The new seven story terracotta sheathed steel commercial building opened in September 1915 with 21,000 people streaming through the store that day.
In 1988, Heer's bought out Newman's department store at the Northpark Mall in Joplin, Missouri under the direction of President and CEO Janet Boswell.
Since closing, the building changed hands many times, each purchase bringing an announcement of restoration and new life to one of the city's most visible landmarks.
In 2001, then-owner Warren Davis began restoring the building's exterior, planning restaurants, shops and office space.
[9] The current construction project includes 80 luxury apartments with amenities such as a fitness center, theater, and rooftop terrace and clubhouse, as well as commercial space.