Hengerer's

Last updated

The Wm. Hengerer Co.
Industry Retail
Founded1867
Defunct1987
FateMerger and closure
Successor Sibley's
Headquarters Buffalo, New York
Products apparel, shoes, household furnishings, accessories
Parent Associated Dry Goods (1916)

The William Hengerer Company, known informally as Hengerer's, was a Buffalo, New York-based department store chain, with stores exclusively located in the Western New York region.

Contents

History

The company was founded in 1867 as J. C. Barnes & Co., followed by Barnes & Bancroft in 1869, at 259 Main Street, with James K. Bancroft. [1] In 1873, William Hengerer was admitted as a partner and the company became known as Barnes, Bancroft & Co. [2]

Along with other department stores located in Buffalo including AM&A's, Flint and Kent, and the Sweeney Company, Hengerer was very successful in the 1880s and 1890s. The department stores offered cooking classes, beauty parlors, and restaurants and introduced washing and sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, and iceboxes to the public. [3]

In 1889, Hengerer's new department store was built at 268 Main Street and was designed by Cyrus K. Porter and built of brick with Medina sandstone trim. In 1903, a new store was constructed and by 1907, Hengerer's boasted of being the largest department store between New York City and Chicago. [2]

Wm Hengerer Co. was a founding member of the Associated Dry Goods Corporation in 1916. [2]

Closure

The Hengerer chain was merged into ADG's Sibley's name in 1981, with its flagship store at 465 Main Street in downtown Buffalo closing by 1987. [4]

See also

References

  1. Rizzo, Michael F. (2007). Nine nine eight : the glory days of Buffalo shopping. Morrisville, NC: Lulu, Inc. ISBN   978-1430313861.
  2. 1 2 3 LaChiusa, Chuck. "Barnes & Hengerer Department Store". buffaloah.com. Buffalo Architecture and History. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  3. Eberle, Scott; Smith, Joseph A. Grande; design by Patrick S. (1987). Second looks : a pictorial history of Buffalo and Erie County. Norfolk: Donning Co. ISBN   0898656095. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "The Wm. Hengerer Co., Buffalo, New York". www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org. The Department Store Museum. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.

Sources