This Hoosier State store was established in January 1872. Lyman Skinner Ayres acquired controlling interest in the Indianapolis mercantile operated by N.R. Smith & Company. 2  years later, he was the sole owner. The L.S. Ayres & Company heading first appeared in February 1874. A newly-built store (seen above) was dedicated in October 1905. It was expanded in 1915, 1929, 1945, 1947 and 1953. 

Photo from https://images.indianahistory.org / Indiana Historical Society

The Dayton Dry Goods Company was the brainchild of George Draper Dayton. He built a 6-story structure in downtown Minneapolis. The primary tenant, the Goodfellows Dry Goods Company, opened in June 1902. Dayton bought the company and changed its name to the Dayton Dry Goods Company in May 1903. Soon after, this art nouveau newspaper ad was published. 

Advert from the Dayton Dry Goods Company

Herpolsheimer's, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, opened a new flagship store in 1949. The stunning, Late Moderne-style store encompassed 340,000 square feet.

Drawing from Allied Stores Corporation Annual Report 1948

Over in Detroit, the J.L. Hudson ("Hudson's") chain was the Motor City's preeminent department store. Their first branch, at Southfield, Michigan's NORTHLAND CENTER mall, opened early in 1954. Eventually housing over 500,000 square feet, it would be the largest suburban department store ever built.

Down in Dayton, Ohio, the Rike-Kumler Company ("Rike's") chain expanded, suburban-wise, in the years between 1961 and 1971. The fourth branch, at Montgomery County's DAYTON MALL, rang up its first sale in October 1969.

Cincinnati's McAlpin Company originated in 1852. Founded by George Washington McAlpin, the chain dedicated its first shopping center branch in November 1954. A Middletown, Ohio location had been launched in July 1951. This store moved to a new shopping center in October 1958. Middletown's McAlpin's relocated again in February 1975. At first a freestanding structure, it became an anchor of TOWNE MALL in February 1977. The plan above depicts the store as it was configured at that time.   

F & R Lazarus, the preeminent Columbus, Ohio mercantile, originated with a men's emporium opened -by Simon Lazarus- in 1851. Sons Fred and Ralph expanded the business and devised several innovations. These included the nation's first department store escalators and the first air-conditioning of a department store. The downtown flagship is seen above, decorated for the 1955 yuletide season.

Photo from https://ohiomemory.ohiohistory.org / Ohio Memory-Ohio History