Miller & Paine

Miller & Paine was a department store in Lincoln, Nebraska. Founded in 1880, Miller & Paine was acquired by Dillard's in 1988. Prior to the acquisition by Dillard's, Miller & Paine had three stores: two in Lincoln, the downtown flagship store and Gateway Mall with one in the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island, Nebraska. Miller & Paine was one of the first department stores in Lincoln.[1]

Miller & Paine
IndustryRetail Department Store
FateAcquired in 1988 by Dillard's
Founded1880
FoundersJ.E. Miller and Dr. Bartlett Paine
Headquarters
Lincoln, Nebraska
,
US

History
Miller & Paine crest

J.E. Miller arrived in Lincoln from Pennsylvania in 1879 and in 1880 formed a partnership with Dr. Bartlett Paine to build a department store at 13th and O streets in downtown Lincoln. The building was built in 1898.[2] The store was named Miller & Paine. In 1916, a new building was constructed on the site at 13th and O streets.[3] The new building was designed by Berlinghof & Davis.[4] In 1935, Miller & Paine became the first air-conditioned department store in Nebraska.

Miller & Paine downtown store plaque

Miller & Paine had a lunch counter in the basement and the Tea Room on the fifth floor in the flagship downtown store. Besides having the tearoom and lunch counter, they also had a bakery that was famous for its cinnamon rolls and crumb cookies and made their own candy to sell in their candy department. Miller & Paine imported cinnamon for its trademark cinnamon rolls, and sharp English cheddar cheese for its macaroni & cheese which was served crusted in its own individual serving bowl. The company also owned a farm near Emerald, Nebraska for its own supply of poultry, vegetables and eggs.[1]

In 1960, Miller & Paine opened a store in the newly developed Gateway Mall in Lincoln as an anchor store and in 1974, Miller & Paine opened a store in the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island.

Miller & Paine sold their department stores in 1988 to Dillard's. The department stores ceased to use the name Miller & Paine re-branding the stores Dillard's. Shortly after the purchase, Dillard's closed the downtown store.

The company Miller & Paine continues to operate today as Miller & Paine LLC which operates properties in Lincoln, Nebraska.[5] The building designed by Berlinghof & Davis at 13th and O Streets is still in use as offices. The trademark Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls which were once served in the department store's tearooms continue to be produced and sold by the Lincoln, Nebraska-based fast food restaurant Runza, which purchased the rights to the recipe in 2007.[6]

References
  1. McKee, Jim (17 November 2013). "The rise and demise of Lincoln-owned department stores". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. "Miller & Paine Building". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. "13th and O Streets looking West Lincoln Nebraska". Official Nebraska Government Website Nebraska Memories. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. "UNL Historic Buildings". An Architectural Tour of Historic UNL. University of Nebraska. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. "Robert E. Campbell". Equilar Atlas. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  6. Korbelik, Jeff (9 June 2007). "Pederson makes magic with Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
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