Hills Department Store

Hills Department Store was a discount store chain started in 1957. Hills arrived in Muncie in 1983 and located in Northwest Plaza in the site of the former King’s Department Store.  The store  sold the typical fare of clothing, housewares, jewelry and was notable for its selection of toys. The store frequently partnered with charitable organizations like the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, or they hosted events for the community like an Easter egg hunt.

Hills filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991, sparking rumors that the Muncie location would close, but they stuck around, even remodeling the store in 1995. Hills Department Store was acquired by Ames Department store in 1998, and just 14 months after the grand reopening, the Muncie location closed in early 2001 due to underperformance. Ames filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late 2002 and dissolved.  A few years after, the site was filled by Hobby Lobby, which is there today.