The History of Department Stores

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I too, want to inquire about Federals Department Stores? What happened to them? I also have a plate from Hudson's Department Store. Would there be any value to this plate. On the back it says specifically made for Hudson's. It does have a floral pattern around the edge of the plate. Otherwise its a little plain. Andrea H. zajkowskis48091@yahoo.com

I would like more information about the Gilmore Brothers (Gilmore's) department store of Kalamazoo, Mich. I know the downtown store was severely damaged by a tornado in 1980, but it was subsequently rebuilt. I recall seeing it in the early 1990s. I was really impressed that Kalamazoo still had two department stores since most cities that size surrendered their downtown retail to malls years before. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to check it out, and I regret missing out on that opportunity as I've always been fascinated by downtown department stores in cities large and small. I found out that both stores closed their doors by the late 1990s. To my knowledge, the Gilmore's building was partially demolished and what's left was drastically altered. Does anyone have any more information about Gilmore's to share? - Matt, St. Louis -- Gilmore Bros. was founded by Irish-born James and John Gilmore. James, who ran the business, died in 1908 and his widow, Carrie, took over management. She later turned it over to her three sons, J. Stanley, Donald S., and Irving S. Vice-president Donald remained active in the business until 1930 when he became a director (later general manager) of the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Co. He had married an Upjohn daughter in 1916, three years after his mother, Carrie, married company founder Dr. William E. Upjohn. By the middle of the 20th century Gilmore’s was the largest department store between Detroit and Chicago. Irving S. Gilmore ran the store until he died in 1986, leaving behind a $100M charitable foundation. Later the store was owned by the Parfet family. – JW
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Here is the recipe for Block's Chicken Salad: 3-4 cups diced cooked chicken 2 c. diced celery 1 t. grated onion 1 T lemon juice 2 t. salt or to taste 1 t. pepper 1 t. worcestershire 1 t. steak sauce Drop of hot pepper sauce 2/3 c. prepared white sauce 1 1/2 c. mayonnaise Combine chicken and celery in a large bowl. In another bowl, stir together grated onion, lemon juice, salt, pepper, worcestershire, steak sauce, hot sauce and white sauce. Stir in mayonnaise and stir to combine. Mix mayonnaise mixture with chicken and celery, stirring to thoroughly coat. Cover and refrigerate to allow flavors to blend. Makes 6 to 8 servings. I cut this recipe out of the Indianapolis Star newspaper many years ago. It is very good. Hope this helps Mary Mary, thanks so much for sharing this -- not a simple recipe but sounds delicious! -- JW
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Heer's of Springfield, Missouri, and Newman's of Joplin, Missouri are missing from the list. Heer's was founded in 1869 by F.X. Heer in Springfield, MO. For generations, the business was a Springfield landmark with its seven floors of shopping on Park Central Square. Its longtime slogan was 'Heer's, Your Dominant Store of the Ozark Empire". In 1940, the store was purchased by the Allied Stores holding company. Business continued to grow and Heer's opened its small scale Battlefield Mall branch in 1976. By the 1980s, Heer's would be one of Allied's smallest divisions. When Allied was broken apart in 1986, Heer's once again came under local ownership. In 1988, Heer's purchased the Northpark Mall branch of Joplin-based Newman's, founded in 1869. Newman's was suffering from a tough retail enviroment and was beginning to sell off its stores. A dark side of Heer's history came in 1990 when CEO Janet Boswell was accused of water damaging merchandise in order to collect insurance money. It would shortly after file for bankruptcy. The store would also soon be purchased by Cleveland-based Kline Brothers. In 1995, Kline's would sell off its real estate holdings and, without a buyer, Heer's history came to an end. -- ML
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I'm not sure how you spell it but it's pronounced Nigh-zers. I know it was here in Washington, DC but I don't know if the store existed in other states. Thanks, Annette C Carroll You must be thinking of the variety store chain, Neisner's, or Neisner Brothers. Neisner's was founded in 1911 in Rochester, NY and was one of your standard 'five and dime' stores. Over the years, Neisner's would expand its presence in the Northeast, Midwest and also the state of Florida. By 1953, Neisner's prepared to open its 128th store. Like its variety store counterparts, Neisner's jumped onto the discount store bandwagon and in 1963 announced plans to open a new 'Big N' discount store. However it failed to keep up with other similar chains such as Woolworth, Kresge, McCrory (who gobbled up small chains like McLellan's. HL Green, Newberry, etc.) and even WT Grant, who themselves folded in 1976. In 1977, Neisner's found themselves filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and its assets were then sold to Ames Department Stores. -- ML
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Dillard's bought Higbee's by way of a joint venture with Edward DeBartolo Sr.(Father of then owner of the San Fransisco 49ers). The store had a 127 year rich history in Cleveland dating back to the mid 1800s. In the short 20 years they have 1-Closed the Downtown Store,Silver Grille,and Frosty Bar under the escalator 2-Closed several of the locations leaving malls nearly without an anchor dept store. Higbee's was not losing money. But yet they acted with efficiency experts and acted as if it was losing money. The purchase of Cleveland's Higbee Co. stores on December 31, 1987 certainly was an unusual business arrangement for its new owners. The store was purchased as a 50-50 ownership split between Dillard's and DeBartolo. Dillard's was to handle retailing the stores while DeBartolo controlled the real estate. By doing so, this became Dillard's northernmost purchase. They also promised to keep the Higbee name and pledged to operate a major downtown flagship store.(Dillard was never fond of operating downtown locations. Every other Dillard purchase around that time involved immediately erasing the store name and closing the downtown location, ie Nashville's Cain-Sloan, St. Louis' Stix, Baer and Fuller, and Texas' Joske locations.) Higbee's, founded in 1860, was a Cleveland institution. Its flagship store in the Terminal Tower, built in 1931, was a Cleveland landmark. By the early 90s, the collaboration was producing disappointing results. In 1989, Dillard announced it would close the Silver Grille in December, claiming that it was no longer profitable. At the time of its purchase in 1987, Higbee's was a profitable store, with a percentage of profit greater than that of Dillard. In July 1992, the scene changed and Dillard bought out DeBartolo. Quickly, Dillard announced it would change the name of the Higbee stores, along with the four that it recently purchased from Joseph Horne. As the downtown store shrank in size, so did its business and in January 2002 it closed its doors. This was truly a blow to Cleveland retailing, at least as far as retailing history goes. Soon after, many formerly popular mall locations began to close. A great book for Higbee fans is "The Silver Grille - Memories and Recipes" published by Cleveland Landmarks Press. Good recipes and good stories. In the end, the Higbee/Dillard/DeBartolo relationship was truly an interesting unusual experiment, but one which, unfortunately, proved marginal, at best, results. -- ML
