Missing True Deparment Stores

[michaelman2]

Gyrafoam, great post!..I just read that one of the most requested recipes in the history of the Atl Journal is the
Frozen Fruit Salad and Chicken Salad Recipe from the Magnolia Room @ Richs.
Fnelson..I had no idea that Marshall Fields was to become a Macy's ..is nothing sacred that flagship store was truly a fine department store.
Dalangdon..I read your post and could relate completely..was with Richfield Hotels and I was always amazed at how some of my colleuges dressed and dealt with guests.
Even if you have the money to "pay" for good service, rarely and I mean rarely do you receive it. Man I tell ya, I can remember when my pay depended on tips or commissions..sugar would not melt in my mouth, went out of my way to assist. Simply what goes around clearly comes around.

 

[whirlcool]

When I was growing up in the 50's & 60's, the best department stores in the world were the "loop" locations of Marshall Fields and Carson, Pirie Scott & Co. In fact when I was in college, I'd hire on with Marshall Field's Oakbrook location as Christmas help. In fact we still shop there when we are in Chicago. But it too has changed, not to say for the better either, than it was when I worked there. I also remember those Green with gold trim Marshall Fields trucks. All a customer would have to say to the sales person was "Please send it" and it would be delivered the next day to your home, without additional charge in a nice green & gold Marshall Fields box.
My parents used to take us downtown to walk around looking at the fantastic Christmas window displays. I remember the cold, the smell of snow in the air, the beautiful and enchanting motorized window displays depicting holiday viginettes. Then we'd go inside Marshall Fields to dine at the Walnut Room. I'd always like to walk across the first floor and look up into the atriums with Christmas decorations and trees hanging in the atriums. Now to hear that they are going to change the name of this store to Macy's? To me it's unthinkable! To me when I think of Macy's, I think of overpriced crap that comes with no service.
Here in Houston and Minneapolis, I think Nordstrom offers the best service. If you opt for it, you can get one salesperson that will handle ALL your purchases from the store for that day, no matter what floor or department you go to. Now that's real service. Of course they will call you the next day to find out if you are happy with your purchases.

 

[toggleswitch]

Jason, Come see me. I may be getting a P/T job for Christmas.
This time it's Men's shoes.

 

[Timonator]

The good ole days!

I worked at one of the Oldest Ford Dealers in the state of ohio for 20 yrs..where the customer came FIRST...and..we also supported all local bussiness as well..theres a fine line between helping someone...and pestering them..Frankly I miss the honest to goodness sales people..escpecially In the Hardware store..Go to Home Depot and TRY to find what u want..and When you cant..ask a salesperson..who btw..worked at burger king two weeks ago!! People are fast to complain about american products and services..but sooner or later..If know one is working Who will buy all the imported stuff!! I could go on and on...but ....Oh well....In my opinion..were rolling downhill...like a snowball...heading for hell!!

 

[jasonl]

Oh Toggle are we letting out some secret fetish? Men's shoes? Now then, we learn even more LOL.

If I worked a dept. store I'd defintely work in women's lingerie. I'd use a very feminine voice (oh I can do that well) so the pretty ladies wouldn't feel threatened thinking I'm not str8. But all they while I'm LUSTING after them as I help measure their delicate parts to fit in those silky garments. Whew! Now I need a cold shower.

 

[michaelman2]

How in the world did we get from great old department stores to fetish...oy

 

[fnelson487]

More Marshall Fields Memories

Trend House and Furniture - 12th Floor
Appliances - 11th Floor
The Multi-story Christmas Tree
The Men's Shop across Randolph
Christmas Window displays
Silver Department - 1st Floor
Drooling over the KitchenAid dishwashers on the 11th floor

My first job in Chicago was at the First National Bank of Chicago, two blocks from the flagship Fields store and one block from Carsons. Wiebolts was in the middle. Lunch always consisted of grabbing a quick bite and then heading over to shop at Marshall Fields.

As a kid, Mom took us downtown for the obiligatory visit to Marshall Fields to ride the "moving stairs". What a treat for a kid with all those sights!! I'll never forget it. After moving to California, I returned after Fields sold out and remember thinking - "There goes an era". My God!! Racks of clothes just like Sears. Yikes! Oh well, I still have my memories.

 

[fnelson487]

Christmas On State Street

Nothing like it!

 

[angus]

The problem today is that everyone has forgotten how much the traditional department store played into the daily lives of the local citizens. I too remember when there was real diversity in the stores and they reflected the local culture and tastes. Goldwater's in Phoenix had beautiful Southwest tableware, furniture and other home decor produced by local artisans. Now? Just another May Company.

Very sad to read of the Marshall Field name going away. The idea of that grand store becoming a junk palace Macy's sickens me. I felt the same way when the venerable Abraham & Straus department store on Fulton Street in Brooklyn changed to a Macy's. I guess Federated's mission is to saturate the market nationwide with the Macy's name. All this because a Thanksgiving parade is named after that damned store. Meanwhile I pine for the late great stores - B. Altman, Bonwit Teller, Hahne's, Burdines, I. Magnin. I think the I. Magnin one hurt most. I used to travel a lot and I was always amazed at the beautiful buildings and merchandise selections in the I. Magnin stores. I always managed to find something wonderful to buy...

Well, I simply will not set foot in any Macy's store, anywhere. Period.

 

[jasonl]

Michael

It just happens that way LOL.

Yes, I'm being a little too naughty, maybe I should stop. Raging 16 year old Testosterone in a 34 year old body I guess.

