The immigrant brothers whose Younkers department stores anchored downtown Des Moines for generations.
The Younker brothers — Jewish immigrant merchants — opened their first store in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1856, then grew the business into a leading Iowa department-store chain anchored by a grand downtown Des Moines flagship.
For more than a century Younkers was where Iowans shopped for special occasions, famous for its Tea Room and holiday displays, before the chain was sold and, in 2018, closed for good.
Younkers was woven into daily life across Iowa for generations, and its downtown Des Moines store and Tea Room remain fond civic memories. The brand's 162-year run made it one of the longest-lived retailers in Iowa history.
The historic Younkers building downtown has since been redeveloped, preserving a piece of the legacy.
Younkers is based in Des Moines, Iowa. An Iowa retail institution for over 150 years; the last stores closed in 2018
1856.
The Younker brothers — immigrant founders of the first store in Keokuk (1856)
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