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Younkers is missing from the list
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The oldest department store in the world, Canada's Hudson's Bay Company, aka The Bay, incorporated by King Charles II as "The Company of Adventurers Trading into Hudson Bay" in 1670, was acquired in 2006 by the U.S. businessman Jerry Zucker, who passed away on April 12 this year. It's governor (the traditional term for the head of the company, above CEO) is now Anita Zucker. The sale of this Canadian institution passed without much fuss in Canada, which was surprising given how much of Canadian history was tied in to the company: it was the fur trade which opened up the west, in a different way from the American westward expansion in that it was done in cooperation with most indigenous peoples (although not without bloodshed, often between rival tribes vying for the trade). Canada is younger than the company which did so much to create the country. HBC is, like many department stores, not the store it once was, although it continues to offer some of the variety of goods it once did. No more furs, no more hunting supplies, and the northern outposts were closed years ago. There is, perhaps, no place in contemporary society for a department store: we buy online, we buy at the ugly, suburban big box stores, and some of us still support and buy from independent, small, local retailers in our neighbourhood, or downtown. I mourn the passing of these giants, of their many services, long gone, their restaurants, and their wonderful displays and individualistic approach to retailing. One now finds the same corporate look in all surviving department stores, that make them nothing more than a vertical interpretation of a mall. Thank you for documenting their history. And may I recommend, to anyone interested in the Hudson's Bay Company, that they visit http://www.hbc.com/hbcheritage/history/ or read "Emperor of the North" by James Raffan (isbn 9780002007832) I don't think you'll find many (any?) readers here who will disagree with your sentiments. Thanks for saying it so well. -- JW
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More New York City Dept. Stores now gone: Ohrbach's, McCreary, Alexanders, Arnold Constable, Best & Co. Franklin-Simon, Mays, S.Klein, Gertz In Buffalo,NY: L.L.Berger In Arizona: Goldwaters West Coast: Robinson's -- Thank you!!
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Weavers Department store in Kansas City or Lawrence, Kansas. Anyone know anything about it? Just a little glimpse: I found A. D. Weaver, in Lawrence, listed in a 1946 department store directory. At that time it was quite small and carried basically fabrics, women's clothing, and a few household items. -- JW
Not only is it the home of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS has been the home of Weaver's since 1857. Having recently celebrated 150 years of business, Weaver's is one of perhaps a dozen locally-owned department stores still in existence across the country. Though Weaver's may seem 'small town' to some, its history shows otherwise. During its 151 years, only 3 families have run the store. One of the those families associated the store with the buying strength of the much-heralded Emery-Bird-Thayer store in Kansas City. (EBT was a Kansas City powerhouse that finally closed its doors on KC's Country Club Plaza in 1968.) But Weaver's never branched out from its downtown location. With 3 selling floors plus a basement containing its home store, Weaver's is a complete dept store. Its 25,000 square feet of selling space anchors Lawrence's downtown. Weaver's is the kind of store that stirs our memories, the type of memories that have created interest in sites like the one that you are reading. At Weaver's, you will get that warm feeling that only a local institution can create and still pick up brands from Clinique to Cuisinart. If you are in Lawrence, KS, do stop in. If you are intrigued about Weaver's, go to weaversinc.com. You'll be glad you did. Let's keep this one going. ... And one more thing about Weaver's, stop in the mens department and purchase your item using cash. You will then get to experience perhaps the last pneumatic tube system in operation at a dept store today. Seeing your money whisked about through a tube to a central office, much like at a drive-in bank, will really strike a chord in department store enthusiasts everywhere. -- ML
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I'm looking for department stores in the Fulton street downtown Brooklyn in the late 60's and 70's. -- It's hard to begin this discussion with any dept store other than Abraham & Straus. A&S, often referred to as "the Grand Old Lady of Fulton St," was founded in 1865. Over the years, the store became so powerful that it was instrumental in the building and location of the Brooklyn Bridge. In 1929 it became a founding member of Federated Dept Stores as the retail conglomerate was established on the store manager's yacht on Long Island Sound. By the late 1960s A&S became Federated's most profitable division. However, the demographics surrounding the Fulton St. retail area would soon change that. Within 10 years, A&S suffered many management changes and quickly became Federated's least profitable division. Many blamed the performance of the flagship Fulton store along with its massive Hempstead, LI branch for this issue. In 1980 the New York Times ran a headline on A&S, "Big in Brooklyn, And in Trouble". But A&S weathered the storm, changing merchandise as needed, and lasted until 1995 when Federated merged the store with its Macy's and Stern's divisions. Even today, Macy's continues to operate a downscaled store at the former Fulton St. A&S location.
-- Many Brooklynites would argue that Martin's was the store in Brooklyn, More of an apparel/specialty store than a department store, Martin's was the ritzy, high-end store that catered to the Fulton St. needs for such merchandise. In the 1960s it was referred to as "An Oasis of Shopping Calm." Martin's opened several branches in the surrounding area over the years, but after 70 years of service on Fulton St, Martin's would close its flagship store in 1979, after a period of long-term unprofitability. Other notable stores that should be mentioned are Loeser's, an upper end dept store which closed in 1952 and Namm's, which had bought Loeser's name but eventually closed in 1957. They were two of Brooklyn's oldest stores.
-- In the 60s and 70s, Fulton St. was also home to two of NY's most famous discounters. JW May's was founded in 1927 by a man named Weinstein. He chose the name May because it reminded him of 'Spring'. The flagship JW May's, including the Union Square NY store, would close in 1988. The company continues to exist today, but as a real estate company. EJ Korvette took over the first floor space occupied by a former opulent Oppenheim Collins branch in the 1960s. By 1979 all Korvette stores, as far away as Chicago, would be shuttered. -- ML
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THANKS FOR YOU INSIGHT INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS RETAIL. AS A SIDE NOTE, THE BLOCK & KUHL (known as Schipper & Block in the early years)SANTA PARADE YOU SPOKE OF IS STILL IN OPERATION TODAY. ALTHOUGH NOT AS GRAND AS MANY LARGER CITY PARADES, AND NO LONGER SPONSORED BY A DEPARTMENT STORE,IT HAS BEEN AWARDED THE TITLE "THE NATIONS OLDEST CONTINUOUS SANTA PARADE." SOME GREAT TRADITIONS NEVER DIE...
