- Hennessy's
Infobox_Company | company_name = D.J. Hennessy Company| company_| company_type =
Department store | foundation =1898 Butte, Montana | location =Billings, Montana | industry =Retail | products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. | homepage = None | Hennessy's was an Americandepartment store owned byMercantile Stores and was headquarted inBillings, Montana . When Mercantile Stores was acquired byDillard's in1998 the 100 year old name was retired in favor for Dillard's.History
Early beginnings
Hennessy's history began when "Copper King"
Marcus Daly , a powerful businessman fromButte, Montana , had a falling out with his business associate inMissoula, Montana , A.B. Hammond. Daly decided that Butte needed a store that would compete with Hammond's Missoula Mercantile to sell goods to miners in Butte and lumbermen in Missoula. He found fellow businessman, Danel Hennessy. Danel Hennessy owned and operated a successful store in Butte. With the clout of financial backing from Daly, Danel Hennessy hired Frederick Kees, and architect from Minneapolis, to design one of Butte's most elegant buildings.The store opened for business in
1898 . Inside the store, shoppers found marble staircases, oak counters, and solid bronze balustrades. They also found every type of merchandise in 17 departments that filled the basement level and the first three floors. When it opened, the store employed 200 people.Expansion
Hennessy's started expanding out of Butte including stores in Missoula, Billings, and Helena. The chain was acquired by
Mercantile Stores in the early 1980s and its headquarters was moved to Billings sometime in the 1970s. Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's and the Hennessy's name was dropped in favor for Dillard's. The flagship Butte store was closed several years before the acquision.Former locations
*
Missoula, Montana - Southgate Mall (opened 1979, Dillard's in 1998)
*Helena, Montana - Capital Hill Mall (opened 1965, Dillard's in 1998)
*Billings, Montana -Rimrock Mall (opened 1975, Dillard's in 1998, relocated toJ. C. Penney store in 2001)ources
* "Capital Hill Shopping Center Will Open Its Doors Thursday." The Independent Record (Helena) vol. XXII No. 83 February 28, 1964 26 - 46. 8 Aug 2007
* "Hennessy's native Montana store." The Billings Gazette vol 90 No. 131 10 Sep 1975 5.
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