Deanna Haider stands outside Herberger’s in Dakota Square Mall, where she worked for 38 years until the store’s closing Sunday.

Deanna Haider’s first job out of high school was as a sales associate with a new Herberger’s store when it opened in 1980 in Dakota Square Mall. Now acting store manager, Haider turns the keys back to the mall today, marking the end of an era both for the store that closed Sunday and for herself.

“It’s really hard to walk through and see the store almost completely empty,” she said this past weekend. “I have loved working here. I very much enjoyed it. It’s been a great company to work for.”

Haider remembers when Herberger’s was employee owned, recalling those were some of the best days because of the opportunities to be involved with the community. Employee ownership ended in 1997, but even under various ownerships that followed, employees were involved through the annual Magic Day of Giving and supporting the company’s efforts to raise money for breast cancer research and the Souris Valley United Way. Herberger’s also promoted events in which it engaged local organizations in selling sales booklets to raise money for their charitable causes.

Haider recalled in the 1980s when the store would close in the evening only to re-open that night for a dress-up social with food and entertainment.

“Customers loved that, and it was kind of our thank you to them,” Haider said.

Joining the new store in a new mall 38 years ago was a fun experience, she added. She met G.R. Herberger, who founded the company in 1927 in Minnesota, at the Minot store’s grand opening.

Haider went on to become the store’s selling supervisor and later human resources manager before being named acting store manager through the closure.

“I have enjoyed every minute of my job,” she said. “We have always had such a great group of employees. We are just like one big family here.”

That “family” extends to a loyal base of customers.

“When we announced the store closing, there were customers waiting outside the door the next morning, just to say how sad they were and how they were going to miss us as employees,” Haider said.

Over 38 years, Haider has seen times change. As the store expanded in space and inventory, cosmetics and fragrance became a major focus. In recent years, Herberger’s adopted Thanksgiving Day opening.

Haider witnessed the impact of technology on the industry, including at the checkout counter, and saw many fashion fads come and go. From Hypercolor shirts that changed color with body temperature to leg warmers, silk shirts and Girbaud jeans, Herbergers was always a leader in fashion, Haider said.

Designer Tommy Hilfiger once visited the store, which sold his clothing and accessories.

Once finished cleaning out the space that once housed the latest fashion trends, beauty essentials, home products and other department store merchandise, Haider plans to seek employment elsewhere. But she’ll not forget the many customers and her store colleagues who sought to do their jobs well.

“At Herberger’s, we always would pride ourselves to give good customer service. We wanted our shoppers to leave with a good experience,” she said.