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HERE'S ANOTHER MISSING STORE..BLOCK & KUHL (1879-1961). HEADQUARTERED IN PEORIA ILLIOIS IT WAS THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN (21 STORES)IN ILLINOIS OUTSIDE CHICAGO. ITS FLAGSHIP WAS A 7 STORY JEWEL LOCATED IN PEORIA. B&K HAD THE LOVELY SKYLINE TEAROOM LOCATED ON 7 THAT OVERLOOKED THE ILLINOIS RIVER. BLOCK & KUHL WAS PURCHASED BY CARSON PIRIE SCOTT IN 1961... Block & Kuhl is a wonderful addition to the list. No Christmas Parade in Peoria ever ended without a final stop at Block & Kuhl. Block & Kuhl expanded to many smaller Illinois cities, such as Aurora, Elgin and Rockford, as early as the 1920s, anchoring many to their downtowns. In 1961, Carson's purchased B&K. Carson's continued operating the many older B&K locations but began to close a number of them by the 1970s. The downtown Peoria store would close in 1975. (Check eBay for the occasional postcard offering of the "great white" Carson's, former B&K, downtown Peoria store.) Carson's in a way would return to the Peoria area. B&K's longtime rival, P.A. Bergner, went on a buying spree beginning in 1985. It purchased Milwaukee's Boston Store and moved the Bergner headquarters out of Peoria. At the same time, Bergner announced that it would close the downtown Peoria store in 1986. In 1989, Bergner would acquire Carson, Pirie, Scott. Though the name Carson's has not returned to Peoria, its style of stores would return to the area. Though Block & Kuhl was a treasured name in Peoria and retail in general, Bergner's remains one of the approximately dozen names left untouched in today's department store business. -- ML
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W.T. Grants,Fire at Carteret Shopping Center on Roosevelt Ave. "1971" - I am looking for a picture of the fire at The Carteret Shopping Center of W.T. Grant's store -- when did WT Grant have fire Carteret N.J.? According to records by the NFPA, the Carteret Shopping Center, along with its WT Grant store burned on June 14, 1974. You can begin checking local newspapers, perhaps starting with the Star Ledger (Newark) for any type of file photo coverage. Though this conflicts with your date of 1971, the year of this fire has been confirmed by the Carteret NJ Fire Department.
Follow-up: I received a call from the Woodbridge Public Library in NJ. Yes, the fire at the Carteret NJ Grants store was on June 14, 1974 and caused about $8 million in damage. There are two photos of the fire that ran in the local News Tribune. I am told they are not of the best quality. Contact the Woodbridge (NJ) Public LIbrary for further assistance. -- ML
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For years Frederick "Fritz" Mackey has carefully tracked department store closings and name disappearances. His list has grown quite long (more than 2 single-spaced pages). Thanks to Fritz, I've added a massive number of new names to the list at the right. -- JW
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For a tribute to the W. T. Grant's store in Boston, with photos, see http://shoppingdaysinretroboston.blogspot.com
This is such a great site. In 1972, Grants was the third largest variety store in the country. It had $1.8 billion in sales and profits of $11 million. However, Grants days were numbered. In the late 60s, it began a credit card program and also began offering its own line of large appliances under the Bradford name. Offering credit proved fatal as many people had defaulted on their accounts. However, many customers didn't see Grants as a large ticket store. In 1969, it opened 15 stores in one day but many of its other stores were located in older centers and downtowns. By 1975, it was forced to continue to chop away at its 1,200 stores in order to stay afloat, beginning in the west. But on February 13, 1976, a judge ordered Grants, founded in 1906, to liquidate all of its remaining 359 stores within 60 days. At the time, it was the largest American retailing company to dissolve into bankruptcy. -- ML
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Those of you who remember Block's Department Store and the Riley Room may be able to help me! I need the recipe for their elegant Chicken Salad (made with a White Sauce w/Worchershire Sauce instead of Mayonnaise). My mother made it for me...and I can't find the recipe. My mother died 5 yrs ago. I also would like to have the recipe for L.S. Ayres Ham Salad! I miss the wonderful lunches in those Tea Rooms with my mother when we went shopping there! She used to be a dietician for the Tea Room at L.S. Ayres after graduating from Purdue University in Home Economics. I also miss the Christmas windows for children at both of those stores! Some things should never have changed! I hope someone can help give me back a piece of my childhood...so I can pass it on to mine!......PBH When Block's became Lazarus in 1987, all properties of Block's, including restaurant recipes, became the property of Federated. The former downtown Block's closed its doors in 1993. Around that time, Lazarus issued its 'Recipes from our Kitchens' cookbook. Unfortunately, no Block's recipes are included. When Lazarus, and practically every other store, became Macy's, the food service division was all but abandoned. But the recipe for Block's Chicken Salad is out there, probably in Cincinnati at the Federated/Macy's headquarters. Go through Consumer Relations and be pleasant but insistent. You might find a sympathic ear. Maybe. -- ML
I'm sure you are aware of the L.S. Ayres Tea Room - Recipes & Recollections cookbook put out by the Indiana State Museum. Unfortunately, ham salad is absent. There is the recipe for the popular ham loaf and also glazed ham balls, but that is not the same. With the Tea Room now operating out of the Museum, the recipe files must be there. Their menu doesn't list ham salad but a sympathetic ear might help you locate it. Contact the new L.S. Ayres Tea Room at 317-233-1186 or 317-234-2469. Good luck. -- ML
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I RECEIVED SEVERAL ORIGINAL FASHION DRAWINGS FROM MY AUNT'S ESTATE. A COUPLE OF THESE DRAWINGS WERE DESIGNATED BY MY AUNT AS "BY DOROTHY HOBSON". MY AUNT WORKED AS A FASHION ARTIST AT POGUE'S DEPT. STORE QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ANY INFO ABOUT DOROTHY HOBSON. J.W. OWOSSO, MI. I haven't been able to turn up anything about Dorothy Hobson but maybe somebody will read this who knew her. It happens! -- JW
