Sears Sioux City

Serving Siouxland since 1928.

In 1886, Richard W. Sears began selling watches to his coworkers and opened the R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneapolis. The following year, he moved his business to Chicago, where he partnered with a watch repairman named Alvah c. Roebuck. In 1893, the headquarters for Sears, Roebuck & Co. was established in Chicago. By 1908, annual sales had grown to $40 million dollars. The first retail store was opened up in Chicago in 1925. The store included an optical shop and a soda fountain. The concept was very popular; by 1927 the company had opened 27 retail stores.

The Sears store in Sioux City opened in August of 1928. The store was originally located downtown, at 513 Douglas Street. The original building was torn down and a United States Post Office was built on the lot. From 1931 until February of 1932, the store operated at 508 and 510 Pierce Street, occupying 2 rooms of the existing Francis Building. In February 1932, the business was moved to the corner of 3rd and Pierce Streets. An official re-opening was held in September of 1949, following a major expansion of the store. Employees were given a 2 month training program "stressing the responsibility to the new store and our customers". In 1980, Sears left downtown and moved to 4480 Sergeant Road to continue business at the new Southern Hills Mall.

Over the years, the Sioux City Sears has operated successfully under the direction of store managers Paul Gebert, John Harth, Gordon Metcalf, Oscar Broyer, Alex Kedrock, John Berg, and John Mitchell. Currently Brad Harper is the General manager at the store.

For more information on the history of Sears log onto www.searsarchives.com