[1] In 1987, Higbee's was sold to the joint partnership of Dillard's department stores and Youngstown-based developer, Edward J.

[2] The stores continued to operate under the Higbee name until 1992, when DeBartolo sold his shares to his partners and the chain was re-branded as Dillard's.

In 1929 it was acquired by the Van Sweringen brothers, who moved the store to their new $179 million Terminal Tower complex on Public Square, partly in response to pleas from women who wished to occupy homes in their new suburb of Shaker Heights and ride the Vans' new railroads into the city for quality shopping.

The 1960s and 1970s saw the addition of several stores in suburbs as well as expansion to Akron and Canton, all under the watch of president Herbert Strawbridge, who also saw the value of giving new life to The Flats district in Downtown Cleveland.

[citation needed] The 192-foot-tall, 11-story[4] Public Square flagship store was famous for its tenth-floor Silver Grille restaurant.