What store did you do your Christmas shopping at that is no longer in business. We went to Kaufmann's in Pittsburgh. I

[debm55]

remember getting my Burgandy holiday dress there. For food we went to A & P

[johnp3907]

1. G. C. Murphy's in West Newton.

[debm55]

11. Thank you john p3907. I lived across the river where Murphy's had there Head Quarters in McKeesport.

[Eugene]

2. Jordan Marsh, downtown Boston

... merged into Macy's.

Also S.S. Kresge for toys and small gifts.

[debm55]

12. Thank you Eugene. Didn't S.S, Kresge become K-Mart?

[BlueState]

52. When I was a kid...

... I noticed that there were Santas in many department stores. My mother told me they were all Santa's helpers. But the real Santa was in Jordan Marsh in Boston.

We always went there to see the Christmas display and sit on the lap the real Santa.

[debm55]

73. Thank you BlueState. How sweet of your mom.

[Raven123]

3. Higbees!

[debm55]

13. Thank you Raven123. Where was Higbees located?

[Raven123]

19. Cleveland. Memorialized in A Christmas Story

Ralph sees the Red Rider BB gun in the opener

?si=VdxIYpRxIRbdhd-V

[debm55]

20. Thank you very much. Raven 123.

[blm]

32. Same!!!!!!!!

[debm55]

47. Thank you blm.

[Bo Zarts]

4. Rich's - Atlanta (1867 - 2005)

Rich's is now Macy's

[debm55]

14. Wow. Thank you Bo Zarts. Did they have a floor for Santa's Workshop?

[Bo Zarts]

43. Yes. Plus the Pink Pig Flyer monorail for the kids.

[debm55]

48. I hate to break it to you but Macy's is closing 100 stores in 2025

[FarPoint]

5. Kaufmann's and Gimbels ..

Had family that worked there back in the day ..off Sixth Ave ...Gimbels.

[debm55]

22. Thank you very much FarPoint.We would get on the 61-C and it would drop us off at Kaufmanns . I don't think I every went

to the Gimbels , downtown.

[Dulcinea]

59. Same here!

Usually we went to the Monroeville Mall, but we did go downtown every December to see the decorations. A couple of years ago we took my daughters to see the trains at Carnegie Science Center before my mom moved out of the area.

[FarPoint]

68. I remember my grandmother also taking me

to, I think it was called, The Russian Tea Room".... walking thru the snow ruts too when crossing the street...hahaha... The window displays were magical too.

[debm55]

75. I went to the Russian tea room. Did you get your fortune read?

[LSparkle]

81. We t to the RTR one time in Manhattan ...

I still have a paper-wrapped sugar cube 😊

[debm55]

100. wow that is great. Thank you LSparkle.

[FarPoint]

98. Sure did ....

My grandmother was really festive....

[Deep State Witch]

115. We did Kaufmann's and Horne's

In the North Hills. Sometimes we'd go "dahntahn" to see the windows decorated.

[hlthe2b]

6. My Mom shopped at the Jones Store (chain) in Kansas City--gone since late 90s

I remember Rich's and Davidson's in Atlanta... Both eventually merged with Macy's and disappeared as brand names. More recently, the last Lord & Taylors closed in Denver in 2021 and elsewhere AFTER 195 years in business! albeit mostly in NYC. Now that was depressing.

I hate that Amazon (and a few others) are destroying brick-and-mortar stores. I fear for Macy's, frankly, although they seem to have a reasonable online sales presence. But tariffs could do a number on them.

[debm55]

30. Recently read that Macy's is going to close 100 stores in 2025, Our Macy's is already closed.

[hlthe2b]

34. The Macy's closest to me closed a couple years ago. Most Denver stores seem to be doing okay.

This thread is kind of depressing for those of us who had good memories--especially at Christmas time. I really am saddened about the demise of Malls--especially at Christmas time. 'Reasonably safe place to shop and bring young kids to see Santa. I even brought my last dog to see Santa at one special event.

