Content about Iowa

May 8, 2013

Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur department stores, based in Davenport, Iowa, sat down with Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Boccaccio for an exclusive video interview in which he discussed the company’s growth strategy, technology investments, and the burgeoning e-commerce business.

Davenport, Iowa -- Some retailers just keep growing, despite economic headwinds, fickle customers and competitive pressures. The family-operated, 140-year-old Von Maur department store company, based in Davenport, Iowa, is one of those retailers. In an exclusive video interview, Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Boccaccio spoke with Jim von Maur, president, about the chain’s strategy and how it keeps growing in an uncertain economy.

May 8, 2013

Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur department stores, based in Davenport, Iowa, sat down with Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Boccaccio for an exclusive video interview in which he discussed the company’s growth strategy, technology investments, and the burgeoning e-commerce business.

Davenport, Iowa -- Some retailers just keep growing, despite economic headwinds, fickle customers and competitive pressures. The family-operated, 140-year-old Von Maur department store company, based in Davenport, Iowa, is one of those retailers. In an exclusive video interview, Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Boccaccio spoke with Jim von Maur, president, about the chain’s strategy and how it keeps growing in an uncertain economy.

May 7, 2013

Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur department stores, based in Davenport, Iowa, sat down with Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Boccaccio for an exclusive video interview in which he discussed the company’s growth strategy, technology investments, and the burgeoning e-commerce business.

May 7, 2013

Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur department stores, based in Davenport, Iowa, sat down with Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Boccaccio for an exclusive video interview in which he discussed the company’s growth strategy, technology investments, and the burgeoning e-commerce business.

May 7, 2013

Jim von Maur

President, Von Maur

HEADQUARTERS Davenport, Iowa

TYPE OF BUSINESS Department store retailer

NUMBER OF STORES 35 in 11 states (27 Von Maur stores, eight Dry Goods stores)

Seventeen years ago, in the January 1996 issue of Chain Store Age, Jack Arth, who at the time was president of Von Maur, explained how the circa 1928 department store retailer set out to differentiate itself from competitors such as the then hugely influential Federated and May chains.

May 7, 2013

I visited my first Von Maur store in 1999, a decade after I relocated from southern boomtown Atlanta to Lincoln, Neb., a sleepy college town that only really wakes up on Husker football Saturdays. Today I am back home in Baton Rouge, La., still no bustling metropolis, but the food and football trump.

May 7, 2013

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers — C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

May 7, 2013

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers — C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

May 7, 2013

The Bon-Ton Stores announced it will close its Younkers store in the Rapids Mall in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores announced it will close its Younkers store in the Rapids Mall in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

The company will not renew the lease, which terminates July 31, 2013. The closing will impact approximately 45 associates at this location.

The Bon-Ton acquired the leasehold interests in the Wisconsin Rapids store as part of the Northern Department Store Group acquisition in 2006. The department store retailer said it does not expect costs associated with the closing of the location to be material.  

May 2, 2013

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers -- C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

May 2, 2013

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers -- C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

January 4, 2013

Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group said that it has brokered the sale of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on behalf of Tremont Capital Corp. and Cedar Rapids Properties.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group said Thursday that it has brokered the sale of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on behalf of Tremont Capital Corp. and Cedar Rapids Properties.

The 743,369-sq.-ft. property is anchored by J.C. Penney and Younkers.

 

January 4, 2013

Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group said that it has brokered the sale of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on behalf of Tremont Capital Corp. and Cedar Rapids Properties.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group said Thursday that it has brokered the sale of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on behalf of Tremont Capital Corp. and Cedar Rapids Properties.

The 743,369-sq.-ft. property is anchored by J.C. Penney and Younkers.

 

December 27, 2012

The way in which retailers market to consumers has undergone considerable change in recent years, particularly in light of the popularity of social media platforms. Indeed, social media has become essential to retailers’ marketing efforts, according to a recent BDO USA survey, which found that 86% of retail CMOs included social media in their holiday 2012 marketing plans.

November 8, 2012

Department store chain Von Maur said that it has opened a 4,000-sq.-ft. Dry Goods store at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, Iowa – the specialty retailer’s first location in the state and its eighth overall.

Davenport, Iowa -- Department store chain Von Maur said Thursday that it has opened a 4,000-sq.-ft. Dry Goods store at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, Iowa – the specialty retailer’s first location in the state and its eighth overall.

The concept, which centers around contemporary women's clothing and accessories, is strategically growing; the plan, said the company, is to have a nationwide presence. It recently launched its online business at Drygoodsusa.com.

