topic Re: Death of the Department Store in Community Chat

Death of the Department Store

SoX — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:13:33 GMT

Covid-19 may now also be responsible for exacerbating and escalating the demise of department stores.

Resort and fall orders are being canceled right and left ... some stores will probably not reopen; and mall shopping may soon be a thing of the past.

Below is an article, though lengthy, is well worth your reading time.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/business/coronavirus-department-stores-neiman-marcus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtyp

Re: Death of the Department Store

kaydee50 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:44:21 GMT

The end of an era for sure.

Re: Death of the Department Store

AuntG — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:48:57 GMT

Other than a Macy's near us, they had already passed on. I liked the ones that had at least five floors and a fancy deli. As a kid, we could ride the escalators to the various departments.

Re: Death of the Department Store

traveler — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:56:53 GMT

Can't remember the last time I shopped in one. Big box stores, online and locally owned is usually how I shop.

Re: Death of the Department Store

traveler — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:59:01 GMT

Malls are next. Many have already closed. I never find clothing in my size and don't like the younger population running wild.

Re: Death of the Department Store

Kachina624 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:00:37 GMT

Things are changing so rapidly, it's hard to comprehend. Malls gone? Impossible. The only shopping option in my area is Dillard's and I wonder how long they'll last.

All these changes in our lives and none are for the better. Doesn't anything good happen anymore?

Re: Death of the Department Store

ValuSkr — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:06:17 GMT

Thank you for the link. In the last several years, I've walked into a department store a handful of times and, in the few times I can distinctly remember, didn't find what I wanted.

As for malls, I've always avoided them. Just don't like them a single bit.

Re: Death of the Department Store

Reever — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:13:31 GMT

I hope Kohls can survive. The malls were already bleeding money Better off to re purpose them as affordable housing condos etc. Maybe keep 1/4 retail and 3/4 condo development.

Re: Death of the Department Store

homedecor1 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:16:48 GMT

I ordered 2 wedding and 1 shower gift from Macy's. All was well and today I received notification they are no longer available.

Guess I'll need plan B. I'm sure this is just the start of the demise of department stores as we knew them.

Re: Death of the Department Store

homedecor1 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:18:24 GMT

@Kachina624

The ONLY store in our "shuttered" mall now for about 5 years has been Dillards.

Apparently, according to news reports they own the building therefore they are the only ones who survived.

Although I've only been there 2 times in all the years I've lived here!

Re: Death of the Department Store

Spurt — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:23:00 GMT

I dont know the situation must vary depending where you live in the country ....... You can drive past the major malls here and they are jammed packed....Same with a gigantic shopping center here....cars parked to the rim.....its that crowded....

Now have some stores "died" ...yes they have but these were the smaller stores whose products can be purchased elsewhere---

Here are a few that closed in the malls---Agaci, Wet N Wild, Dress Barn, Destination Maternity, Forever 21, Gymboree. Things Remembered, Brookstone..etc etc.....of course Sears....

Re: Death of the Department Store

kivah — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:32:12 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Things are changing so rapidly, it's hard to comprehend. Malls gone? Impossible. The only shopping option in my area is Dillard's and I wonder how long they'll last.

All these changes in our lives and none are for the better. Doesn't anything good happen anymore?

Since I'm OLD - I grew up in NYC when life was SIMPLE!!!!!! Today, it's one catastrophe after another. We have way too much news. Politicians insulting/lying about the opposing Party --- the media lying and twisting things to make people look bad. Everyone has become selfish and insensitive to others. America has gone DownHill. I went to the malls in southern California for many years - with my mother - who is now gone. Lots of great memories. I even remember when most people had money to spend even when they didn't earn a lot of money. Today - most people are one paycheck away from homelessness. No more middle class -- just rich and poor.

Re: Death of the Department Store

Reever — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:42:16 GMT

I went to Macys about 2 weeks before Christmas. No problem finding parking. Mall traffic was like a regular Saturday. I knew then they were in trouble. 20 years ago cash registers were 10 customers deep in lines, you couldnt walk through without bumping into people and the store had a buzz. Its very sad for those of us who remember when there was an allure to the Dept. store.

