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Hennessy's was an American department store owned by Mercantile Stores and was headquarted in Billings, Montana. When Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's in 1998 the 100 year old name was retired in favor for Dillard's.
[edit] History
[edit] Early beginnings
Hennessy's history began when "Copper King" Marcus Daly, a powerful businessman from Butte, Montana, had a falling out with his business associate in Missoula, Montana, A.B. Hammond. Daly decided that Butte needed a store that would compete with Hammond's Missoula Mercantile to sell goods to miners in Butte and lumbermen in Missoula. He found fellow businessman, Danel Hennessy. Danel Hennessy owned and operated a successful store in Butte. With the clout of financial backing from Daly, Danel Hennessy hired Frederick Kees, and architect from Minneapolis, to design one of Butte's most elegant buildings.
The store opened for business in 1898. Inside the store, shoppers found marble staircases, oak counters, and solid bronze balustrades. They also found every type of merchandise in 17 departments that filled the basement level and the first three floors. When it opened, the store employed 200 people.
[edit] Expansion
Hennessy's started expanding out of Butte including stores in Missoula, Billings, and Helena. The chain was acquired by Mercantile Stores in the early 1980s and its headquarters was moved to Billings sometime in the 1970s. Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's and the Hennessy's name was dropped in favor for Dillard's. The flagship Butte store was closed several years before the acquision.
[edit] Former locations
[edit] Sources
- "Capital Hill Shopping Center Will Open Its Doors Thursday." The Independent Record (Helena) vol. XXII No. 83 February 28, 1964 26 - 46. 8 Aug 2007
- "Hennessy's native Montana store." The Billings Gazette vol 90 No. 131 10 Sep 1975 5.
