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Bon-T onOut Chappellr ?pno:cA steady stream of customers walks through C.E. Chappell Sons department store on South Salina Street during its annual Founder’s Sale in September, 1947. (t was the first Founder’s Sale held by Chappell in five years, after canceling the event due to shortages caused by World War II.Family Store Gave Shoppers a Personal Touch■ A long and colorful history comes to an end.Bv ROBERT W. ANDREWSThe Pose-StandardAt Chappell’s stores, there was always a Mr. Chappell on the floor to deal with customers.Anyone who complained in writing, in person or by phone got the personal treatment from the owner.'Charles would always say, Tm Mr. Chappell’ and the person who was upset would say, ‘Oh sure,’ ” recalled Rosemary Chappell, wife of Charles Jr.That was part of being a family-owned business, she said.Another part was giving something back to the community.Susan Tormey.-a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Syracuse, which tries to fulfill the wishes of very sick children, recalled that the store didn't promote its charitv.“I remember our first wish was a girl who wanted a trip to see 'Genera! Hospital’ and a new wardrobe,” Tormey said. ‘'Charles Chappell told the girl to pick out anything on the floor and treated her royally. It was a magical time for her.”The closing of Chappell SonsInc. stores, announced Tuesday, brings an end to an institution that was memorable to local shoppers of several generations.It was the last of the family-owned department stores and clothing stores in a city that once had a half-dozen, including Dev’s, Witherill’s and Edwards.Chappell's almost made it to its 100th anniversary.rCharles £. Chappell, grandfather of Charles Jr., founded the store on Salma Street in 1895. He was 34 and already a successful dry goods store owner in Baldwinsville.Having grown up on a farm, he quit school at age 14 to go to work,first at a nearby farm in Hannibal and then in South Butler at a general store.When he left the farm, Chappell was given a silver dollar.For .rears, he gave employees at Chappell’s stores silver dollars on anniversary dates. And during the Christmas shopping season, the custom at Chappell’s was to give out silver dollars as change. The customers were told they were lucky pieces.At 16. he invested in a dry goods store in Jordan, then in a year or so sold that to buy part-(See COMPANY, Page A-7)■ Sa-xs cressjre the nearly T OO-yea^c'c local depanmem sicre chain into a S7.9 million s=ie to fast-growing Bon-TonBj CHARLEY HAN NAG AN(fir\ Pennsvlvania department --•..re chain bought the aihnu L.h. Chappell Sons Inc. Tuesduv ior .''7.9 million.The buyout sounded the death knell for the last home-grown department store chain m the Sincuse area.Banks pressured Chappell’s :o stll us assets to The Bon-Tun Stores Inc. of York. Pa.■ Reaction: Customers are notpieased/A-7.The Bon-Ton plans to continue operating the six-store chain and keep its 600 full- ?.rd part-time employees. said officials for both companies.The late afternoon announcement drew mixed emotions irom Chappell's officials and tears from some customers.This is more numbness right now, said Charles A. Chappell Jr., company chairman and grandson of the founder.''It’s hard to o\crcomt the fact that Chappell’s will no longer exist.” said President and Chief Executive Officer Earl Sherlock.Shoppers at the Shoppmgtowp(See BON-TON, Page A-7Growing fastThe Bon-Ton Stores Inc., based in York, Pa., this year has doubled in size from 35 stores to 7Q:■ AMA: In July. Bon-Ton bought Buffalo's 10-store Adam, Meidrum Anderson Co. Inc. for $2 million plus the assumption of 540.6 million in liabilities,II Hess's: A month later, the chain announced plans to pay $60 million for 19 Hess’s department stores.■ Chappell’s: On Tuesday, Bon-Ton paid S7.9 million for Chappell's six stores.
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Post Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Wed, Oct 19, 1994
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Keith C.
FL, USA 03 Jan 2021
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