Higbee's facts for kids
The Higbee Building is now home to the Jack Cleveland Casino
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| Department store | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Fate | Converted to Dillard's |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Products | Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. |
Higbee's was a famous department store that opened its doors in 1860 in Cleveland, Ohio. For many years, it was a favorite shopping spot for families. In 1987, Higbee's was sold to a partnership between Dillard's department stores and a developer named Edward J. DeBartolo. The stores kept the Higbee name until 1992. Then, DeBartolo sold his share, and all the Higbee's stores became Dillard's.
Contents
The Story of Higbee's
Early Beginnings
Higbee's was started by Edwin Converse Higbee and John G. Hower on September 10, 1860. They called their first store Higbee & Hower Dry Goods. On their very first day, they made $100 in sales! After Mr. Hower passed away, the company became The Higbee Co. in 1902.
The store moved from its first spot in Public Square to a new, bigger five-story building. This new store was in the Playhouse Square Center. It was right across from their main competitor, Halle Brothers Co..
Growth and Changes
In 1929, the Van Sweringen brothers bought Higbee's. They moved the store again to their huge new Terminal Tower complex on Public Square. This move was partly because people living in their new suburb, Shaker Heights, wanted an easy way to shop. They could ride the Van Sweringen brothers' new railroads right into the city.
However, the Great Depression hit hard, and the Van Sweringen empire faced problems. Higbee's went bankrupt in 1935. But thanks to store leaders Charles P. Bradley and John Murphy, the company was reorganized. It then grew and did very well for many years.
Expanding Across Ohio
The 1960s and 1970s were a time of big growth for Higbee's. Many new stores were added in the suburbs. The company also expanded to cities like Akron and Canton. This expansion happened under the leadership of president Herbert Strawbridge. He also saw the importance of bringing new life to The Flats area in Downtown Cleveland.
In 1984, a company from New Zealand called Industrial Equity Ltd bought Higbee's. Three years later, they sold it to a joint venture of Dillard's and Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.. They had plans to combine Higbee's with another store chain called Horne's. This deal didn't work out, leading to several years of legal battles. Finally, in 1992, Dillard's bought out DeBartolo's shares. Higbee's and five of the Horne's stores in Northern Ohio were then renamed Dillard's.
The Famous Flagship Store
The main Higbee's store on Public Square was very tall, with 11 stories and standing 192 feet high. It was famous for its tenth-floor restaurant, the Silver Grille. This flagship store closed in January 2002.
Later, parts of the building were restored. In 2007, the first, second, and third floors became new offices. The beautiful Silver Grille was also restored for special events.
The building was completely updated again in 2011. On May 14, 2012, it reopened as the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland. The building changed its name once more to Jack Cleveland Casino and reopened on May 11, 2016. This happened after Rock Gaming LLC took over managing the casino.
