Nothing Lasts Forever
It just seemed like it did when you were waiting for the school bell to ring at the end of the day.
We've scoured the web for some tribute sites to retail days gone by.
Click below to visit those that are gone but not forgotten.
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NOT FOOLING ANYBODY
You've seen it before. A chain restaurant, a doughnut shop or convenience store opens for business, but sadly, shutters its doors. And then, on the wings of someone else's entrepreneurial dream, the darkened building gets reborn as a completely new business...well...not completely new.
It's true, old Taco Bells never die, they just get a coat of paint, a new sign and a big helping of Kung Pao Chicken. |
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In 1818, henry Sands Brooks opened H.&D.H. Brooks & Co. on the Northeast corner of Catherine and Cherry Streets in New York City, where the South Street Seaport now stands. In 1850, Brooks' grandsons Daniel, John and Elisha inherited the family business, and renamed the company Brooks Brothers.
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THE DEPARTMENT STORE
They played a significant role in forming America's "Middle Class", but the depth of their importance hasn't been fully acknowledged.
It may be true that the days of the great department stores have come and gone, but in her excellent compendium of department store history, Jan Whitaker turns a critical eye onto the impact of Macy's, Gimbel's, Rich's, Wanamaker's, Hect's and all the others.
Her website is filled with tidbits from her book which celebrates a time when the emphasis was on "Service and Style". |
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Richard Liebeskind opened his own retail shop for increasingly busy women. As a gift Mr. Liebeskind, Sr., hiimself a designer, gave his son exclusive rights to one of his best-selling dress models, which at the time were often "named." This particular dress, the "Ann Taylor," embodied the classic, confident style of the well-dressed woman.
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DEADMALLS
In the words of this fascinating website, "Deadmalls is a not-for-profit endeavor designed to promote the history of malls, as well as their nature whether thriving or declining, and the impact of time and competition on these establishments."
Follow this link to refresh your memory and to get new insights into the way it was. |
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The Gap was founded in San Francisco in 1969 by Donald Fisher and Doris Fisher. The name was derived from the growing differences between children and adults - namely "the generation gap" - which reached its peak with the hippie movement.
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MALL MEMORIES
This excellent site mixes video, pictures and commentary to paint a vivid picture. It is a work-in-progress and that is more than can be said for most of the centers profiled on this site.
You'll also find some very helpful, retail-related links and a pretty spiffy video of a man who thought it would be fun to take an SUV drive ...inside his local mall. |
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In 1838 Aristide Boucicaut started the Bon Marche store in Paris that evolved into the first department store by 1852, displaying a wide variety of goods in "departments" under one roof at a fixed price, no haggling or bargaining, with a "money-back guarantee" allowing exchanges and refunds, employing up to 4000 with daily sales of $300,000.
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