Heer's facts for kids
| Industry | Department store |
|---|---|
| Fate | Defunct |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | 138 Park Central West, Springfield, Missouri, United States |
|
Key people
|
Charles Heer F. X. Heer |
Heer's Department Store was a very important store in Springfield, Missouri. For 80 years, it was one of the biggest and most famous department stores in southwest Missouri. The original Heer's building is now a historic place, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2002.
Contents
History of Heer's Department Store
Starting the Store (1869-1915)
Heer's was started in 1869 by Charles H. Heer. He was an immigrant from Germany. In 1882, the business became a company called Charles H. Heer Dry Goods Company.
In 1886, Charles Heer gave control of the store to his youngest son, Francis Xavier Heer. Francis X. Heer became the store's president when his father passed away. He stayed in that job for many years.
A fire destroyed the original store in 1913. But a new, bigger building was soon built in the same spot. This new seven-story building opened in September 1915. On its first day, an amazing 21,000 people visited the store!
Changes and Closing (1940-1995)
In 1940, a company from New York called Allied Stores bought Heer's. They made big improvements to the store. They added modern things like air conditioning and escalators.
More updates happened in 1969. These changes made Heer's look like the big department stores in larger cities. In 1976, a new Heer's store opened at Battlefield Mall.
In 1988, Heer's bought another department store called Newman's. This store was located at the Northpark Mall in Joplin, Missouri. Janet Boswell was the president and CEO of Heer's at this time.
Sadly, Heer's faced financial problems in the 1990s. The Joplin store closed in 1994. By 1995, Heer's Department Store was no longer open for business.
Bringing the Building Back to Life
New Plans for the Historic Building
The Heer's Department Store building was once the biggest store in all of southwest Missouri. It was the most important shopping place on the Public Square in Springfield.
After the store closed, the building changed owners many times. Each new owner hoped to bring the building back to life. In 2001, an owner named Warren Davis started fixing the outside of the building. He planned to have restaurants, shops, and offices inside.
By 2006, the city of Springfield took control of the building. Then, in 2007, a developer from St. Louis named Kevin McGowan bought it. He planned to build fancy apartments above a restaurant. However, a tough economy made it hard to get money for the project.
Current Redevelopment Project
In 2012, a new group bought the building's mortgage. Then, in 2013, a company called Heer's Luxury Living, LLC, led by Jim Nichols and Ernie Straub, started working on a new plan. They asked the city for help with their ideas.
A special ceremony was held in July 2014 to start the construction. Jim Nichols, the owner, said they had the money and a plan. The construction project included building 80 luxury apartments. These apartments would have cool features like a fitness center, a movie theater, and a rooftop area. There would also be space for businesses.
Today, the construction is finished! The Heer's building is now a lively part of downtown Springfield. Its famous name and glowing bell tower invite people to see what's happening in the city center.
