Department Stores

More-Way was Milwaukee, Wisconsin's favorite discount department store.

Shillito's was Cincinnati's first department store. It was founded by John Shillito and William McLaughlin in 1830 as McLaughlin & Shillito, but that partnership soon split up. In 1878, Shillito's moved to a new building on Race and Seventh streets, which was remodeled in...

Marston's??was founded by George Marston in 1881 in downtown San Diego. In addition to its flagship store, it had two suburban locations. It was sold The Broadway in 1961.??

Van Leunens opened in the 1950s as China-Town. In 1973 the name was changed as its offerings had grown and diversified. The chain grew to seven locations: Amelia, Fairfield, Mason, Milford, and Monfort Heights in Ohio. There were also locations in Erlanger and Newport,...

Two Guys from Harrison, better known as the Two Guys department store chain, was founded in New Jersey, was founded in the late 1940s, somewhat by accident. Brothers??Herbert and Sidney Hubschman, who had operated a snack bar at the headquarters of RCA, obtained several...

A mall staple in the 1970s and 1980s, Chess King was founded in 1968 in Boston. At its peak it had over 500 stores. However, it was so closely identified with those two decades, soon into the 1990s it was no longer considered hip.

This was always one of the best deals in the record store, especially if you catching up on an artist's catalog.

The Rike-Kumler was established in Dayton in 1853. David L. Rike and his associates started their venture near Third Street and Main downtown.??The business started when the firm of Prugh, Joyce & Rike was formed. This organization continued for a short time until the...