 

[scott55405]

This whole retail thing has been a bit of trial and error for me here in Los Angeles. Overall thus far I am not terribly impressed. There does not seem to be a lot of pride taken in the appearance of or service in some of the (non grocery) stores. All the grocery stores I've been in have been clean and nice. The people in these stores are pleasant and do try to help, but seem resigned to their fate.

The condition and staffing of stores seems inextricably linked to the area in which it is located here more so at least to me than it did in Minneapolis. The Target store closest to me is the most wretched, filthy, unstocked place I have ever seen, worse than any KMart or WalMart. I complained to the manager which I never do and he was sympathetic but basically said that's kind of how it is. I told him that if a Target store looked like that in Minneapolis he'd be run out of town, a fact of life which he seemed well aware but ill prepared to do anything about.

I live in a very nice area that I've learned kind of borders on a somewhat less desirable one to the immediate south, which is how I've drawn this conclusion. I visited a mall in the same general vicinity as the unfortunate Target store and found things much the same. The JCPenney store there is borderline acceptable, but severely understaffed. After two separate visits trying to get help in the blind section, I've given up and elected the shop at home service. The Macy's and May Co. in that same mall were so bad I'd never go again.

The Target near where I work, on the other hand, in one of the beach communities, is quite pleasant and acceptable like the Targets which I've become accustomed. There are so many places to shop here that I'm certain it will be only a matter of time until I find my niche, not that anything is ever going to be like it once was.

 

[michaelman2]

Fnelson!! great pics..thank you for posting!
Angus..I have to agree with you about I Magnin, they were a wonderful retailer. All of the posts made me go to my keepsake chest and pull out some of my old charge plates (just dated myself "plates")..the Magnins card was there, B Altman was there. Even an old Wannamaker card and of course my Sakowitz card is right in there.

 

[toggleswitch]

Sometimes, even Toggle speaks without parables!

Jason:

*WOW* All I meant was I have already sold Ladies' shoes ==> "enough of that", now, I'd sell men's.

Tons of excercise and you leave the the sales floor every few minutes to get the shoes.

 

[toggleswitch]

Sometimes a cigar, is just a cigar......

or as Monica would say
"Close, but no cigar."

 

[kenmore1978]

unstocked Target

Scott, from your description, sounds lke you were in the Target in southern Culver City. That's the only one near Fox Hills Mall, which has a Penney's, Macy's (former Broadway), and Robinson's-May(former May Co.) It'll be interesting to see what happens to the Robinson's-May. They're really trying to push the Macy's name, forgetting that people shop at different stores for a REASON. I think that's why Safeway hasn't converted all the Von's and Pavilions stores into Safeway and Kroger has kep the Ralphs name. Von' si going out of theri way for customer service, employees always greet you when they pass you in the aisle and will persoanlly take you to where an it me is if asked, and one is always asked if you need help to your car, even if you look like a muscle builder.

 

[kenmore1978]

Target

Oh, forgot to say, the "nice" Target is at Rodeo Road and La Cienega Blvd. It's only a few years old. The other one further west on Jefferson used to be a "Two Guy" depat. store and has been there for years.

 

[dalangdon]

I. Magnin

Our I. Magnin here in Seattle was a beautiful store - The outside was a miniature version of the San Francisco store: Severe white marble with black marble trim. Inside was hushed and just screamed "old money". Lots of classy old broads ambling around in their St. John's knits and Chanel suits.

When it closed, it stood empty for a few years then was redone into an Old Navy, fox sports grill, and Gene Juarez salon (the salon for the nouveau riche - lots of "assisted blondes" with coach handbags and ridiculous cars) They messed up the outside and completely gutted the inside. You wouldn't even know it.

I don't begrudge people money. But rich people with no taste deserve to be subjected to a special tax or something ;-)

 

[michaelman2]

Kenmore..man I tell ya...Target on Rodeo Drive, what in the world!..Dalangdon, don't you know that old Magnin's bldg crenged when that Old Navy inserted itself. I am still laughing about the "assisted blondes". Sometimes all of that bleach will pickle the brain.

 

[whirlcool]

fnelson487..

Thanks for posting those photos/drawings. That's exactly how I remember the interior. I wish there was a shot from the ground floor looking UP to the top of the tall attriums.
It kinda reminds you of Harrods in London. I can spend all day there in the food court alone!
My sister, who still lives in the Chicago area said that they have also considered using the name "Marshall Field's by Macy's" for the flagship store and that at first they also thought about removing the clocks on the outside of the building, but that would certainly have people storming the store in protest. By the way, Marshall Field's flagship is at "zero" loction in Chicago. State & Madison is from where all the addresses in Chicago start from. 0 North and 0 West.
Now for all you Texan's, Foley's is now to become a Macy's as well. More blastphemy! Actually, Federated Department stores owned Foley's back in the 60's through 80's then DF May bought it, cheapened it up with cheaper merchandise for premium prices and then sold it back to Federated Department stores.
I'm afraid to ask what comes next!

 

[fnelson487]

Scott

Your initial impressions are very accurate. When I first moved to California in 1979, I remember being very disappointed in the retail stores. Bullocks was the best but no comparison to Carson's or Fields. I remember transplanted Easterners and Midwesterners saying that they went back east to shop for clothes and such. The only thing I really miss about Southern California (besides the almost perfect weather) is Gelsons the grocery store. Have never come across anything like it anywhere else. If you get a chance check out the Santa Monica, Westwood, or Encino (my store) Gelsons. You will be impressed by the produce (never picked up anything less than perfect), meat, fish and service.

Fred