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For all of you who have inquired about Two Guys: The most comprehensive collection of Two Guys information and photos is at pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com. Click on Two Guys and have fun. -- ML
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Jacobsens was another Northeast Florida Department store that went out of business in the 90s. Jacobson's, founded in 1868, hails from Jackson, MI. In 1969, Jacobson's saw many of its Midwest customers move or visit Florida, so it set up shop in many Florida cities, especially in the Tampa-Sarasota area. The upscale specialty store outlasted many of its counterparts but it finally was forced to liquidate in 2002. The name and logo of Jacobson's was purchased and a sole location continues to operate in Winter Park, FL. -- ML
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Here are some other Department stores that are not on the list that were located in Northeast Florida: May Cohens, Iveys and Furchcottes. May Cohens was part of the May Company. It had orignially been just "Cohens" and was purchase sometime I beleive in the late 50s early 60s. It survived until the 1980s when it was bought by Maison Blanche which was then bought by Belks. Ivey's was purchased by Dillards in the 1980s and Furchcottes just faded out of business. Growing up in the 60s and 70s those three stores, along with JC Penny and Sears anchored just about all of the malls in Northeast Florida. Cohen Brothers was founded in Jacksonville in 1867. Over the years, it reigned over downtown retail from its location in the St. James building on Hemming Plaza. In November 1958, Cohens was purchased by the May Co. and its name became May Cohens. By the 1980s, it would become one of May's smallest and least profitable divisions. Though its downtown location was known for its Anaclairs and chocolate-covered strawberries, it would close its doors in July 1987. After that closure, it became May Florida. The following May, it was purchased by Louisiana's Maison Blanche. MB was purchased by Mercantile's Gayfers in 1992. In 1998, the stores were purchased by Belk. Ivey's came to Jacksonville by way of Charlotte in 1962, having already established locations in central Florida. The downtown Ivey's, along with Penney's, would close in June 1985. The rest of the Ivey chain would be purchased by Dillard's in May of 1990. Another longtime retailer, Furchgott's closed its chain of small dept stores in 1985. -- ML
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Hi I am in search for any info on the Hahns Shoe Store and the Hess plus Hess Bargin Box Shoe stores of Baltimore, MD. They had good quality shoes in large sizes at reasonable prices (to Me. I have not been able to locate a shoe store anyplace in Baltimore that match the quality and price. Have they moved or gone out of business? Their location and/or substitute shoe stores with quality and reasonable price sure would be apprecialted. Email: ckgarriques@verizon.net THANKS By the mid-1990's both Hess and Hahn shoe stores closed their many locations. Both of these chains ruled the shoe market in the Baltimore and Washington areas for many generations. Another storied name in the shoe trade was Hofheimer's, with locations throughout Virginia and the Carolinas. -- ML
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Anyone remember: "The Star Store" or "Wing's" from New Bedford? New Bedford was something of a retailing powerhouse after World War II. The C. F. Wing store on Purchase Street, closed 1985, and the Star Store (aka New Bedford Dry Goods Co.) were among the many smaller but thriving department stores found throughout Massachusetts (similar to Mitchell’s in Haverhill, McWhirr’s in Fall River, Magrane’s in Lynn, and many, many others). New Bedford was also the birthplace of one of the first discount department stores, Arlan’s in 1948. – JW
New Bedford's Star Store opened in 1898. One of its many traditions was an electronic carillon installed in 1960 which pealed Christmas carols throughout the downtown. In 1969, it was purchased by Gorin's, the operator of Almy's stores in the Boston area. When Stop & Shop bought Almy's in 1985, the downtown store was not part of the purchase. Its sole branch in nearby Fairhaven opened in 1983 in a former King's Department Store. That store would close when the Almy's chain was discontinued in 1987. After 90 years in business, C.F. Wing announced its closure in August of 1964. Its building would be devastated by fire in 1974. -- ML
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Not sure if it counts as a department store, but when we used to vacation in Kansas City, there was a great clothing store called Woolf Brothers. I think they also had a store in Wichita. What happened to them? Woolf Bros. was initially a men’s specialty store on Walnut Street. It was one of the many department and specialty stores in Kansas City in its heyday. The list included Emery, Bird, Thayer; Harzfeld’s; the Jones Store; Kline’s; Palace Clothing; Geo. B. Peck Co.; and John Taylor (later Macy’s ... – see below). – JW
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where is hink's of berkeley ca? J.F. Hink & Son opened its Berkeley, CA store in 1904. The store was originally founded in San Francisco in 1872. It was located at the corner of Shattuck Ave. & Kittredge St. In 1978, the store passed out of family ownership. At the time, Mr. Hink said about his old-world style of business, "There's nothing sophisticated about Hink's ... That's what the Berkeley ladies like." Under new ownership, the store then found itself in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and on February 1, 1985, Hink's announced its closure. The store now serves as a multi-purpose facility, which includes a hotel, restaurants, and a multiplex theater. -- ML
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I just stumbled onto this site and read some questions about Mansmann's Department Store in Pittsburgh, PA. My name is Kathy Mansmann and I might be able to provide some information about my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father. Please contact me at kbpgh@comcast.net Thank you!