[debm55]

49. Sorry didn't mean for it to be depressing .

[hlthe2b]

58. Oh, I think we all get nostalgic this time of year. It is natural...

[Dulcinea]

70. The Macy's closest to me is closing early next year. nt

[debm55]

74. They are closing 100 stores in 2025.

[Aristus]

7. Joske's in San Antonio.

Long gone…

[debm55]

31. Thank you Aristus. That is sad.

[EarthAbides]

8. Sears

I still miss it! My husband used to buy most of his clothes there. He hates shopping on-line for clothes because he can't touch and feel the quality.

[debm55]

37. I agree. I have to feel the material and see how it looks on me. I especially have problems with shoes,

[Fla Dem]

9. Jordan Marsh and Filene's in Boston. Later a Lord & Taylor's opened on the Plaza where I worked, so shopped there.

[debm55]

38. My husband and his family is from Boston. I remember going to Jordan Marsh and Filene---the basement. Enjoyed it.

[Diamond_Dog]

10. Strouss' department store, which became Kaufmanns, then became Macy's.

[debm55]

89. Thank you very much Diamond_Dog,

[pandr32]

15. Eaton's

A wonderful department store in Canada that had quality goods and an excellent exchange policy and guarantee.

[debm55]

77. I remember Eaton's . On thanksgiving , CBS would have the parades from Macy's then Eatons. and one from Detroit. I

watched all of them.

[LeftInTX]

16. My dad was in the military. I think almost every department store is now out of business!

Gimbel's, Bon Marche, Wanamaker's , Robinson's, Prange's, Joske's, Sear's...You name it! Coast to coast and in the middle!

[debm55]

78. Thank you LeftinTX. It is a bummer.

[redstatebluegirl]

17. Bergners Department store in Illinois.

Loved that store!

[debm55]

72. Thank you redstatebluegirl. so sorry.

[Charging Triceratops]

18. Downtown Pittsburgh was a holiday wonderland!!

Kaufmann's, Gimbel's, Horne's department stores. Hundreds of independent retailers.
And streetcars!! Fabulous Christmas memories.

And the city is dead now.

[debm55]

27. When I was young I wanted to get a job at Kaufmann's decorating the store for Christmas. it is a bummer now.

[Wuddles440]

64. So true regarding...

the present day Burg as it's very sterile and boring. It was truly grand and alive when all the stores were still open. Of the department stores, they all had their own personalities and I while I loved them all, I was especially fond of Hornes. Also, don't forget Saks Fifth Avenue as it once led all their stores in sales per square foot. Very depressing now that they're all gone.

[debm55]

91. Agree with you Wuddles440

[get the red out]

21. Sears

Lexington, KY.

[debm55]

25. Loved Sears and their catalogue, Miss them.

[Demovictory9]

41. Montgomery ward and sears christmas catalog

[get the red out]

109. YES

My Mom was a Montgomery Ward catalog devotee as well, to say the least!

[choie]

23. A&S and Orbachs on Long Island

Gimbels (sigh) in NYC.

[debm55]

24. Thank you choie, That's a bummer. Our's left Pittsburgh too and the malls.

[RandySF]

26. Sears

[debm55]

29. Thank you RandySF. I miss Sears too. Got my one and only bike from Sears.

[sinkingfeeling]

28. F & R Lazarus in Columbus, Ohio

[debm55]

50. Thank you sinkingfeeling. Our's closed long ago.

[CanonRay]

33. Carson, Pirie, Scott in Chicago

My brother's girlfriend worked there, and we got a discount.

[debm55]

46. Thank you CanonRay. There is hardly any stores left in Pittsburgh. Plus, the mail here is being torn down. Shop online.

[drmeow]

35. Mervyn's

Also May in the LA area before it merged with another one - Robinson's - which as Robinsons-May became yet another one

[debm55]

45. Thank you drmeow. That happened here too. Stores buying out stores and mismanaging them

[montanacowboy]

36. Kaufmann's and

Stone & Thomas in Wheeling, W.Va.

