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In Seattle, there were The Bon Marche, Fredrick & Nelson and Nordstrom's, before it became a chain. J.C. Penney's and Sears were the chain stores. Except for Nordstrom's, all are gone, having been bought out or downsized their downtown presence. Woolworth's was the big drugstore/sundries store with a lunch counter, which I also closed.
Chicago - Marshall Field and Carson Pirie Scott (both downtown; both sadly gone). They competed with each other to display wonderful Christmas windows. And a lunchtime wander through Fields, when I worked downtown, was often a nice part of my day. There was also a quite large Goldblatt's (lower-priced stuff) downtown that was fun to visit.
Minneapolis - a huge 4-story Sears that was within walking distance of grandma's house. We never visited her at Christmas time, though - I imagine the toy department would have been heaven. We consoled ourselves with the huge Christmas catalog ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by golfingduo
Oh I love Woolworths "Pick a Balloon". We had a Kresge's too. Lewiston Maine
The State Street Marshall Field's (Chicago) toy department a child's dream. MF motto "The customer
always comes first."
Sadly the historic Carson Pirie Scott on State (a competitor of Fields) is closed, however there are a few stores "Carsons" which are a fragment of what used to be.
Woolworths, Kresge's, Goldblatts, Montgomery Wards and Wieboldt's.
/boston area Webber's Almy's and Filene's/ Miss Woolworth's and their banana splits. Pick a balloon
break it and pay that price!!
Yup I remember the balloon thing, for me for true Department stores it was Cherry and Web in New Bedford, and for others Kresgee's for best Tuna sandwich and Chocklate Milk shake.
Actually, many of the stores mentioned were "dime stores", as distinct from "department stores". Dime stores were usually on a single floor, in a downtown storefront, and sold relatively small items. Some of the big dime store chains were McCrory's, W. T. Grant, Woolworth, and Kresge, which was the predecessor to K-Mart. By contrast, the department stores occupied a whole city block, with elevators to upper floors, in large cities. A third category was led by Sears and Roebuck, and Montgomery Ward, which established in cities too small to have a large department store, and offered much of their stock by catalog order, with only smaller popular items in stock. But were still, in smaller towns, the biggest store in town.
Why no mention of Wanamaker's (now known as Macy's)? Their downtown Philly store came immediately to my mind when I began to read this thread. I still try to get down there during the holidays, if possible, to see their Christmas Light Show.
Why no mention of Wanamaker's (now known as Macy's)? Their downtown Philly store came immediately to my mind when I began to read this thread. I still try to get down there during the holidays, if possible, to see their Christmas Light Show.
And Belk's, or Belk-Gallant. These were huge in the 60's.
I remember the Denver Dry Goods store in Denver in the mid-80's.
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