November 8, 2012

Department store chain Von Maur said that it has opened a 4,000-sq.-ft. Dry Goods store at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, Iowa – the specialty retailer’s first location in the state and its eighth overall.

Davenport, Iowa -- Department store chain Von Maur said Thursday that it has opened a 4,000-sq.-ft. Dry Goods store at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, Iowa – the specialty retailer’s first location in the state and its eighth overall.

The concept, which centers around contemporary women's clothing and accessories, is strategically growing; the plan, said the company, is to have a nationwide presence. It recently launched its online business at Drygoodsusa.com.

September 26, 2012

Kohl’s Department Stores announced the grand opening of 12 stores, creating approximately 1,500 jobs nationwide.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores announced the grand opening of 12 stores, creating approximately 1,500 jobs nationwide. The company now operates 1,146 stores in 49 states.

The company is celebrating the grand opening of 12 stores in 10 states, including Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. Of the 12 new locations, 11 are small format stores with approximately 64,000 sq. ft. or less of retail space.

April 23, 2012

Von Maur Inc. will expand its women's specialty store concept, Dry Goods, with the opening of a 4,500-sq.-ft. location this fall at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park, Ill.

Davenport, Iowa -- Von Maur Inc. will expand its women's specialty store concept, Dry Goods, with the opening of a 4,500-sq.-ft. location this fall at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park, Ill. The store will be the specialty store chain's third location in the Greater Chicagoland area and the seventh Dry Goods store overall.

The new Dry Goods will feature leading brands such as Free People, Hudson, Jessica Simpson, Joe's Jeans and Silver, among others. The store's decor will reflect the chain's vintage, turn-of-the-century aesthetic.

January 5, 2012

General Growth Properties announced the addition of Von Maur department store as an anchor to Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, which has sales of more than $550 per square foot.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties announced the addition of Von Maur department store as an anchor to Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, which has sales of more than $550 per square foot.

The department store is projected to open in fall 2012. Von Maur will replace the soon to be vacant Bloomingdale's location. Von Maur joins a retailer line-up that also includes Apple, Nordstrom, Michael Kors, Sur La Table, and Forever 21 among many others. Perimeter Mall is a 1.6 million-sq.-ft. two-level center north of downtown Atlanta.

December 15, 2011

Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee plans to retire on June 1, 2012.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee plans to retire on June 1, 2012.

Jurgens, said he will ask the company's board to elect Randy Edeker, president and COO, to succeed him.

December 15, 2011

Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee plans to retire on June 1, 2012.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee plans to retire on June 1, 2012.

Jurgens, said he will ask the company's board to elect Randy Edeker, president and COO, to succeed him.

December 12, 2011

Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Dubuque, Iowa, will get its first Ulta store, as the cosmetics retailer is about to break ground on a 10,000-sq.-ft. store at Kennedy Mall.

Dubuque, Iowa -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Dubuque, Iowa, will get its first Ulta store, as the cosmetics retailer is about to break ground on a 10,000-sq.-ft. store at Kennedy Mall.

The new store is slated to open in the second half of 2012.
Kennedy Mall is a 700,000-sq.-ft. mall featuring Younkers, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sears, J.C. Penney and Best Buy. It is owned and managed in association with Cafaro affiliated companies.
 

November 21, 2011

Sachse Construction has been awarded two Nike store projects, in Louisville, Ky., and Des Moines, Iowa.

Birmingham, Mich. -- Sachse Construction has been awarded two Nike store projects, in Louisville, Ky., and Des Moines, Iowa. Both projects expect to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

The Nike Factory Store in Louisville is a 14,971-sq.-ft. remodel. The project took roughly 16 weeks to complete and was finished in mid-October.

The Des Moines Nike store is a 14,000-sq-ft. remodel. The project will take about 14 weeks and will be finished near the end of November.

November 21, 2011

Sachse Construction has been awarded two Nike store projects, in Louisville, Ky., and Des Moines, Iowa.

Birmingham, Mich. -- Sachse Construction has been awarded two Nike store projects, in Louisville, Ky., and Des Moines, Iowa. Both projects expect to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

The Nike Factory Store in Louisville is a 14,971-sq.-ft. remodel. The project took roughly 16 weeks to complete and was finished in mid-October.

The Des Moines Nike store is a 14,000-sq-ft. remodel. The project will take about 14 weeks and will be finished near the end of November.

November 8, 2011

Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with father and son team, Jim and Drew Cownie for 12 new restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with father and son team, Jim and Drew Cownie for 12 new restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa.

The first restaurant is slated to open in 2012 and the remainder by 2018.