Von Maur/Dry Goods

Von Maur is a privately held, family-owned upscale department store retailer founded in 1872 in a 20-by-50-foot rented space in downtown Davenport, Iowa. More than 150 years on, the company operates 39 locations across the United States and is led by a fourth generation of the von Maur family, with Jim von Maur as chief executive. Unlike several competitors, it has remained under private family ownership rather than pursuing public markets.

The Von Maur department store format is built around premium customer service and what the company describes as memorable shopping experiences rather than transactions. Store features include elegant atmospheres with live piano music, complimentary gift wrapping on every purchase and always-free shipping. Alongside the department stores, the company runs Dry Goods USA, a subsidiary store format focused on contemporary fashion.

The business operates in the retail, department store and fashion and apparel sectors, with a geographic presence in the United States. Its stated approach combines preservation of its heritage with modernisation of the store experience.