Content about Rochester

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.

Each year, in December, Chain Store Age publishes a retail overview of the northeastern quadrant of the United States and, each year, there’s not a lot of bad news to report, even in recessionary times. This year is no exception; in fact, despite a superstorm that ravaged much of the region, the economic engine continues to chug along.

Rochester, N.H. -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. said that Buffalo Wild Wings opened on Sept. 30 at Rochester Crossing, in Rochester, N.H., and will be joined by a 12,157-sq.-ft. PetSmart store in spring 2013.

Wilder Cos. is the owner and manager of the 304,500-sq.-ft. Rochester Crossing, which features Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, Famous Footwear, GameStop and Tropical Smoothie.