Sattler's
Encyclopedia
Sattler's was a regional department store chain headquartered at 998 Broadway, Buffalo, New York
, two miles (3 km) from the downtown core. They pioneered "bargain basement" retailing in the Buffalo area. Sattler's was founded in 1889 by 17-year-old John G. Sattler when he opened a one-room shoe store in his mother's home at 992 Broadway. That store would eventually become Sattler's main store which, by 1950, covered 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) and included the 365000 square feet (33,909.6 m²) flagship store. In the late-1920's the store introduced a number of innovative marketing and promotional schemes to attract customers such as weekly automobile giveaways and high wire walkers. They also resold the contents of bankrupt stores purchased in railcar lots called the "Bargain Train." Starting in 1947, they sponsored an annual Santa Claus parade.
Sattler's other Buffalo-area locations included stores in the Thruway Plaza (later Thruway Mall) in Cheektowaga, New York (1957), Boulevard Mall
in Amherst, New York
(1962), Seneca Mall
in West Seneca, New York
(1969), and Main Place Mall
in downtown Buffalo (1973). In 1962-63, a store operated in Rochester, New York
. In 1969, the company opened stores in Chautauqua, New York
and in Olean, New York
.
In September 1965, Sattler's opened an innovative home furnishings and food merchandising concept store in an old industrial plant that covered 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) at Elmwood and Hertel Avenues in Buffalo. The $5 million, 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) store operated as Sattler's Wonderful World of Food, Inc. and Home Furnishings City U.S.A. The store closed in 1979.
Starting in 1963, Sattler's also operated eight drug stores, including four "free standing" units. These stores closed in 1979.
The Sattler's chain, then owned by United Department Stores, closed in 1982. The flagship store was razed in 1989, and replaced with a K-Mart, which subsequently closed.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, two miles (3 km) from the downtown core. They pioneered "bargain basement" retailing in the Buffalo area. Sattler's was founded in 1889 by 17-year-old John G. Sattler when he opened a one-room shoe store in his mother's home at 992 Broadway. That store would eventually become Sattler's main store which, by 1950, covered 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) and included the 365000 square feet (33,909.6 m²) flagship store. In the late-1920's the store introduced a number of innovative marketing and promotional schemes to attract customers such as weekly automobile giveaways and high wire walkers. They also resold the contents of bankrupt stores purchased in railcar lots called the "Bargain Train." Starting in 1947, they sponsored an annual Santa Claus parade.
Sattler's other Buffalo-area locations included stores in the Thruway Plaza (later Thruway Mall) in Cheektowaga, New York (1957), Boulevard Mall
Boulevard Mall
Boulevard Mall, which opened in 1962, is a shopping mall located north of City of Buffalo at the western edge of the Town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA. The name derives from its location on Niagara Falls Boulevard , which divides Amherst from the Town of Tonawanda...
in Amherst, New York
Amherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
(1962), Seneca Mall
Seneca Mall
Seneca Mall, which opened in 1969, was a shopping mall south of Buffalo, New York, USA. The mall was located in the Town of West Seneca at the intersection of Ridge Road and Slade Avenue immediately east of the New York State Thruway .The William Hengerer Company originally sought to develop a...
in West Seneca, New York
West Seneca, New York
West Seneca is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 44,711 at the 2010 census. West Seneca is a centrally-located interior town of the county, and a suburb of Buffalo...
(1969), and Main Place Mall
Main Place Tower
The Main Place Tower is located at 350 Main Street, in Buffalo, NY. The skyscraper is the fourth tallest building in the city, and home to a large number of technology and communication firms, as well as the law firm Cellino and Barnes. The tower is connected to the Main Place Mall, downtown's...
in downtown Buffalo (1973). In 1962-63, a store operated in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. In 1969, the company opened stores in Chautauqua, New York
Chautauqua, New York
Chautauqua is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, U.S. . The population was 4,666 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Chautauqua Lake. The traditional meaning remains 'bag tied in the middle'...
and in Olean, New York
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
.
In September 1965, Sattler's opened an innovative home furnishings and food merchandising concept store in an old industrial plant that covered 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) at Elmwood and Hertel Avenues in Buffalo. The $5 million, 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) store operated as Sattler's Wonderful World of Food, Inc. and Home Furnishings City U.S.A. The store closed in 1979.
Starting in 1963, Sattler's also operated eight drug stores, including four "free standing" units. These stores closed in 1979.
The Sattler's chain, then owned by United Department Stores, closed in 1982. The flagship store was razed in 1989, and replaced with a K-Mart, which subsequently closed.