Younkers was an American chain of department stores, based for most of its existence in Des Moines, Iowa . Founded in Keokuk, Iowa in 1856, the company acquired independent department stores across the state and grew to become Iowa's largest department store. The chain expanded dramatically with the acquisition of the 11 stores of Nebraska-based Brandeis in 1987, and 25 stores from Prange's in 1992 which allowed the chain to enter Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.[1] Proffitt's /Saks, Inc. in 1996, Younkers became part of the Saks Northern Department Store Group, which was sold to The Bon-Ton in 2006. As one of The Bon-Ton's seven department store brands, Younkers stores were found throughout Nebraska, Iowa, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as two locations in Minnesota and another in Sioux Falls, South Dakota . Younkers, along with all other The Bon-Ton stores, was shut down in August 2018.
Locations [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Address
City
Opened
Closed
Previous occupant
Next occupant
Source
SouthPark Mall Moline, Illinois February 27, 1974 August 2018 [9]
CherryVale Mall Rockford, Illinois October 29, 1992 Prange's
Machesney Park Mall Rockford, Illinois October 29, 1992 Prange's
Downtown Ames, Iowa 1941 1971
North Grand Mall Ames, Iowa 1971 August 2018 [10]
Downtown Bettendorf, Iowa 1960
Downtown Burlington, Iowa 1966 before 1987
College Square Mall Cedar Falls, Iowa 1968 August 2018
Lindale Mall Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1960 August 2018
Westdale Mall Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1979 August 2018
Coral Ridge Mall Coralville, Iowa 1998 August 2018
Midlands Mall Council Bluffs, Iowa August 15, 1987 Brandeis
NorthPark Mall Davenport, Iowa July 11, 1973 August 2018 [11]
Downtown Des Moines, Iowa 1899 2005
Eastgate Shopping Center Des Moines, Iowa 1962
Merle Hay Mall Des Moines, Iowa 1959 August 2018
Store for Homes, Merle Hay Mall
Des Moines, Iowa 1974 1991
Southridge Mall Des Moines, Iowa October 15, 1975 August 2018 [12]
Kennedy Mall Dubuque, Iowa 1968 August 2018
Downtown Fort Dodge, Iowa 1947
Crossroads Mall Fort Dodge, Iowa August 2018
Downtown Iowa City, Iowa 1949 Yetters
Downtown Marshalltown, Iowa 1948 Brintnall's
Marshalltown Mall Marshalltown, Iowa August 2018
102 South Delaware Avenue Mason City, Iowa 1944 August 2018
Muscatine Mall Muscatine, Iowa August 2018
Downtown Newton, Iowa 1960
Downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa
Downtown Ottumwa, Iowa 1949 before 1987
Downtown Spencer, Iowa 1960
Downtown Sioux City, Iowa 1948 2007 Davidson's
Downtown Sioux City, Iowa 1958 1969 T.S. Martin & Co.
Southern Hills Mall Sioux City, Iowa 1980 August 29, 2018 [13]
Crossroads Mall Waterloo, Iowa 1997 August 2018 Herberger's
Westland Mall West Burlington, Iowa 1977 August 2018
Jordan Creek Town Center West Des Moines, Iowa 2004 August 2018
Valley West Mall West Des Moines, Iowa August 15, 1987 August 2018 Brandeis
Bay City Mall Bay City, Michigan October 29, 1992 Prange's
373 North Willowbrook Road Coldwater, Michigan August 2018
RiverTown Crossings Grandville, Michigan 1999 August 2018
The Shops at Westshore Holland, Michigan October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Westwood Mall Jackson, Michigan 2012 August 2018 Elder-Beerman
Lansing Mall Lansing, Michigan 2002 August 2018
Westwood Mall Marquette, Michigan October 29, 1992 Prange's
Midland Mall Midland, Michigan 2012 August 2018 Elder-Beerman
The Lakes Mall Muskegon, Michigan 2001 August 2018
Meridian Mall Okemos, Michigan 2003 August 2018
Birchwood Mall Port Huron, Michigan October 29, 1992 Prange's
Cherryland Mall Traverse City, Michigan October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Downtown Austin, Minnesota 1958 July 1975
Oak Park Mall Austin, Minnesota July 23, 1975 August 2018 [12]
Miller Hill Mall Duluth, Minnesota August 2018
Southroads Mall Bellevue, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Conestoga Mall Grand Island, Nebraska August 15, 1987 August 2018 Brandeis
Imperial Mall Hastings, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Gateway Mall Lincoln, Nebraska August 15, 1987 August 2018 Brandeis
Baker Square Shopping Center Omaha, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Crossroads Mall Omaha, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Downtown Omaha, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Oak View Mall Omaha, Nebraska 1991 August 2018
The Center Omaha, Nebraska 1955
Westgate Plaza Omaha, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Westroads Mall Omaha, Nebraska 1968 August 2018
Younkers Juniors, Westroads Mall
Omaha, Nebraska August 15, 1987 Brandeis
Empire Mall Sioux Falls, South Dakota September 24, 1975 August 2018 [12]
London Square Eau Claire, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 2002 Prange's
Oakwood Mall Eau Claire, Wisconsin 2002 August 2018 Target T-242
Forest Mall Fond du Lac, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Fox River Mall Grand Chute, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's [14]
Bay Park Square Green Bay, Wisconsin 2003 August 2018
Furniture Gallery, Bay Park Square
Green Bay, Wisconsin August 2018 Elder-Beerman
Port Plaza Mall Green Bay, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 2003 Prange's
East Towne Mall Madison, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 2003 Prange's Boston Store
West Towne Mall Madison, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 2003 Prange's Boston Store
Edgewater Plaza Manitowoc, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Pine Tree Mall Marinette, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Northway Mall Marshfield, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Northridge Mall Milwaukee, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 Prange's
Southridge Mall Milwaukee, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 Prange's
Park Plaza Oshkosh, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 Prange's
1780 Plover Road Plover, Wisconsin August 2018
Regency Mall Racine, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 2001 Prange's Boston Store
Plaza 8 Sheboygan, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 Prange's
58 North 3rd Avenue Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Mariner Mall Superior, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Wausau Center Wausau, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 August 2018 Prange's
Rapids Mall Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin October 29, 1992 Prange's
References
↑ "Younkers ready for opening" , Green Bay Press-Gazette , October 28, 1992, page B-6.↑ "Younkers Stores Square Footages" , Younker Brothers 1976 Annual Report, p. 16, via the Internet Archive.↑ "Younkers Announces Planned Purchase of Brandeis Department Stores" , Associated Press , December 23, 1986.↑ "Brandeis helps Younkers gain in 1st-half sales" , Lincoln Journal Star , August 14, 1987, page 18.↑ Advertisement and complete store list , Lincoln Star , August 16, 1987, page 3A.↑ Schultz, Sean. "'Another piece of history passing'" , Green Bay Press-Gazette , July 18, 1992, page A-2.
↑ "Younkers ready for opening" , Green Bay Press-Gazette , October 28, 1992, page B-6.↑ Bomey, Nathan. "Bon-Ton Stores closing: See list of Boston Store, Carson's, Younkers, Herberger's stores" , USA Today, April 18, 2018.
↑ Younker Brothers 1973 Annual Report ↑ Younker Brothers 1971 Annual Report ↑ Younker Brothers 1972 Annual Report ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Younker Brothers 1975 Annual Report ↑ Dockter, Mason. "Younkers closes permanently Wednesday" , Sioux City Journal , August 29, 2018.
↑ Horst, David. "Younkers focuses on customer" , Appleton Post-Crescent , October 27, 1992, page C-1.
