In 1871 , however , the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of the area 's business district , including the Spiegel store . After the fire , Joseph Spiegel and a partner named Jacob Cahn rebuilt the business , and by 1874 the company was prospering again under the leadership of the two men . Cahn retired from the business in 1879 . In 1885 Spiegel began running regular advertisements in several Chicago newspapers , and the following year the company moved to a larger building on State Street . Joseph Spiegel 's two oldest sons , Modie Spiegel and Sidney Spiegel , were brought into the business during this time
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Spiegel (catalog)