Herbst Department Store

Herbst Department Store was founded in 1889 by Issac Herbst and operated under the name I. Herbst and Co. (later Isaac Herbst & Co.) until about 1900 when the name was change to Herbst Department Store.  After a fire struck the store in 1893, a new store was built at 16 Broadway.  The store continued to expand and in 1958, Herbst Department Store purchased the adjacent Luger Furniture Store and in 1966, the adjacent Edwards Building.  In the early 1970s, branch stores were opened in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Jamestown, and at West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo.  Once again the Broadway Store was hit by fire in 1974.  Herbst Department Store went out of business in 1982.

The collection contains records covering the period from 1982 to the early 1970s.  The records are very incomplete in regards to documenting the operations of the store.  It appears to be a collection of significant items retained by the family after the closing of the store in 1982.  The collection contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, advertisments, subject files and scrapbooks.  The subject files contain job descriptions and the staff and employee newsletter.

Photograph Collection 

Business