H.C. Prange Company

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H.C. Prange Company
TypeDepartment store chain
Founded1887
DefunctOctober 28, 1992
HeadquartersSheboygan, Wisconsin
Number of locations
25 (1992)

The H.C. Prange Company was an American company best known for its Prange's department stores, located mostly in Wisconsin. Founded in Sheboygan in 1887, the company expanded into other cities in northeast Wisconsin in the early 20th century by acquiring established dry goods stores. As the popularity of the suburban shopping mall grew in the 1960s and 1970s, the Prange's chain grew rapidly and extended into neighboring Illinois and Michigan, while most of its existing urban stores were converted into part of new downtown shopping malls. Prange's was the flagship chain of a company that also operated Prange Way discount stores, which were spun off into a separate company in 1990, and the id specialty clothing shops, among other ventures. Prange's was acquired by Younkers in 1992, which in turn was acquired by Saks and later The Bon-Ton, and many of its locations survived until The Bon-Ton went bankrupt in 2018. Southern Wisconsin locations were later rebranded as Boston Store, and the two locations in Illinois became Bergner's.

The sale of all Prange's stores to Younkers was completed on September 3, 1992. However, the 25 stores continued to operate under the Prange's name until they were rebranded as Younkers in a series of grand reopening ceremonies on October 29 of that year.[1]

Locations[edit | edit source]

[2][3]