[debm55]

42. Thank you , montanacowboy.Sad,

[SWBTATTReg]

39. Famous Barr. May's bought them out, but I sure enjoyed the old style department store shopping at Famous Barr,

their main store was just a few blocks away from my work location, and I loved going there, if anything, during my 15 or 30 minute breaks. The store was just like those old original dept stores we all see on those old Xmas shows. I still miss them, and I still have friends that worked there, still moaning about them (FB) cutting their benefits and such. Such a shame. Walmart's didn't do a good number on those old dept store outlets.

Oh well, we can all dream still, of someone actually bringing back an old dept chain back (not all of the branches, just a couple of the stores) so some of us can still go and go shop old time wise, enjoy some of the old quirks and such that were at the old store. The FB downtown STLMO had its model trains running in some of the window displays, so neat to watch.

[debm55]

44. Thank you SWBTATTReg. I really enjoyed the window displays at Christmas time.

[Srkdqltr]

40. J L Hudson Detroit.

[kimbutgar]

51. Emporium and Montgomery Wards

[debm55]

71. Thank you kimbutgar. I don't recall the Emporium put we did have Montgomery Wards.

[kimbutgar]

85. Emporium was a California chain

[ProfessorGAC]

53. Marshall Fields

Sears, Montgomery Ward, Goldblatt's, The Boston Store, Wilson's Leather, Carson Pirie Scott, ...
Kind of depressing!

[debm55]

67. I remember when microwaves first came out I bought one at Montgomery Ward for , get this. 300 dollars, We still laugh

about it.

[ProfessorGAC]

69. You Got A Bargain!

Raytheon relased the first one in 1946..Was $5,000! In 1946!
The first home microwave was sold by Tappan in '55, for $1,500.
It's incredible how those prices fell. I just checked. $90 at almost every major retailer.
That would be about $8.30 cents in 1955! As opposed to $1,500.
Amazing.

[AllyCat]

106. Just came to say Marshall Fields!

Best holiday decorations. We loved going to the one in downtown Chicago.

[patphil]

54. Bambergers and Sears.

I know Sears still has an internet presence, but I never shop there.
I felt Sears could have survived if they went back to their core business: tools, lawn and garden and some auto repair.

[debm55]

66. I agree. Most of the stores that disappeared did so because of the mismanagement of the stores.

[lynintenn]

55. Service Merchandise

[debm55]

65. Thank you for bringing that name up . One holiday season I taught during the day and worked at Service Merchandise. It

was always crowded.

[hedda_foil]

56. Marshall Field, Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago.

[debm55]

63. Very sorry hedda_foil.

[Freddie]

57. Hess's, downtown Allentown PA

Before they opened the various suburban Hess’s (which weren’t as special) and then the whole chain went under.

[debm55]

60. Sorry Freddie.

[wryter2000]

61. Capwell's in Oakland

The one and only time I shopped on the day after Thanksgiving, I went to Capwell's in downtown Oakland. It was so crowded, I vowed never to go shopping on that day again.

[debm55]

62. Sorry , wryter2000

[WalkerinSC]

76. Service Merchandise and Sky City

[debm55]

99. Thank you WalkerinSC. Worked part time at Service Merchandise.

[LogDog75]

79. A couple of stores

Sears
White Front
K-Mart

[debm55]

95. Thank you very much LogDog75 and welcome to DU

[SheltieLover]

80. Toys R Us (until Romney killed it!) and Montgonery Wards

Used to love to get Candy Cane pie at Baker's Square too until the dubya economy killed that tradition.

[debm55]

84. I loved taking my son to Toys R Us. It was magical. Even for adults. Oh and Children's Palace.

[SheltieLover]

86. I agree Toys R Us was magical - even for adults

Used to stand in line on Black Fri morning with coffee & donuts from Dunkin' with my daughters to shop for grandson. I miss those days...