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although it is now closed, what year did filenes open in Leominster, ma. it had the first escalator in Leominster. Leominster's Searstown, now the Mall at Whitney Field, originally opened in 1967. It was one of many 'Searstowns' that opened across the country during that time. In addition to Sears, an early anchor was a branch of the Worcester-based R.H. White's. (White's would close in 1980.) After several anchor changes, Filene's entered the mall in 2002. The 2-story store became a Macy's in 2006. -- ML
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I am looking for information on the following NewYork stores. Adams Dry Goods Co. Adams and Flanigan Department Store H. Claflin and Co. Adams-Flanigan Co. was founded in 1908 in the Bronx. In 1937 it was purchased by Hearn's to serve as their Bronx branch. Even though the main Hearn's 14th St. store closed in 1955, the former Adams-Flanigan branch stayed open until 1979. Adams Dry Goods was another early NY store, located at 6th Ave. & 21st in the former Ladies' Mile, which in 1901 belonged to the holding company Associated Merchants' Co. At the time this company also controlled the wholesale business of H.B. Claflin Co. Claflin was a national wholesale dry goods firm which, after a period of prosperity, went into receivership in 1914. Creditors reorganized Claflin into two businesses, Mercantile Stores which included many mid-west stores and lasted until 1998 when Dillard's purchased its assets, and Associated Dry Goods which took over Lord & Taylor, James McCreery, and Baltimore's Stewart & Co., among many others. May took over Associated in 1986. – ML
The demise of Claflin reflected the declining markets for wholesale dry goods. The big department stores, which by 1914 dominated retailing, bought directly from producers. At the same time many small dry goods stores around the country were vanishing. Claflin also suffered from competition from Marshall Field whose wholesaling business captured the western states.–JW
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Do you know anything of a "Rougelot's Department Store" in New Orleans, LA--probably in the 60's? Thanks chastitylea@yahoo.com As I research my information of the city which housed D.H. Holmes, Maison Blanche, Godchaux's, Gus Meyer, Krauss, etc., I cannot locate any information on a Rougelot's. Unfortunately, the New Orleans Public Library file folders and its indexes of the Times-Picayune are incomplete. Perhaps a librarian could research its existence through the New Orleans City Directory. -- ML
I can't find anything in my sources either. -- JW
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Hi My husband is the great grandson of the founders of Mansmann department store. Located in pittsburgh, pa. I believe it was on Penn ave. I would love to surprise him with any ad copy or pictures of the store. After grandma retired we do not have any keepsakes. thank you. The Albert J. Mansmann Co. was at 5911 Penn Ave. It was a smaller-size store whose merchandise manager was Herbert C. Mansmann at mid-century. He and A. A. Mansmann did most of the buying for the store. Contact me via email (bottom right of this page) and I can tell you more. -- JW
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I have a fur stole from Monnig's in Fort Worth, Texas. It says, "Furs by: Bill Robinson" It has a Crown Emblem. It has additional fur covered buttons and detached short cape. My aunt left it to me and I am wanting to know more about it. Is it valuable and should it be insured or stored? AllysonBrowning@mac.com Monnig's, "The Friendly Store", was the last of the hometown downtown Fort Worth department stores to close its doors. The store closed in 1990, followed by the downtown Dillard's in 1991. For more information on the fur, I would directly contact Bill Robinson Furs, Inc. in Fort Worth at 817-335-3877. -- ML
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I'm looking for the history of the macys downown location in kansas city missouri. 10th & Main. When did it close? What did they do with furniture that was used in the houseware department? I believe I have a piece that was used there and I was just wondering if it was worth anything?The store closed in 1986 and reopened in 1987 as Dillard's. (If you scroll down far enough you will find more details about the KC Macy's.) Unless the piece of furniture dates back to the store's opening in 1947 or comes from the famous Mens' Grill, I wouldn't expect it to be worth much, unless it has a tag on it. -- ML
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i am looking for old photos of two guys dept store of north bergen,nj Unless the Bergen Record newspaper has a file photo, the only pictures I know of Two Guys locations are on Wikipedia (Middletown, NJ) and on a site "Discount Stores of the '60s". The address for that site is http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/60sdiscountstores/ page2.html. It is of the Marlton, NJ store. The Middletown Two Guys is more consistent with the prototype of the chain in its glory days.-- ML
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The Frederick and Nelson store at the Southcenter Mall, near Burien Washington (a Seattle suburb) had a restaurant on the 3rd floor, I believe. On the menu was "orange chicken", it had chicken strips with an orange sauce and rice pilaf, maybe a vegetable, I'm not sure on the veggie thing. I'm looking for the recipe for the orange sauce. It was the best I've ever had. Or maybe there is a source for it. Does anyone have information on that? Ive been trying to re-create that sauce for years without very good success. Have tried others that were not as good. I would be grateful for any information. Thanks. I'm sorry that I cannot provide a recipe for the 'orange chicken.' I also have no recipes from the Eighth Floor Tearoom at the downtown location, except for one. I have the recipe for the Frederick & Nelson Centennial cake, which requires 260 eggs. The cake was built in the shape of the store and was served at its 100th birthday on April 6, 1990. After a long spiral downward, F&N began its final liquidation on February 19, 1992. -- ML
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I have a fur cape that has a tag Maas brothers and a tag that says styled for Irene Mazzeo. In the pocket a label says EMBA Pastel Natural Brown Mink Royal Quality. Can you tell me anything about it? The fur cape comes from Maas Brothers which for over a century was Florida's west coast leading merchant. Originally based in downtown Tampa, it was best known for its futuristic St. Petersburg branch which opened in 1948. Further downtown locations were opened in Lakeland, Sarasota, and Clearwater before an agressive mall expansion. Maas had little competition and by the early 70s, over 30% of the Tampa bay population shopped there at least once a month and held credit accounts. Willard Scott helped celebrate its 100th birthday on the Today Show. Sadly, the division was closed in 1991. EMBA is a brand name and stood for the Mutation Mink Breeders Association. It was very popular in the late 60s/70s. The name Irene Mazzeo most likely was that of the person for whom the cape was originally designed. -- ML
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Nostalgic Bostonians! Check out the new blog on happy shopping days of Boston in days bygone. http://shoppingdaysinretroboston.blogspot.com/
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I know that Schlesinger and Meyer became Carson, Pirie Scott in the late 1800's. Any idea what the first name of the man Schlesinger was. Am doing family research and know I had family in that area. Thank you. The store was founded by Leopold Schlesinger and David Mayer, both from Bavaria. -- JW
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I'm looking for a store i think was back in the 50's name E.M. Dickler furrier in Baltimore,MD if i can find out when they were in business i can see how old my fur coat is that i have, it's a fisher fur, please help me find out when they were there. thank you frank Anybody know?
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Buffums' of Long Beach, California had many of the classic characteristics like main shopping street location downtown, 8 or 9 stories, a rooftop restaurant, and tons of merchandise including toys. It grew to a small chain around SoCal, but bit the dust in the late 1980's or early 1990's.