Address City Opened Closed Previous occupant Next occupant Source
CherryVale Mall Rockford, Illinois August 2, 1974 October 28, 1992 Younkers [4]
Machesney Park Mall Rockford, Illinois 1979 October 28, 1992 Younkers
Bay City Mall Bay City, Michigan April 1991 October 28, 1992 Younkers [5]
Westshore Mall Holland, Michigan August 22, 1988 October 28, 1992 Younkers [6]
Westwood Mall Marquette, Michigan October 22, 1976 October 28, 1992 Younkers [7]
Birchwood Mall Port Huron, Michigan October 1990 October 28, 1992 Younkers
Cherryland Mall Traverse City, Michigan October 20, 1977 October 28, 1992 Younkers [8]
The Avenue Mall Appleton, Wisconsin January 24, 1946 November 6, 1989 Pettibone-Peabody Company City Center Plaza [9][10]
London Square Eau Claire, Wisconsin September 30, 1971 October 28, 1992 Younkers [11]
755 West Johnson Street, later Forest Mall Fond du Lac, Wisconsin July 25, 1966 October 28, 1992 Younkers [12][13]
Fox River Mall Grand Chute, Wisconsin March 5, 1986 October 28, 1992 Younkers [14][15]
229 North Washington Street Green Bay, Wisconsin February 23, 1928 February 1932 C.W. Hall Dry Goods Prange Appliance Annex [16][17]
Appliance Annex,
229 North Washington Street		 Green Bay, Wisconsin February 1932 December 31, 1968 Prange's Avenue Shoes [18]
Port Plaza Mall Green Bay, Wisconsin February 20, 1932 October 28, 1992 Jorgenson-Blesch Company Younkers [19]
East Towne Mall Madison, Wisconsin October 14, 1971 October 28, 1992 Younkers [20]
West Towne Mall Madison, Wisconsin October 15, 1970 October 28, 1992 Younkers [21]
Edgewater Plaza Manitowoc, Wisconsin March 29, 1979 October 28, 1992 Younkers [22]
Pine Tree Mall Marinette, Wisconsin October 25, 1978 October 28, 1992 Younkers [23]
Northway Mall Marshfield, Wisconsin September 13, 1979 October 28, 1992 Younkers [24]
Northridge Mall Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 4, 1989 October 28, 1992 Marshall Field's Younkers
Southridge Mall Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 4, 1989 October 28, 1992 Marshall Field's Younkers
Park Plaza Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 27, 1970 October 28, 1992 Younkers [25]
Regency Mall Racine, Wisconsin March 28, 1985 October 28, 1992 Bergner's Younkers [26]
Plaza 8 Sheboygan, Wisconsin 1887 October 28, 1992 Younkers
58 North 3rd Avenue Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin May 12, 1930 October 28, 1992 L.M. Washburn department store Younkers [27]
Mariner Mall Superior, Wisconsin 1980 October 28, 1992 Younkers
Wausau Center Wausau, Wisconsin November 1, 1968 October 28, 1992 Younkers [28]
Rapids Mall Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin July 13, 1978 October 28, 1992 Younkers [29]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Younkers ready for opening", Green Bay Press-Gazette, October 28, 1992, page B-6.
  2. ↑ Maier, Harry. "Prange's grows bullish on expansion", Green Bay Press-Gazette, January 29, 1989, page B-10.
  3. ↑ Schultz, Sean. "'Another piece of history passing'", Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 18, 1992, page A-2.
  4. ↑ "Prange's opens Friday", Belvidere Daily Republican, July 30, 1974, page 10.
  5. ↑ "25th Prange's store opens in Michigan", Green Bay Press-Gazette, April 15, 1991, page B-4.
  6. ↑ Schulz, Bill. "Henry Prange: City Centre needs a quality mix of specialty retailers", Sheboygan Press, July 3, 1988, front page and page 2.
  7. ↑ "Prange Opens In Marquette", Green Bay Press-Gazette, October 12, 1976, page A-18.
  8. ↑ "Prange opening", Traverse City Record-Eagle, October 18, 1977, page 17.
  9. ↑ "H.C. Prange Company Takes Over Business and Lease of Pettibones", Appleton Post-Crescent, January 25, 1946, front page.
  10. ↑ Horst, David. "Last day: Sadness marks Prange's closing", Appleton Post-Crescent, November 6, 1989, page B-1.
  11. ↑ "H.C. Prange Plans London Square Opening", Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, September 28, 1971, page B7.
  12. ↑ Advertisement, Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, July 23, 1966, section 2, page 7.
  13. ↑ "2 Prange Stores Major Part of Forest Mall", Fond du Lac Reporter, section 2, page 4.
  14. ↑ Boardman, Arlan. "Prange's ready to open mall store", Appleton Post-Crescent, February 28, 1986, page B-6.
  15. ↑ Horst, David. "Younkers focuses on customer", Appleton Post-Crescent, October 27, 1992, page C-1.
  16. ↑ "H.C. Prange Co. Opens Store", Green Bay Press-Gazette, February 21, 1928, page 9.
  17. ↑ "Thousands Attend Opening of Green Bay's H.C. Prange Store", Sheboygan Press, February 25, 1928, page 2.
  18. ↑ Advertisement, Green Bay Press-Gazette, December 29, 1968, page A-6.
  19. ↑ "Prange Co. Merger at Green Bay", Sheboygan Press, February 20, 1932, front page.
  20. ↑ "Four Major Stores Are Ready For You", Madison Capital Times, October 13, 1971, East Towne section, page 18.
  21. ↑ "Prange's, Manchester's, Penney's, and Sears: 'Big Four' Supply Merchandising Muscle", Wisconsin State Journal, October 14, 1970, West Towne section, page 10.
  22. ↑ "Prange's opens Edgewater store", Manitowoc Herald-Times, March 29, 1979, front page.
  23. ↑ "Marinette Mall Opens Wednesday", Green Bay Press-Gazette, October 22, 1978, page C-11.
  24. ↑ "Prange's opens in Northway Mall here", September 13, 1979, page 3.
  25. ↑ "July 27 Is Opening Date For Park Plaza Prange's", Oshkosh Northwestern, July 21, 1970, page 4.
  26. ↑ McAuliffe, Kim. "Prange store opening Thursday", Racine Journal Times, March 27, 1985, page 5B.
  27. ↑ "H.C. Prange Co. Buys Store In Door County", Sheboygan Press, April 22, 1930, page 2.
  28. ↑ "Prange Store Open for Business", Wausau Daily Herald, November 2, 1968, page 19.
  29. ↑ Advertisement, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, July 12, 1978, page 6.
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