Newman Brothers Building
Encyclopedia
The Newman Brothers Building is a former commercial building in Joplin
, Missouri
. In 1990, the building was entered into the National Register of Historic Places. After going through several owners, the building is now occupied by Joplin city offices.
, where he founded Newman Mercantile in 1871. Joseph Newman's son Albert and son-in-law, Gabe Newburger, opened the first Newman's in Joplin in 1898. With the encouragement of his sons, Albert and Sol Newman, Joseph Newman purchased the property at 6th and Main streets in Joplin in 1907 in order to expand the Joplin store into a high-rise department store. Local architect Austin Allen was hired to design the building which spans the entire block. The new high-rise opened on November 16, 1910, and was the first building in Joplin to have elevators and electricity.
In 1922, Newman Mercantile purchased the Kennedy Dry Goods Company in Enid, Oklahoma
which was operated by Milton Newman until his death in 1943. In 1928, the company bought the Denneky Dry Goods Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
. After World War II, the company again expanded with additional stores in Springfield, Missouri
, Hutchinson, Kansas
, and Midwest City, Oklahoma
.
The Newman Brothers moved into the North Park Mall in 1972. The building then housed the Messenger Book Store of the Pentecostal Church. In 1989, owner Kenny Cox ran a teen club called the Boulevard in the building, and fought the city who wanted to demolish the building. The building was restored and renovated in 1995 at a cost of 5 million dollars, by Martin Smith and Greg Fears, who operated an investment firm. The pair had stolen their funding from a widow, who foreclosed on the property. While in court, Smith and Fears did not pay property taxes. The City of Joplin purchased the building in 2003 for 3 million dollars, and did additional renovations for another 3 million dollars.
Newman Mercantile closed its Enid, Hutchison and Midwest City stores in 1987, and filed Chapter 11 and liquidated its other stores in 1988. The Pierce City storefront was destroyed by tornado in 2003.
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. In 1990, the building was entered into the National Register of Historic Places. After going through several owners, the building is now occupied by Joplin city offices.
History
Newman Mercantile Company was founded by Jewish merchant Joseph Newman, who emigrated from Germany in the mid-19th century. He founded his first store in 1850 in Pennsylvania, before relocating to Pierce City, MissouriPierce City, Missouri
Pierce City is a city in Lawrence County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,385 at the 2000 census. In 2010, the town annexed down Missouri Route 97 into Barry County to a point just north of US Route 60.-Geography:...
, where he founded Newman Mercantile in 1871. Joseph Newman's son Albert and son-in-law, Gabe Newburger, opened the first Newman's in Joplin in 1898. With the encouragement of his sons, Albert and Sol Newman, Joseph Newman purchased the property at 6th and Main streets in Joplin in 1907 in order to expand the Joplin store into a high-rise department store. Local architect Austin Allen was hired to design the building which spans the entire block. The new high-rise opened on November 16, 1910, and was the first building in Joplin to have elevators and electricity.
In 1922, Newman Mercantile purchased the Kennedy Dry Goods Company in Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
which was operated by Milton Newman until his death in 1943. In 1928, the company bought the Denneky Dry Goods Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. After World War II, the company again expanded with additional stores in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, and Midwest City, Oklahoma
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,371, making it the eighth largest city in the state....
.
The Newman Brothers moved into the North Park Mall in 1972. The building then housed the Messenger Book Store of the Pentecostal Church. In 1989, owner Kenny Cox ran a teen club called the Boulevard in the building, and fought the city who wanted to demolish the building. The building was restored and renovated in 1995 at a cost of 5 million dollars, by Martin Smith and Greg Fears, who operated an investment firm. The pair had stolen their funding from a widow, who foreclosed on the property. While in court, Smith and Fears did not pay property taxes. The City of Joplin purchased the building in 2003 for 3 million dollars, and did additional renovations for another 3 million dollars.
Newman Mercantile closed its Enid, Hutchison and Midwest City stores in 1987, and filed Chapter 11 and liquidated its other stores in 1988. The Pierce City storefront was destroyed by tornado in 2003.