branch store in Des Moines. In 1879, Samuel died unexpectedly. It was at that point that Marcus took over operation of the company and made the Des Moines location the company’s base of operation. The Keokuk store closed as other expansions were planned.
In 1880, Herman caused quite a stir by hiring the first female sales associate. Mrs. Mary McCann was a 30-year-old widow with no work experience beyond her home. She was hired into an industry in which, up to that point, such a thing wouldn’t have been considered. In the late 1800s, it was not considered good practice to hire women into such positions, as they would be seen as lower class or of questionable character. This did not hold true in Des Moines. While, to begin with, McCann mostly stayed in the back of the store, avoiding meeting with customers, Herman’s gentle tutelage built her confidence. Soon customers would seek her out. Women appreciated the point of view of another woman as they made their purchases. Perhaps this is why, when Younkers went to the popular department store model, Herman assigned her to the lingerie department. A year after McCann began serving in her position, more women were added to the payroll.
Younkers incorporated in 1904, which helped expansion of the flagship store. A tearoom was added in 1913. The 1920s brought rapid expansion of Younkers as the company bought many more department stores in Iowa and surrounding states. Often the purchased stores would be renamed to keep the customers and reputation of the original store. When Younkers bought Davidson’s department store in Sioux City in 1948, the name became Younkers-Davidson’s.
Younkers began as a general store in Keokuk, Iowa in 1856. Keokuk is a city in the southeast corner of Iowa, right along the Mississippi River. This location gave the store access to goods shipped along the river. It was started by immigrant brothers Lipman, Samuel, and Marcus Younker, who came to America from Polotzk, Poland. The brothers were Jewish, and as such, closed the store on Sabbath and Jewish holidays. The same year they opened their store, work was begun on a rail line between Keokuk and Des Moines.
In 1874, a fourth brother, Herman, came to the area and opened Younkers’ first branch store in Des Moines. In 1879, Samuel died unexpectedly. It was at that point that Marcus took over operation of the company and made the Des Moines location the company’s base of operation. The Keokuk store closed as other expansions were planned.
In 1880, Herman caused quite a stir by hiring the first female sales associate. Mrs. Mary McCann was a 30-year-old widow with no work experience beyond her home. She was hired into an industry in which, up to that point, such a thing wouldn’t have been considered. In the late 1800s, it was not considered good practice to hire women into such positions, as they would be seen as lower class or of questionable character. This did not hold true in Des Moines. While, to begin with, McCann mostly stayed in the back of the store, avoiding meeting with customers, Herman’s gentle tutelage built her confidence. Soon customers would seek her out. Women appreciated the point of view of another woman as they made their purchases. Perhaps this is why, when Younkers went to the popular department store model, Herman assigned her to the lingerie department. A year after McCann began serving in her position, more women were added to the payroll.
Younkers incorporated in 1904, which helped expansion of the flagship store. A tearoom was added in 1913. The 1920s brought rapid expansion of Younkers as the company bought many more department stores in Iowa and surrounding states. Often the purchased stores would be renamed to keep the customers and reputation of the original store. When Younkers bought Davidson’s department store in Sioux City in 1948, the name became Younkers-Davidson’s.
A look down the west wing of the Empire Plaza Mall at the time of its opening in 1975.
It took until 1975 for expansion into South Dakota to occur. The company had been Iowa-based since the beginning, and when the company was purchased in 1979 by Equitable of Iowa, a sigh of relief was felt. A local company owned by a local firm was not likely to be ignored and left to rot.
In 1995, Younkers avoided a hostile take over of the company by Carson Pirie Scott & Co. when the board refused the purchase of the remaining stock. They instead sold to a Knoxville company called Proffitt’s. Proffitt’s eventually bought Carson Pirie Scott & Co. and Saks Holdings, Inc., operating under the valuable Saks Inc. corporate moniker.
In 2005, the main store in Des Moines closed and Saks Inc. put Younkers and some of its other properties up for sale. The Bon-Ton purchased these properties and operated them under their original names for the remainder of their lives.
In January 2018 The Bon-Ton filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With that came the closing of 42 under-performing locations. These locations were expected to be closed by mid-April. In early April it was announced that the remainder of The Bon-Ton’s properties would be closed. The close-out sales were expected to be finished by August 31st and all doors shuttered by then.
The Sioux Falls Younkers announced on April 7, 2018 that the store in the Empire Mall would be closed by June 5.
Younkers started as an ambitious little company that could, and it had a good run. Not many stores make it 162 years. It’s just a shame that it had to end like this.
In 1995, Younkers avoided a hostile take over of the company by Carson Pirie Scott & Co. when the board refused the purchase of the remaining stock. They instead sold to a Knoxville company called Proffitt’s. Proffitt’s eventually bought Carson Pirie Scott & Co. and Saks Holdings, Inc., operating under the valuable Saks Inc. corporate moniker.
In 2005, the main store in Des Moines closed and Saks Inc. put Younkers and some of its other properties up for sale. The Bon-Ton purchased these properties and operated them under their original names for the remainder of their lives.
In January 2018 The Bon-Ton filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With that came the closing of 42 under-performing locations. These locations were expected to be closed by mid-April. In early April it was announced that the remainder of The Bon-Ton’s properties would be closed. The close-out sales were expected to be finished by August 31st and all doors shuttered by then.
The Sioux Falls Younkers announced on April 7, 2018 that the store in the Empire Mall would be closed by June 5.
Younkers started as an ambitious little company that could, and it had a good run. Not many stores make it 162 years. It’s just a shame that it had to end like this.
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