He joined the family-owned retailer in October 1957 as the third generation to own the store. His grandfather C.J. von Maur started the business in 1887, but today’s Von Maur roots back to 1872 when JHC Petersen’s Sons Co. was established and later sold to Von Maur in 1916.
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Richard B. von Maur’s son Jim now heads the company that has 33 department stores in 15 states and a chain of 37 junior retail stores called Dry Goods.
Von Maur has two stores in Ohio, one at The Greene Town Center and another in Columbus, but the company has expressed interest in taking hold of recently close Bon-Ton, including Elder-Beerman properties. While other stores of its size like Sears and Elder-Beerman have struggled as online shopping habits change, Von Maur has continued steady expansion.
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