Re: Death of the Department Store

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:51:05 GMT

@kivah wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
Things are changing so rapidly, it's hard to comprehend. Malls gone? Impossible. The only shopping option in my area is Dillard's and I wonder how long they'll last.

All these changes in our lives and none are for the better. Doesn't anything good happen anymore?
Since I'm OLD - I grew up in NYC when life was SIMPLE!!!!!! Today, it's one catastrophe after another. We have way too much news. Politicians insulting/lying about the opposing Party --- the media lying and twisting things to make people look bad. Everyone has become selfish and insensitive to others. America has gone DownHill. I went to the malls in southern California for many years - with my mother - who is now gone. Lots of great memories. I even remember when most people had money to spend even when they didn't earn a lot of money. Today - most people are one paycheck away from homelessness. No more middle class -- just rich and poor.

@kivah Middle class makes up the majority of my town and most of the towns I am familiar with. As for media and politicians, none have any politeness or class the way they used to. Sometimes it is quite the embarrassment.

People must move along with the times or we would be traveling on a horse. No vaccinations.

The way people have always survived is to move with the times.

Re: Death of the Department Store

Reever — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:06:21 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
@kivah wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
Things are changing so rapidly, it's hard to comprehend. Malls gone? Impossible. The only shopping option in my area is Dillard's and I wonder how long they'll last.

All these changes in our lives and none are for the better. Doesn't anything good happen anymore?
Since I'm OLD - I grew up in NYC when life was SIMPLE!!!!!! Today, it's one catastrophe after another. We have way too much news. Politicians insulting/lying about the opposing Party --- the media lying and twisting things to make people look bad. Everyone has become selfish and insensitive to others. America has gone DownHill. I went to the malls in southern California for many years - with my mother - who is now gone. Lots of great memories. I even remember when most people had money to spend even when they didn't earn a lot of money. Today - most people are one paycheck away from homelessness. No more middle class -- just rich and poor.
@kivah Middle class makes up the majority of my town and most of the towns I am familiar with. As for media and politicians, none have any politeness or class the way they used to. Sometimes it is quite the embarrassment.
People must move along with the times or we would be traveling on a horse. No vaccinations.
The way people have always survived is to move with the times.

i worry about Kohls. the Manager there has become like a friend and I would be sad if she is laid off. She is a woman over 50 and its very hard for women of a certain age to find work competing with the millenials.

Re: Death of the Department Store

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:08:39 GMT

@Reever Just my feeling but I don’t see Kohl’s as going out of business.

Re: Death of the Department Store

willdob3 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:13:37 GMT

@SoX

The virus may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back but department stores, malls, B&M stores of that nature have been struggling for years.

There was a time I loved shopping at department stores and malls even if I was just window shopping but it has been years since I did that. I put a nail in the coffin. Many of us did.

While I mostly would not miss stores, what will we do when we need something last minute and don’t have time to order?

Re: Death of the Department Store

SeaMaiden — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:16:29 GMT

Like the horse and buggy, all good things come to an end and change to fit the needs of people and what they want. The virus just brought to an end what was already failing. B&M stores are going to become less and less , and online ordering and delivery more and more.

Re: Death of the Department Store

millieshops — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:16:06 GMT

It's almost like the virus is scrubbing the planet clear of its past - so many changes, so many ways life could become so different so quickly.

Re: Death of the Department Store

kaydee50 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:28:28 GMT

DH and I loved shopping malls. When we lived in NJ, on some Saturday nights we would go "a-malling" to Paramus Park or Garden State Plaza. Of course, that was 20+ years ago. I miss them. We have North Bridge mall here in downtown Chicago but it is seldom crowded. Life goes on.

I guess in the not distant future we'll be ordering everything online. Maybe I'll have to get a smartphone--Ugh!!