How many cities still have downtown department stores?

[mrnyc]

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.

totally agree, but i notice most shops in the central cities, and not just here in nyc, lack the stock on hand to try out a bunch of things like we easily used to be able to do in the before times.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by 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

I don't recall the interior of Galeries Lafayette looking like that. I do remember the nice observation deck on the roof from which you can get some great views of Paris.

Harrods might be my favorite department store in terms of architecture and interior design.

[Wigs]

Thanks for the amazing photos of 19th century Gallerias

[Labtec]

https://goo.gl/maps/pRCYYxNpAHPkxCy57

https://goo.gl/maps/UH68VFcVG5RP4M6R7

This building with the #200 sign on Google Streetview used to be Macy's in downtown Atlanta:


View of Peachtree Street including Macy's, Atlanta by Steven Martin, on Flickr

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I don't recall the interior of Galeries Lafayette looking like that. I do remember the nice observation deck on the roof from which you can get some great views of Paris.

Right, the Galleries Lafayette flagship is pretty much a standard flagship layout/design, and doesn't have arcades, as posted for Milan and Naples (and common in Paris and a number of other European cities).

Galleries Lafayette does have the amazing dome at the store's center, however.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by summersm343

However, I'm surprised no one from Philadelphia has mentioned Boyds yet. Boyds has to be one of the last remaining independent luxury department stores in the country. Their selection is pretty impressive:
https://www.google.com/search?q=boyds+ph...ceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

I wasn't sure if I should mention Boyd's or not. Its certainly an institution in Philly and the NY Time's does refer to it as a Department Store in this nice write-up about it: The Last Great Clothing Store

It's annoying that the full-fledged department stores have multiple suburban locations but only the outlet versions in Center City. In it's prime, Market East Philadelphia had 5 flagship Department Stores: Wanamaker's, Snellenberg's, Lit Brothers, Gimbel's, and Strawbridge's. The buildings mostly still exist except for Snellenberg's and main entrance to Gimbel's.

[austlar1]

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.

And therein lies the rub. Stores today frequently lack inventory, selection, and proper sizes. The same stores often have online shopping available with a much more extensive selection of sizes and colors. I agree that is it nice to be able to see and feel an item prior to purchase, but I think online shopping has an edge that is hard to beat.

[Ninerw26]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

I wasn't sure if I should mention Boyd's or not. Its certainly an institution in Philly and the NY Time's does refer to it as a Department Store in this nice write-up about it: The Last Great Clothing Store

Surprisingly this is my first or one of my few posts ever on this site, but I find downtown department stores fascinating, especially the sort of niche, independent department stores. While these stores don't reach the size and scale of standard department stores, they are variably larger than just a simple boutique, often carrying full scale departments for both men and women, accessories, and sometimes even home goods. Here's a brief list of some:

Philly -- Boyd's
New York -- Bergdorf's -- sort of the outlier here, but still, there are only two locations, and they are across from each other.'
New York -- Five Story
Pittsburgh -- Larrimors
Chicago -- Ikram
Dallas -- Stanley Korshak, FortyFiveTen
Newport Beach -- Amaree's
New Orleans -- Rubensteins
Atlanta, Dallas, Houston -- Tootsie's
Charlotte -- Capitol (A bit closer in size to Ikram in Chicago, so both are the smallest of the bunch)
Kansas City -- Halls
Red Bank, NJ (NYC suburb) -- Garmany

Then there's the Webster from Miami, which now has locations in Houston and LA. Also in LA are places like Fred Segal and Kitson which do have much larger stores than standard boutiques.

In addition to LA's Dover Street Market, NYC has one as well.

The following are all owned by the same company, but are essentially pre-existing stores that have amalgamated under one corporate umbrella:
Greenwich -- Richards
Westport -- Mitchells
Huntington -- Mitchells
Seattle -- Marios
Portland -- Marios
SF -- Wilkes Bashford
Palo Alto -- Wilkes Bashford

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by Ninerw26

Surprisingly this is my first or one of my few posts ever on this site, but I find downtown department stores fascinating, especially the sort of niche, independent department stores. While these stores don't reach the size and scale of standard department stores, they are variably larger than just a simple boutique, often carrying full scale departments for both men and women, accessories, and sometimes even home goods. Here's a brief list of some:

Philly -- Boyd's
New York -- Bergdorf's -- sort of the outlier here, but still, there are only two locations, and they are across from each other.'
New York -- Five Story
Pittsburgh -- Larrimors
Chicago -- Ikram
Dallas -- Stanley Korshak, FortyFiveTen
Newport Beach -- Amaree's
New Orleans -- Rubensteins
Atlanta, Dallas, Houston -- Tootsie's
Charlotte -- Capitol (A bit closer in size to Ikram in Chicago, so both are the smallest of the bunch)
Kansas City -- Halls
Red Bank, NJ (NYC suburb) -- Garmany

Then there's the Webster from Miami, which now has locations in Houston and LA. Also in LA are places like Fred Segal and Kitson which do have much larger stores than standard boutiques.

In addition to LA's Dover Street Market, NYC has one as well.

The following are all owned by the same company, but are essentially pre-existing stores that have amalgamated under one corporate umbrella:
Greenwich -- Richards
Westport -- Mitchells
Huntington -- Mitchells
Seattle -- Marios
Portland -- Marios
SF -- Wilkes Bashford
Palo Alto -- Wilkes Bashford

Very interesting! I figured other places had to have some sort of equivalent but I was unaware.

