 younkers is an american department store chain founded as a family-run dry goods business in 1856 in keokuk, iowa. the retailer has since evolved over more than 150 years to include a presence in locations throughout iowa and surrounding states in the midwest region of the united states. younkers became influential as it acquired several rivals throughout the 20th century both inside and outside of iowa. the chain itself was sold by the late 1990s, with ownership transferring out of state, and its des moines-based headquarters closed by 2003 as a part of corporate consolidation. following its most recent sale in 2006, younkers operates as a subsidiary of the bon-ton, with locations in seven midwestern states, primarily in shopping malls. , it operates more than forty locations in this region. ==history== ===beginnings=== the company was founded by polish immigrant brothers lipman, samuel, and marcus younker, who opened a general store in keokuk, iowa in 1856. herman younker, the youngest of the brothers, opened a dry goods store in des moines, iowa in 1874. following samuel's death in 1879, the keokuk store was closed and the des moines location became the main store. the future novelist and newspaper editor eleanor hoyt brainerd worked as a clerk at the younkers store in des moines in 1889.bushnell's des moines city and polk county directory (des moines, 1889) in 1899 the younker brothers' main store in downtown des moines was moved to 7th and walnut streets, and it operated at the same location for 106 years before closing on august 12, 2005. the downtown des moines store became known for its tea room restaurant, which opened in 1913 and closed shortly before the store did. it also installed iowa's first escalator, known as the "electric stairs," in 1939. on march 30, 2014 the closed younker's location caught fire resulting in total loss of the building. ===younkers incorporated===  a series 
1856_establishments_in_Iowa Companies_based_in_Iowa Companies_based_in_Milwaukee,_Wisconsin Companies_established_in_1856 Department_stores_of_the_United_States Economy_of_Des_Moines,_Iowa Economy_of_the_Midwestern_United_States