Lyman S. Ayres

Biography

Lyman S. Ayres built a retail legacy that transformed Indianapolis into a shopping destination with a gracious atmosphere. He founded a department store that combined quality merchandise with attentive service, shaping the city’s commercial life and advancing standards in American retailing.

Ayres’s innovative spirit fostered employment and boosted civic pride, and he was laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery, where his role as a business pioneer continues to be celebrated.