[Don't Be That Guy]

Delete

[Don't Be That Guy]

Originally Posted by DCReid

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

Sweet lord, if they get a foothold here, it's gonna be ear bleeding to hear Americans pronounce that. "Hey, let's go down to Prin-tempz and do some shopping."

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by Don't Be That Guy

Sweet lord, if they get a foothold here, it's gonna be ear bleeding to hear Americans pronounce that. "Hey, let's go down to Prin-tempz and do some shopping."

Yeah, that may be a bit awkward...
But whose fault is it if lots of English-speakers are so lame at speaking foreign languages?
Certainly not that of Printemps. They're only growing their business, I guess.

Do you know what printemps means in fr? Simply Spring.

[Crawford]

Galleries Lafayette had a store in Midtown Manhattan for maybe 15-20 years. Not sure if it performed well or not, but it's been gone for a while.

Le Bon Marché, on the Left Bank, is the nicest Paris department store. Not as glitzy or touristy as the Right Bank flagships.

[SLO]

Originally Posted by Crawford

I don't see any difference between Dillards and Macys. None. Same brands.

But yeah, I've noticed that Southerners, in particular, are big fans of Dillards.

Ten years ago or more I would agree, but now days Dillards are nicer stores.

[SLO]

Originally Posted by plinko

Downtown Santa Barbara up until the last few years had Nordstrom, Saks, and Macys. None of them are there now.

It was a big deal when those opened, sad to see them go, but really what's happened to retail in general. We need a whole new rethinking of the mall concept, perhaps to innovative mixed use.

[edale]

Originally Posted by SLO

It was a big deal when those opened, sad to see them go, but really what's happened to retail in general. We need a whole new rethinking of the mall concept, perhaps to innovative mixed use.

I wonder where people in Santa Barbara go to do their shopping now? That Nordstrom was very nice, too, so I'm really bummed to see that go. I know State Street still has a considerable cluster of retail, and there are some high end shops in the Montecito Country Mart, but do people really have to go down to Ventura to shop at a real mall/department store?

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by edale

I wonder where people in Santa Barbara go to do their shopping now? That Nordstrom was very nice, too, so I'm really bummed to see that go. I know State Street still has a considerable cluster of retail, and there are some high end shops in the Montecito Country Mart, but do people really have to go down to Ventura to shop at a real mall/department store?

La Cumbre Plaza in Santa Barbara still exists, which has a Macy's (which used to be a Robinson's, if I remember correctly). In fact, La Cumbre Plaza was Santa Barbara's original shopping mall, which by decades predates the Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara.

[muppet]

For future reference: Printemps = pranh tomp

The n and the p are almost silent (p pretty much is). S is purely decorative, probably a France-wide typo.

[muppet]

London has department stores in most districts, a tradition for every high street to have one local brand from some local 19th century magnate family. However many closed for good during the pandemic.

Central London still has Harrods -inside just as gaudy and stunning. The whole thing lights up like a Christmas tree at night - note the 3 missing scultures on the corner, where the royal emblem used to be -sign that you supply the royals. The contract rescinded after the owner, Egyptian ex-arms dealer Mohamed al-Fayed, accused the royals of murdering Princess Di and her boyfriend (his son Dodi). Now owned by the Qatari Royals who got rid of the tacky shrines to Di (complete with her last lipsticked champagne flute) but kept the pharaonic sculptures with Mo's mug everywhere.






Selfridges -American Mr Selfridge originally intended for a New York style skyscraper in the middle of the complex




Harvey Nichols (the most exclusive one), claims to have the world's best window displays planned a year or two in advance, plus secret tunnels to the billionaire lairs opposite (world's most expensive apartments). The brand suffered when its Malaysian owner had the audacity to open two sister branches. Leeds was bad enough but Birmingham the last straw -Birmingham fer Chrissakes!




Barkers -Hitler wanted this as his HQ if he defeated the UK, now largely given over to the world's biggest Whole Foods




Whiteleys - currently getting a refurb:




John Lewis - ground zero of middle class meh. Absolutely beloved institution, for it's 'Never Knowingly Undersold' motto to price-match any deal, a policy recently retired due to the fact they were losing millions.


https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iJGg9GvptA3s/v1/-1x-1.jpg


The er 'iconic' Peter Jones (it's a listed building as one of the first examples of modernism, dating from 1930). Slap bang in London's Old Town, Chelsea -SERIOUS real estate.




Liberty's -famed for its art nouveau designs and fabrics, inside is like a Moroccan-Tudor bazaar


https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/low-angl...g-under-gloomy-sky-soho-uk-172554130.jpg



https://realla-images.freetls.fastly.net...W7h6NVN3a9o%2F116%2Fimage.jpg&width=1920


Fortnum and Mason - world's poshest grocery, queen feeder


https://preview.redd.it/rstyh72t09641.jpg?auto=webp&3a6de037



RIP - the Japanese dept store SOGO, that closed not long after opening. In part thanks to its bizarre launch year where they sold 3 floors of handkerchiefs from the ground up, staffed by an army of white-gloved female attendants that would point optimistically at them (disastrous shortage of stock? Encouraging people to the top floors?). Famous for its slightly pointless, hyper-real statues on the corner (the phallic one), naked women coming out the top, charging horses and jetting fountains at bottom.




The covered arcades are still about too, but for another time...

[StreetView]

Originally Posted by 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...

This actually wouldn't be Printemps first shot at the US market. In 1987 they opened a store in Denver. It was a gorgeous store, but it stool alone in a new development that was an out of way interior design district---It was a really weird choice of location. About that same time Cherry Creek Shopping Center was being built to house Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and the May Company (May D&F). Needless to say, that was the end of the Printemps store, which only lasted a few years.