And when my younger daughter was little, I'd stuff her in a cart and wheel her through the store and anything & everything she showed an interest in, I would buy and she would forget about it by the time Christmas came around. That was sweet!

[debm55]

97. What a great memory for you to share with us SheltieLover,

[SheltieLover]

101. It really was.

And now 1 lives 10 hrs away & the other 1 is dead, so....

[LSparkle]

82. I. Magnin and Joseph Magnin in San Francisco

Actually I received gifts from my wealthy family members from that store but couldn’t afford to shop there.

[debm55]

83. Thank you very much LSparkle.

[boonecreek]

87. The Fair Store

in the Chicago Loop. They had the best toy dept.
In the early 60s they went under and Montgomery Ward
took over the building. We also shopped at Carson's and Field's.

[debm55]

88. Thank you boonecreek for sharing your memories.

[boonecreek]

92. You're welcome,

These posts are fun.

[keithbvadu2]

90. Zayre, K-Mart, Ames, WT Grant, Montgomery Ward. Are there any Sears stores left?

[debm55]

93. Thank you very much keithbvadu2. I think all Sears are closed.

[surrealAmerican]

94. Crazy Eddie's -

It was a horrifying place to shop, but you got some good deals.

[debm55]

96. Haha Thank you surrealAmerican

[LSparkle]

102. The first store I bought gifts at was Zodys

In Southern California. Long gone ...

[debm55]

103. Thank you LSparkle.

[Thunderbeast]

104. In Portland, Oregon....

Meier and Frank (Macy's)
Lippman Wolfe
Olds, Wortman, and King. (Rhodes)
Sears and Roebuck
Montgomery Ward
Several small independent quality clothing stores

[debm55]

105. Thank you for sharing Thunderbeast.

[3catwoman3]

107. Marshall Field's. The flagship store in downtown Chicago was

…a place of wonder. You could spend a whole day just in the shoe department.

They had a great selection of Christmas ornaments. I have a favorite Christmas decor item from one of the suburban Marshall Fields. It’s a basket made of pine cones, painted silver, and dusted with sparkly silver stuff. I fill it with maroon glass ornaments and put it on our cherry dining room table. The maroon ornaments complement the color of the cherry wood, and it looks really elegant. I also have an ornament made to look like the famous clock that was mounted on the downtown store.

I was really sad when they were bought out by Macy’s.

All the local department stores that we shopped at in my hometown of Rochester NY are long gone - Sibley’s, Forman’s, McCurdy’s, Edward’s. They were really nice stores with quality merchandise.

[debm55]

111. thank you very much, 3catwoman3 Yes, stores of the passed did offer quality merchandise

[ribrepin]

108. Bon March in Seattle

[debm55]

112. Thank you ribrepin.

[Borogove]

110. Pomeroy's and Lazarus department stores in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

[debm55]

113. Thank you very much Borogove. We had a Lazarus here that is gone also.

[Deep State Witch]

114. Kaufmann's and Horne's in Pittsburgh

Sometimes Gimball's, too. But that store was further away from us down McKnight Road.

I swear, when my mother died, Macy's (formerly Kaufmann's) dimmed their lights in her memory. She spent a lot of money there.

[debm55]

116. Thank you very much Deep State Witch, Your last statement is funny, You live in the North Hills?

[Deep State Witch]

117. I Grew Up There

I live in the DC area now. I grew up off of Rt. 19 near what's now CCAC-North, but used to be Hill's. Went to North Allegheny HS, then Chatham College. Moved down to DC to work for the government in 1987.

[debm55]

118. Thank you very much Deep State Witch.

[OldBaldy1701E]

119. There are so many (and some are long gone).

Sears
Roses
Pope's
Peebles
Montgomery Ward

and, I got one of these almost every year. It is not a store for Christmas shopping, to be sure, but they were much loved. (I also used to get the classic cars they used to sell. I wish I had some of them now. I could retire in comfort. Heh.)