Remembering Robeson*s: Champaign's Department Store

Ask anyone who shopped at Robeson s Department Store, and they ll tell you that it was a special place, a true relic of the past. Started by a young, ambitious man named Frank Kern ( F. K. ) Robeson in 1874 as a small dry goods store, Robeson s became an iconic shopping center in downstate Illinois. F. K. passed this legacy on to his son, Frank Robeson, Jr. ( Roby ), who took his father s lessons to heart: Never compromise your sense of right and wrong; never doubt your own convictions; work hard; live life to the fullest; fear nothing and no one; and perhaps most importantly, always give respect and offer help to those who need it. Roby s son, Kyle, furthered the tradition of civic-minded service instilled in him by his father and grandfather. With impressive business instincts and a passion for hard work, Kyle ran the store with gusto and creativity and expanded the family business far beyond its walls. On December 15, 1989, Kyle Robeson announced that Robeson s Department Store would soon close its doors. After 116 years of retail service, a chapter of Illinois retail history came to an end. Remembering Robeson*s takes a look back at the rich history of this retail icon and the decades of hard-working people who made the dream possible.

A unique time capsule ... filled with full-color photos --Tag line / blurb