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Hi, Abraham and Straus in Downtown Brooklyn had a Merry-Go-Round for Years. I remember seeing Santa Claus and getting a small gift, then going on the ride. Great Site BN
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Can anyone help me? I'm looking for a baby doll that hess department stores sold in the middle to late 70s? It was a boy with blue blanket and pillow with its butt in air and played music and the girl was the same but pink one more their heads more with the music!!!!!!!!! thank you
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Can anyone tell me about a metal coin the half dollar in size coin i found on it front gimbel brothers pittsburgh pa and on back says if found or in case of accident report this number to the address on other side please give me some info on this please email me back at marie1934@comcast.net thanks
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I have a 'Santa Claus and me' picture taken back around 1956-57. I believe it was in Bamberger's, Newark. At the bottom of the picture was a "tag" with BA18341. Could it have been in Bamberger's? I am 56 yrs.(young), and a co-worker is 55. Strangely enough, she has a picture with the same Santa/chair, and with the "BA" tag at the bottom! Could be -- maybe the number was for reorders.
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I seem to have a memory of riding on a ride around the inside edge of a department store in either NYC or Brooklyn, NY as a young child in the early 1950's. Does anyone remember such a thing? Not sure which NY store that was but a number of others I know of (Filene's, the Emporium) used their roofs for zoos or children's train rides. -- JW
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I am looking for information on two stores: John A. Brown in Oklahoma and the original Macy's stores in the Kansas City area that were sold to Dillards in 1986. Also missing from the list are Brandeis and Kilpatrick's from Omaha -- Steve W. John A. Brown Co. was founded in 1915 in Oklahoma City. He founded the store with his cousin A.O. Rorabaugh and was named Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co. Brown bought out his cousin in 1932. The company remained in family hands until 1971 when it was purchased by Dayton-Hudson. The company also operated stores in Tulsa. Its downtown Oklahoma City store closed in July 1974. In 1984, Dayton-Hudson sold the John A. Brown division to Dillard's. It consisted on 6 stores in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. -- ML
R.H. Macy purchased John Taylor Dry Goods in Kansas City in 1947. At the time, Macy's stated "We chose Kansas City before we learned that Taylor's was available." Actually in 1939, Macy attempted to merge with Emery-Bird-Thayer but the transaction fell through. Over the years, Macy's KC grew to 10 stores but by the early 80s its local fortunes were fading. By February 1985, the division was merged with the Macy-owned, Atlanta-based Davison's chain. The KC division had been Macy's worst performing division. On 12/31/85, Macy's announced that it would end its 39 year stay in KC. Dillard's would purchase the division and the downtown location closed temporarily in February 1986. In March 1987 it would reopen as a Dillard's store, albeit reduced in size. But after losing "a lot of money" it would close in the summer of 1989. --ML
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I am looking for information on the Mannsmann department store. It was located in Pittsburgh Pa. Don't know much, but in 1948 the Albert J. Mansmann Co., 5911 Penn Ave., had about 17 depts. A. A. and H. C. Mansmann did most of the buying themselves, so I'm guessing it wasn't a very large store. Mrs. M. Mansmann bought corsets and bras, and there were a couple other women buyers. -- JW
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Who owned the Steiger stores? And who are the heirs? lisa_artist777@yahoo.com Albert E. Steiger opened the first store in Port Chester NY in 1893 and then a store in Holyoke, Mass.; next he expanded the chain to New Bedford MA, Fall River MA, Hartford CT, Meriden CT, Bridgeport CT, and Springfield MA; when he died in 1938 he had consolidated stores in Holyoke, Springfield, and Hartford. Later there were branches in malls, such as the Ingleside Mall in Holyoke. The stores are closed now, but I believe his heirs, also named Steiger, may have a small foundation today. -- JW
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Missing from your list (wih the exception of Gimbels) are all the grand old department stores that I grew up loving in Philadelphia: John Wanamaker(fabulous Christmas light show, authentic pipe organ, the Crystal Tea Room and of course the "eagle"); Lit Brothers (had the Enchanted Village every Christmas season); Bonwit Teller (very elegant); Strawbrigde & Clothier, later just Strawbridge's, the last hold out in Philly - until Macy's finally took over a couple of years ago. Wanamakers, Lits and Strawbridge's all lined Market Street in downtown Philly. On Thanksgiving, the parade would come down Market, highlighted by Santa Clause in a big sleigh, who for a fianle would climb a ladder and enter Gimbels from the outside. I miss the stores and the times I enjoyed in them.
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Could you please tell me the years Wiebolt's was in exsistence. Thanks Russ Chicago's Wieboldt's grew out of a tiny store in 1883 and survived the Depression with 6 neighborhood stores. In 1950 the company built a state-of-the-art store in Evanston with a connected parking garage. In 1960 they purchased the old Mandel Bros. building on State Street. The chain went out of business in 1987. -- JW
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How many R.H. White deparment stores where there? and where were they located? The R[alph] H[untington] White store was on Washington Street in Boston. It grew out of a dry goods store founded in 1850, and closed in 1957. Given its early demise it may not have had any branches. -- JW
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I. Miller was not on your list. This store was located in Washington, DC. It had the most fabulous shoes and what a variety to choose from. Hope to hear news about that one.
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Missing from the list is The Outlet Company of Rhode Island. The department store that held Rhode Islands first television station WJRI-12.
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I am looking to find out about a fashion show that I was in around the spring of 1938 or 1939 at Gimbels in Pittsburgh. I was only 3 years old and I know that they took movies of me and was wondering if the movies have been kept or thrown out? I have a still picture of me from the fashion show in the light blue gown I wore and had it framed for my mother now deceased and only remember about me being in the fashion show for Gimbels. Remember quite a bit about the show, makeup and all. If there is any way I could find out about this, please let me know, would love to have the movie. Thank you. My email address is: threeaces@sum.net. Joan Meyer Treat, former Pgh. resident Does anyone out there know what happened to Gimbels records, etc. after the stores closed? -- JW
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I love this site, Being a 43 year old Baltimore native you have taken back to those Saturday afternoons spent downtown at the Hecht Co, Hutzler's, Stewarts, and Hochshields as we called it. I do not however have memories of Oneil's department store
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The Muller's in Lake Charles is being renovated and reopened as loft apartments and commercial space.
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The best Christmastime memory for me as a child (late 1950's, early 1960's) was the "roof garden" on top of The Emporium in downtown San Francisco....all kinds of rides, a little train, and an incredible view of the City's lights at night! Go to the website of the San Francisco Public Library for great photos of the city's old department stores. -- JW
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Thank you for this pleasure. I was looking for the Muller Store in Lake charles,which was my first love in department stores!!! And i found joske' Houston 2nd love, Battelstein's block in Houston Third love where I bought my very first suit, whicjh I am now working into a quilt i am making.Frost bros and Sakowitz, my last loves. All of theses stores will forever be a very happy part of my life. I don't shop Macys either. D.W.
