How many cities still have downtown department stores?

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by mousquet

You've heard of this thing in Milan...









https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria_Vittorio_Emanuele_II

It is small, not large at all compared to a contemporary suburban mall, but I think that's simply the most impressive indoor luxury retail gallery I've ever seen in my lifetime.
There are indoor classy retail galleries that feel more intimate both in Paris and London, but they just don't feel as big or grand as this thing, even though it's kinda small. This is something different.
It is definitely one of the craziest old downtown little malls you could think of. The most pop Italian and French brands have to be there, to sell their things to tourists.

Naples has the same thing. I went there a few years ago.

Galleria Umberto I is a public shopping gallery in Naples, southern Italy. It is located directly across from the San Carlo opera house. It was built between 1887–1890, and was the cornerstone in the decades-long rebuilding of Naples—called the risanamento (lit. "making healthy again")—that lasted until World War I. It was designed in the Stile Umbertino by Emanuele Rocco, who employed modern architectural elements reminiscent of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The Galleria was named after Umberto I, King of Italy at the time of construction. It was meant to combine businesses, shops, cafés and social life—public space—with private space in the apartments on the third floor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria_Umberto_I

[TempleGuy1000]

I wonder why indoor shopping plazas like that weren't more popular in the United States during the Victorian era.

The only one I can think of is the Cleveland Arcade.

[mrnyc]

^ dayton has one too.

fyi it was recently rehabbed (although, its been rehabbed/discussed as far as i can remember lol).

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

I wonder why indoor shopping plazas like that weren't more popular in the United States during the Victorian era.

The only one I can think of is the Cleveland Arcade.

There is a small one in Ann Arbor called the Nickels Arcade.

[DCReid]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

There is a small one in Ann Arbor called the Nickels Arcade.

Seems like an indoor mall to me...

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by DCReid

Seems like an indoor mall to me...

No, it's not an indoor mall and also not climate controlled.



source: https://aadl.org/BN130_19970730_chase_055

[Don't Be That Guy]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

I wonder why indoor shopping plazas like that weren't more popular in the United States during the Victorian era.

The only one I can think of is the Cleveland Arcade.

There were several of them in Pittsburgh, including Jenkins Arcade, Diamond Market, Allegheny City, and East Liberty Market. East Liberty Market is the only one still standing, and it is a rather uninspiring use as AAA offices.

[mrnyc]

^ yeah there are other arcades around downtown cleveland that are still well in use, if less impressive than the grand arcade, which is a hyatt hotel these days (and needless to say its a very interesting and fun place to stay in).


cleveland arcades history
https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/236


colonial arcade 1908





the 5st arcade has a funny swerve

[pdxtex]

Let's face it. Most ppl aren't shopping downtown for pot and pans but the downtown department stores that are left serve a purpose, they're usually high end and act as an important tourist draw. The make up counter and shoe comment earlier was interesting. Those indeed are always packed at any of our Nordstroms. Portlands lack of sales tax and high end boutiques make our Nordstrom pretty successful i think. They have in store boutiques for some pretty high end designers.

[38 Geary]

SF has the Ferry Building as an indoor shopping plaza, completed in 1898.



https://www.alamy.com/usa-california-san...-interior-food-court-image227140901.html

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by pdxtex

Let's face it. Most ppl aren't shopping downtown for pot and pans but the downtown department stores that are left serve a purpose, they're usually high end and act as an important tourist draw. The make up counter and shoe comment earlier was interesting. Those indeed are always packed at any of our Nordstroms. Portlands lack of sales tax and high end boutiques make our Nordstrom pretty successful i think. They have in store boutiques for some pretty high end designers.

i'm not even so sure about that, or even if so for the moment, that it will last much longer.

the reason is the stores don't have anything. that is, they won't have your size. or another color, etc..

the shops in nyc are basically useless these days because they don't have the stock they used to.

and it isn't supply issues as much as there is no room in the heart of the city anymore for warehouse storage for the merch.

and why would you want to drag something you bought around all day anyway, when you can just go home order it and it comes to your home dam close to immediately.

retail is a rough business!

[Chisouthside]

who needs beautiful shopping arcades when we have dumpy stripmalls surrounded by parking lots?

