remember department stores ? - Page 13

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

I grew up in the suburbs of NYC. In those days it was safe enough for pre-teen and teen-aged kids to take the train into Manhattan to see the beautiful Christmas displays. I was fortunate enough to have been able to go into Manhattan with my friends to see all the beautiful department store displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. A few years ago, my husband and I traveled to Manhattan and braved the crowds to see the tree and do our shopping. It was a wonderful reminder if my childhood.

Happydays · ‎11-19-2010

How about the 5cemt & 10cent stores. Many times I have wished for one again.

gmkb · ‎07-29-2012

151949, I too, grew up in Pgh. Going shopping downtown was an experience - 7

department stores. Saks, Rosenbaums, Frank and Stearns, Joseph Horne, Kaufmanns, Gimbels and Mansmanns (did I forget any?) Each one beautifully decorated for Christmas. Except for Saks, I don't think any of them exist anymore - sad.

By the way, I lived in Erie in the late sixties, but don't remember the nut house store.

This thread brought back lots of good memories.

gmkb · ‎07-29-2012

@ShopperAZ wrote:
How about the 5cemt & 10cent stores. Many times I have wished for one again.

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Yes, me too. I worked in a WT Grant in high school.

When my sister and I were in that 11-14 age bracket, my father would take us to this street lined with three 5 and 10 cent stores in a row. He would give us each money to buy Gramma, Mom, Dad, and each other a Christmas present. We could only go to those three stores, no further. He would wait for us while we shopped. A good memory.

lulu2 · ‎03-09-2010

Growing up in NJ our biggest department store was Bamberger's in Newark. We frequently shopped in NYC. I miss all those iconic stores, particularly the ones on 5th Avenue. There was nothing like NYC during December.

As a child, our first cocker spaniel came from Macy's flagship store. They had a large pet department. (6th floor?) You took the the old wooden escalator to get to it.

In high school I worked in gift wrap at Bamberger's in Morristown. We used punch on bows. (loved making them on a hand crank machine) I remember one of my colleagues punching a bow through the box and into an expensive leather handbag. She was fired.

jubilant · ‎06-10-2010

@gmkb wrote:
@ShopperAZ wrote:
How about the 5cemt & 10cent stores. Many times I have wished for one again.
---------------------------------------------
Yes, me too. I worked in a WT Grant in high school.
When my sister and I were in that 11-14 age bracket, my father would take us to this street lined with three 5 and 10 cent stores in a row. He would give us each money to buy Gramma, Mom, Dad, and each other a Christmas present. We could only go to those three stores, no further. He would wait for us while we shopped. A good memory.

********* If that is the same Grants I think it is, I think they also had a pretty decent soda fountain.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@gmkb wrote:
151949, I too, grew up in Pgh. Going shopping downtown was an experience - 7
department stores. Saks, Rosenbaums, Frank and Stearns, Joseph Horne, Kaufmanns, Gimbels and Mansmanns (did I forget any?) Each one beautifully decorated for Christmas. Except for Saks, I don't think any of them exist anymore - sad.
By the way, I lived in Erie in the late sixties, but don't remember the nut house store.
This thread brought back lots of good memories.

Some of those stores were gone by the time I was old enough to remember, It was down to Azens & saks which were clothing stores and too pricey for my family and then Kaufmanns, Hornes and Gimbels department stores. Do you remember Rheas bakery? I worked there from as soon as I was 16 until my senior year in nursing school. Loved working there.There was one on market sq and one in Mellon Center and I would work at both.

The Nut House in Erie was on the street that goes by the hospital down to the docks.

CatsyCline · ‎07-24-2013

@lulu2 i think Macys Herald Square still has those wooden escalators to the higher levels !

but it has been awhile sinnce the last time i was in NYC shopping at Macys; it was 2006 and i'm almost certain there were escalators with wooden steps

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

@ashleigh dupray wrote:
@lulu2 i think Macys Herald Square still has those wooden escalators to the higher levels !

but it has been awhile sinnce the last time i was in NYC shopping at Macys; it was 2006 and i'm almost certain there were escalators with wooden steps

They still do and they work!! The wooden slats though you do have to be careful with stilletto heels on shoes/boots.

There are two sets of escalators-- one set has wooden slats and the other set has the metal ones we are all familiar with.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

Stray · ‎04-20-2013

@lulu2 wrote:
RGrowing up in NJ our biggest department store was Bamberger's in Newark. We frequently shopped in NYC. I miss all those iconic stores, particularly the ones on 5th Avenue. There was nothing like NYC during December.

As a child, our first cocker spaniel came from Macy's flagship store. They had a large pet department. (6th floor?) You took the the old wooden escalator to get to it.

In high school I worked in gift wrap at Bamberger's in Morristown. We used punch on bows. (loved making them on a hand crank machine) I remember one of my colleagues punching a bow through the box and into an expensive leather handbag. She was fired.

@lulu2 Yep, it was the sixth floor. I purchased my love birds there when I was first married. I went to HS in Newark and went to Bams at lunchtime....