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Miller's Department Store - Knoxville, Tennessee The wonderful memories of shopping with Grandmother at this (what seemed at the time) enormous store. Filled with new items that were almost magical to me as a child. Shopping and dining at the Miller's tea room, bakery, and candy department was such fun. Since my Grandfather worked at Miller's we received his discount on purchases. As a child during this period in the 60's this seemed to be a priviledge that only a few deserved. I honestly can not think of a single instance while at Miller's that doesn't have a pleasant memory. It was a time and place that now seems so simple, fresh, innocent and yet so long, long ago... It was my escape from the ordinary part of life that was many times harsh when at home. Miller's cushioned the bad and allowed a journey with my Grandmother to this now forgotten place. Many happy memories with my Grandmother Alma Allen.
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Some that are missing: Bonwit Teller, I. Magnin, Frost Brothers, Craig's, Walter Pye's, Battelstein's (once had "Battelstein's block" in Houston), Joske's (San Antonio, Houston and Dallas), Monnig's (Ft Worth), Sakowitz (Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma), McRae's, Gayfer's, Castner-Knott, Cain-Sloan and Harris'.
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The Riley Room at Block's in Indianapolis. It was the epitome of elegance when I was 8.
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R.H. Stearns was a Boston Department Store up until the mid to late 70's as well as Gilchrist's. Unfortunately I was born in 1975, but have heard stories about them. Stearns was upscale where as Gilchrist's was more of a family store. Also Read's in Bridgeport CT. When I was seven My dad and I were in Bridgeport and I saw the store and wanted to go in but dad said no. One other store was Steiger's in Springfield MA, I remember one Saturday in March of 1986 my dad took a drive to Springfield and we got to go inside, I thought it was nice and wanted to come back to do my back to school shopping but that wasn't going to happen. Thanks
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Just thought of another store not on the list...Garfinckel's from Washington, D.C. Great store noted for its courteous and knowledgable sales staff. The loss of that store in 1990 was a real blow to the D.C. area. John D. in Macungie, PA.
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Muller's Department Store in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Although a small city. This department store gave Sears J.C. Penney and other reatailers a run for their money. The store eventually closed after the owners passed away. Known by many in the city as a great place to be. No one ever says anything bad about the store.
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I am trying to get info on the M.M. Newcomers Department store in Knoxville, TN around 1900. Thank you, Bradley Newcomer bpnewc@bellsouth.net
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I noted that someone asked about Hahns Shoes Store. I used to shop at this store when I was a teenager and it was still on the corner of 14th and 'G' Street, NW when my children were born. Maybe someone out there has an answer.
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Kaufmanns...Gimbels....Hornes....Frank and Seder and Rosenbaums... Pittsburgh's wonderful department stores My mother had a special saleslady in every department of every store! Believe it or not the name of her saleslady in Gimbel's bra department was Miss Teats. Kaufmanns' had the most exciting Chrismas displays. Ill never forget the time they brought in Eskimos from Alaska and constructed an authentic Arctic village complete with igloos, huskies and yes 2 real live polar bears on the eleventh floor!!!
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Does anyone remember the tea cakes sold at Marshall Field's in the 1950's and 60's called---I think---Blitzkugen---not sure of the spelling. It seems like they were only sold Wed. or Thursdays. JS
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Does anyone remember the christmas village that DH Holmes stores used to do at christmas time? they had an old english village one year and then another year it was a white winter wonderland. you went thru these displays as u went to see santa? wonder what they did with these when Dillards bought them out?
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I tried the library of congress for photos of Two Guys Atlantic City and found nothing, any other suggestions? EAC New Jersey Have you tried the Atlantic City public library or old newspaper files? -- JW
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I am looking for information on the history of Anderson-Newcomb. I grew up shopping at the store in Huntington, West Virginia but believe it may have been part of a larger chain. Mike G. The only trace I can find of the store is in 1946, when there were buyers named both Anderson and Newcomb working there. I don't know what happened next. Most stores sooner or later got bought up. -- JW
The last downtown department store in Huntington, WV operated under the Stone & Thomas name. It operated in a location that had been a department store since 1902. It had operated as a Stone & Thomas since 1970 and was located on Third Avenue. It closed in August of 1996. -- ML
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Trying to get the name of the restaurant located in Joseph Hornes in Downtown Pittsburgh in the early '80s. Thanks I don't have any info about the '80s, but before that it did not seem to have a name. On the menus I've seen it simply says, 'Joseph Horne Co. -- Tea Room.' BTW, A children's menu specialty in 1936 was the Mary, Mary Quite Contrary lunch, a vegetable plate of spinach, carrots, and mashed potatoes with gravy, accompanied by whole wheat raisin bread, jelly finger sandwiches, strawberry ice cream, and milk. -- JW
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I'm looking for a department store that I liked when I was a child. We moved away when I was 6 and name of the department store is Gauchilds? or something close to it. Any help or history on this department store would be helpful. Thanks. What city was it in? -- JW
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I'm looking for photos of three stores from South Jersey they are Robert Hall,Mr.Bigs and S & H Green Stamps
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What year did Macy's take over Sterns in Paramus? Federated discontinued its Stern's division in 2001. Most of the stores became Macy's, a few became Bloomingdale's. The flagship store in Paramus became a Macy's, one of three Macy's to be located within a few miles from each other. The NY Times interviewed loyal Stern's shoppers who referred to the switch to Macy's as being similar to "a death in the family". The former Stern's limped along, constantly being downgraded, until it finally closed in 2006. -- ML
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I am looking for info on a department store called Cooks. my mother worked there in the 70's and bought stock (shares) from them. she passed away 2 weeks ago and my dad has the stocks to cash in. was wondering how to find out about it. russandtina60@yahoo.com
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I am trying to find a particular candy that my mom always bought at Marshall Field's in Chicago. It was a gummy bear but it was imported from Germany and was far beyond anything ever produced in America. I would love to hear from anyone who might have an idea of how to find this item. Thanks.
