With the encouragement of his sons, Albert and Sol Newman, Joseph Newman purchased the property at 6th and Main streets in Joplin in 1907[3] in order to expand the Joplin store into a high-rise department store.

[2] Local architect Austin Allen was hired to design the building which spans the entire block.

[2] After World War II, the company again expanded with additional stores in Springfield, Missouri, Hutchinson, Kansas, and Midwest City, Oklahoma.

The building was restored and renovated in 1995 at a cost of 5 million dollars, by Martin Smith and Greg Fears.

The City of Joplin purchased the building in 2003 and did renovations costing 3 million dollars.