Donaldson's Department Store was founded in 1883 as the L.S. Donaldson Company. Its flagship store, built in 1884 and known as "The Glass Block", was located at Nicollet Avenue and West Seventh Street in downtown Minneapolis.
Donaldson's was acquired by Allied Stores Corporation in 1928. It expanded to the suburbs as the "Dales" shopping malls were built, and absorbed a weaker competitor, Powers, in 1985.
The Donaldson Company was purchased by Carson Pirie Scott & Company of Chicago in 1987. After Carson's was taken over by P.A. Bergner & Company, the Minnesota stores were sold in 1995 to Dayton Hudson Corporation, and were re-opened as Mervyn's department stores. Following the sale of Dayton's to May Department Stores in 2004, the Mervyn's stores were closed.
Creator: Norton & Peel
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society
Date: 1956
Identifer: location NP240802