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

i'm not even so sure about that, or even if so for the moment, that it will last much longer.

the reason is the stores don't have anything. that is, they won't have your size. or another color, etc..

the shops in nyc are basically useless these days because they don't have the stock they used to.

and it isn't supply issues as much as there is no room in the heart of the city anymore for warehouse storage for the merch.

and why would you want to drag something you bought around all day anyway, when you can just go home order it and it comes to your home dam close to immediately.

retail is a rough business!

I still prefer trying clothes on in person. I only order online if I already know how it will fit.

I don't get how people don't mind buying clothes without knowing the fit and then send back the ones that they don't want. Going through the work to send stuff back pretty much defeats the efficiency of shopping at home, IMO.

[DCReid]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I still prefer trying clothes on in person. I only order online if I already know how it will fit.

I don't get how people don't mind buying clothes without knowing the fit and then send back the ones that they don't want. Going through the work to send stuff back pretty much defeats the efficiency of shopping at home, IMO.

Tried online once with sneakers and had to send two pairs back. Won't due that again!

[DCReid]

From: https://www.thestreet.com/investing/printemps-department-store-coming-new-york

...It is certainly an unusual time to be a department store. While names as storied as Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney have struggled since the pandemic, smaller ones like Century 21 are coming back from the dead while still others are bravely forging ahead and taking on new markets.

One such brand is Printemps, a luxury department store chain from France. The chain competes with Galeries Lafayette — its main store is located on the same stretch of Boulevard Haussmann in Paris and also has a popular rooftop terrace overlooking the Opera House and the fashionable ninth district.

On Wednesday, Printemps leadership announced that it has set its sights on the American market and plans to open a store in New York City...

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by pdxtex

Live organist?? Wow thats way old timey. Philly had a stand alone saks near downtown I found curious. Kind of neat.

Yeah. Saks is on City Line Avenue in Lower Merion Township (a very leafy affluent suburb). Across the street from Philadelphia County. It's a sorta throw back in that it's not with any other luxury retailers (most of which are out in King Of Prussia Mall) but apparently does very well in terms of revenue.

As others have mentioned, Macy's is still in Center City Philadelphia (and also apparently does very well). It's been long rumored that Bloomingdales wants to open an outpost downtown but has never been able to find an appropriate space.

Center City also has a Primark (does that count as a department store) and a number of Target's urban format stores. There is also local independent department store which is quite small but very well known and high end called Boyds.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Nope. These guys took over the scene and shoppers fled en masse to the big box barf.

All the top end stores moved out to the exurbs, and were replaced by outlet versions surrounded by acres of parking, Fiat dealerships and fast food. Pappatorre con formaggio!

These guys were looking for the latest "Bunga Bunga parties" and were SOL

[muppet]

Paris has Galeries Lafayette

a non descript coupla blocks in the centre:



While inside it's this:


https://www.exp1.com/blog/wp-content/upl...ayette-shown-floor-by-floor-1024x683.jpg

[muppet]

...but a moment's silence for this:

I think the one that takes the biscuit for the Western world, one of the few places that drew criticism for being too grandiose and awe inspiring:

Originally Posted by Neric007

Dufayel department store - Paris
Said to be the biggest department store in the world at some point.
Built in 1856, closed in 1930 and slowly destroyed part by parts after that.

Dufayel - Paris - General view by Oldimages, sur Flickr

Dufayel - Paris - Galerie principale des caisses - 1913 by Oldimages, sur Flickr

Dufayel - Paris - Galerie centrale ca 1910 by Oldimages, sur Flickr



Dufayel - Paris - façade & dôme by Oldimages, sur Flickr

They did save part of the main entrance's facade (without the dome though):

Les Grands Magasins Dufayel by Jeanne Menjoulet, sur Flickr

OH WELL

[MolsonExport]

Wow. I had heard about that place, but I never realized the sheer scale of it. Paris still has lots of large department stores, fortunately. Japan (esp. Tokyo) and Seoul have wonderfully large department stores with top notch service...they remind me of the glory days of department stores (well, the tail end of them, in the 70s when I was a child) in the West.