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I am looking for information about the history of the Hahn shoe stores. They were begun by brothers William and Fred Hahn. The stores were based in the Washington DC area. I am looking for some specific dates of any important events that might have occurred when the ran the business. Does anyone know of anything that might help in-directly find out more information about Hahn family and the company that they ran. Any information you could provide me would be greatly appreciated...
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Hi! I'm looking for information on R H White's Department store. Did it go out of business or was it bought out by another company or merged? If it was bought out/merged, could you find that information? You can e-mail me the information at: reflectionsdsw@yahoo.com Thanks! D.S. Wheeler Boston's RH White's, once operated as a division of Filene's, opened a Worcester branch in 1954. In 1955, it had announced plans to open in Saugus, MA. The downtown Boston store closed in 1957 and the operation was fully transferred to Worcester where it was under the management of City Stores. By the 1970s, City Stores was constantly in financial trouble. It would lose such famed stores as Philadelphia's Lit Brothers, Washington's Lansburgh's and New York's Hearn's, not to mention Franklin Simon. However, RH White's was finacially stable and had even opened a branch at Searstown in Leominster. City Stores filed for bankruptcy in 1979 and the Leominster store closed in 1980. City Stores sold RH White's as a going concern and was purchased by Stop & Shop as part of its Almy's division. Stop & Shop never was able to figure out the market for the low to moderate Almy's stores and the division, along with RH White's, was liquidated in May 1987. -- ML
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Need to add Edward Malley's in New Haven. Hope I spelled it correctly. Miller and Peck in Lincoln, Nebraska- This one caught my eye as a Miller and Peck store also existed in Waterbury Connecticut. I doubt if the two stores even knew about each other. In Waterbury, Miller and Peck would be what is known as a "junior" department store. Howland-Hughes in Waterbury which reincarnated itself as "The Connecticut Store". Only uses the first floor and has a web site. Waterbury also had Grieve, Bisset and Howland. I worked there in the early sixties as a stock boy to get through college. By the way, I had to wear nice pants, a tie and long sleeve shirt. The building still exists. It is now an office building. Ray Garret in Phoenix Ray, thanks for the Connecticut updates.
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I'm looking for photos of Two Guys department store in Atlantic City NJ Old photos can be very hard to locate. Best bet is a family member, but try the local library or the online catalog of the Library of Congress.
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I'm looking for information on Fellas or Fellers in Harrisburg Pa. I would like to know what store is in it's palce now. In the 50's my Dad was a furrier in that store. They were famous for their furs and also had stores in York or New York I believe. Last year I did find a benefit in Carlisle where some fur coats were donated by someone with the store label on it.
In 1946 the store, Feller & Co., located at 3rd and Market, was fairly small and carried only men's, women's, and children's clothing and accessories. C.M. Feller, the merchandise manager, was also the buyer of coats, suits, and furs.
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Hi: trying to get the name of the restaurant located in Joseph Hornes in Downtown Pittsburgh. Thanks In my research I never found it referred to by name; it is always simply "the tea room," even when Duncan Hines recommends it in his books.
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HI,I AM LOOKING FOR STEWART'S DEPARTMENT STORE IN BALTIMORE,MD POSTCARD.I HAVE SEEN IT CALLED STEWART BUILDING.I AM WILLING TO SPEND GOOD MONEY ON THIS. THANKS,SUE Sue, I posted an image for you to see. I want to hold onto my postcard but I would suggest keeping an eye out on e-Bay as your best bet. -- JW
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Marston Department Store, of San Diego CA, had a restaurant with murals painted on the wall. I used to have lunch there when I was a child, and I was enchanted with the painting. Are there any photos or other info available on them? I would love to see them again. Regrettably, I don't have any, but if I find one I will post it on this site. -- JW
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Hi. I'm looking for any photos or pictures of the grand old downtown stores of yesterday. You know: Pogue's; McAlpin's in Cincinnati, Stewart's; Bacons in Louisville, Frost Bros. in San Antonio, Blocks in Indianapolis, Bowman's in Harrisburg, etc. Can anyone offer any help? John D. in Macungie, PA Here are some good places to look for photos and images of department stores that I used for my book, all online: The photos at the Library of Congress, the Museum of History & Industry (Seattle), San Francisco Public Library, the Cleveland Memory Project, and of course e-Bay (for postcards). -- JW
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Hi! I am looking for information on Detroit's Northland Mall 1954 - a store named FEDERAL'S DEPARTMENT STORE. I would like all the information I can find. I do not know where to start. Thanks SO much. Debi Beaver debidb@yahoo.com Can anyone help Debi? -- JW
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I think CBS's segment on the comeback of department stores is a bit premature. In the next several years I think we'll all find out that Macy's killed the department store. Macy's is no Marshall Field's and with Field's gone, all my business is divided up among specialty retailers who carry the brands I want, instead of Macy's which pushes its inferior private labels. It's really too bad. Field's State Street was just starting to show Americans what a department store could be like.
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Do you have any information on The Palace in Kansas City, or Rothschilds, Peck's and Kline's. Any information would be helpful, as we are doing a research project on the Garment Industry in Kansas City. I don't, but if anyone out there does, email me and I'll forward your messsage to these folks.-- JW
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As a direct descendant of John Wanamaker, I find it ironic that the symbol of his success and his one lasting landmark would now bear the name of his most fierce competitor, the R.H. Macy Company. I'd have to agree with you on that one. But did you know that the Marshall Field corporation also once tried to acquire the store? And now Marshall Field's landmark State Street store is also a Macy's, to the everlasting consternation of many Chicagoans. -- JW
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Hi, I am looking for basic information on Smythe Stores of Philadelphia - When was in operation? Is there a source for further info? Also, I live near Bamberger's in Newark and I occasionally see the script logo. I will try and scan it for you to send to you the next time I run across it. Thanks. CD I've searched through my records and department store directories and came up empty on the Smythe Stores. I did not find that name in ca. 1904, 1946, or the 1960s and 1970s. Could they have been more in the line of dime stores than department stores? Does anyone out there know anything about these stores? -- JW
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Looking for the Bamberger's script logo. See it to the right, just below the store's image. "One of America's Great Stores" was how Bamberger's billed itself. It was one of the first stores in the country to have motorized delivery services, its own fashion magazine, and a toll-free number for anyone living in New Jersey (in the early 1920s!). -- JW