by | December 15, 2017 · 11:50 am
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the demise of Lord & Taylor

More from Roger about the subject I talked about a few months ago: the demise of the department store. The loss is particularly hard at this time of year.

21 Comments

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21 responses to “the demise of Lord & Taylor”

  1. jeannieunbottled
    December 15, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    That’s sad, Luanne. After shopping at Macy’s (formerly Marshall Field’s, formerly Hudson’s) in Portage, MI, today, I said to myself, “Macy’s will be announcing a lot of stores closing after Christmas.” On the bright side, I got a really good deal on a great winter coat that fits.

    Regarding the provenance of our store, I recall a former Chicagoan crowing about Hudson’s selling out to M.F. some years ago. Now we would have an M.F. right here in Portage!

    It makes me sad that Gilmore’s is gone and a lot of other great department stores. Jacobsons, Knapp’s, Steketee’s, Lamson’s, LaSalle’s, Lazarus, O’Neil’s, Polsky’s, etc.

    Reply
    • Luanne
      December 20, 2017 at 2:54 pm

      It’s all so sad. I am guilty of using Amazon Prime, and I could kick myself, but we’re already in a position where it’s become too difficult to shop for everything in person. Imagine how bad it will be in ten years! The small specialty shops, as well as the beautiful department stores.

      Reply
  2. Jill Weatherholt
    December 15, 2017 at 3:00 pm

    It’s so sad to see these big stores closing. Many of the Macy’s in our area a shutting their doors.

    Reply
  3. wordsfromanneli
    December 15, 2017 at 3:34 pm

    I feel the same way. Hate to see the traditional stores closing.

    Reply
  4. Bumba
    December 16, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    As long as they don’t close the 99 cents store.

    Reply
    • Luanne
      December 20, 2017 at 2:56 pm

      99c stores would be about the only stores left eventually, most likely, because Amazon won’t want to pay to ship stuff that only costs a dollar.

      Reply
  5. Ellen Morris Prewitt
    December 19, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    I had no idea! The times they are a’changing.

    Reply
  6. mareymercy
    December 24, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    This sent me on a bit of a journey reading older posts from both of you, but great reads all around. the demise of retail has been one of the more shocking changes I’ve witnessed in our culture over the last 20 years, shops and stores were the landscape of my childhood and adolescence, so it’s like watching my own history die a bit.

    Reply
    • Luanne
      December 26, 2017 at 12:25 pm

      Well put: “like watching my own history die a bit.” That is so true. I am having a hard time dealing with this. Even more so when I think of what will happen when there is very little competition for Amazon, etc. We have been so blessed with the overabundance on our store shelves. But I still remember seeing photos of the shelves in Poland when I was younger. EMPTY. Is that the kind of availability we want? I’m very concerned that nobody is even ringing the warning bell for this stuff!

      Reply
  7. carlamcgill
    December 28, 2017 at 11:05 am

    I keep thinking of the Woolworth’s in the town square where I grew up, their food counter where I worked for a time during high school, serving popcorn, hotdogs, and lemonade. Also the Grant’s store in the same square. As the brick-and-mortars fade, it will be interesting to see what does appear in addition to Amazon. I suppose it helps the carbon footprint? Or does it? Love the photo of Lord & Taylor.

    Reply
    • Luanne
      January 1, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      I’m sure it doesn’t help anything. And it’s a loss of community and beauty. I also think of Woolworth’s and Grant’s, both on the Kalamazoo downtown mall. In fact, a scene in my memoir takes place at Woolworth’s. I loved Grant’s even more though. What a cool store! The toys in the basement! And the wide stairs near the front of the store. Every so often I see stairs like that in an antique store. I love that you worked at Woolworth’s!

      Reply
  8. reocochran
    January 14, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    I wrote about the evd of a basic USA staple: Sears and Roebuck, Co. It was one of my most visited post in 2017. Everyone’s Christmas dream list was made after studying their big December catalogue! I’m so glad you and Roger had a similar conversation. It is sad when the long lasting memories of dream stores are out to rest, Luanne.
    May you have had a very happy holiday season and wishing you the best of health, happiness and let’s throw in prosperity since we all face the future with some elements of trepidation, I think. Hugs xo 💖

    Reply
  9. reocochran
    January 14, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    out = “put” (to rest) xo ❤

    Reply

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