The way that we shop today is quite different from the past. Companies like Amazon have completely revolutionized the shopping experience. Instead of driving down to the mall and standing in ridiculously long lines, you can now order all of your Christmas gifts from the comfort of your own home right off of your smartphone.
However, the idea of a mall or department store was actually quite revolutionary in its heyday. Before the late 18th century, most stores specialized in just one thing. But then Harding, Howell & Co’s Grand Fashionable Magazine opened in London in 1796, and they sold everything from hats to jewelry to clothing all in different sections of the same store. It was the beginning of the department store shopping craze and the world never looked back.
Check out this list of 20 fascinating vintage photos of old department stores and be sure to share it with a friend!
1. Hickey’s Department Store, Men’s Section, New Ross, Ireland, 1936
Imagine having to go to three different stores just to get a hat, a shirt, and some shoes.
Okay, I suppose that’s still something we could do today, but the point is that we don’t have to.
This picture reveals one of the first stores that was a one-stop shop.
2. Bainbridge’s Department Store, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, 1965
There’s nothing quite like a good window display to get customers filing into your store.
Bainbridge’s realized this early on and spared no expense on their window dressings (even if it looks quite basic to us today).
3. Turner’s Store In Tallahassee, FL, 1956
Here’s another example of great window salesmanship. These ladies couldn’t help but stop at the sight of those shoes.
I bet they were inside that store shortly after this photo was taken.
4. Shoe Department of Cribb & Foote’s Ipswich Store, Australia, 1949
You know, we still do things pretty similar in shoe stores today. The only difference is that the shelves of shoeboxes are usually hidden in the back now.
Back in the 40s, it was all out in the open.
5. Fall opening at Marshall Field & Co., Chicago, IL, 1907
This just goes to show how much shopping was engrained in the culture of the early 1900s. It was as much of a status symbol as it was a nod to your social prowess.
The Fall opening at Marchall Field & Co. was an event to be a part of.
6. Ladies’ Department at Hickey’s in New Ross, Ireland, 1936
It seems like the biggest difference between this dress shop and one that might exist today is the location of the mannequins.
I can’t say that I’ve ever seen them set up to be standing atop the counters, but hey, if it works it works.
7. G&S Department Store interior, Raleigh, NC, 1948
Something that strikes me with these photos is the similarity of all of the clothes in the shop. I imagine the variation in clothing was much less than it is today.
But are we better off for having more variety?
8. Phone Orders Section in T.C. Beirne’s Department Store, Fortitude Valley, Australia, 1952
Before you could just order something on an app on your phone, you had to call into the store and order over the phone.
Oh, and if you were expecting them to deliver it to your house you were probably out of luck. It was in-store pick-up only.
9. Interior Of Messrs. Alexander and Munro’s Store, Toowoomba, Australia, 1897
The buildings themselves were a reason to get out and go shopping. They were often grand architectural feats, large and handmade, with fine details everywhere you looked.
10. First Floor Of Marshall Field & Co., Chicago, IL, year unknown
As long as humans maintain their fascination with owning things, shopping will never go out of style.
Whether you have to go into a grand store like the first floor of Marshall Field & Co., or you shop online, there will always be more stuff to look at and own for a price.
11. Escalators in Bullock’s Department Store, Los Angeles, CA, 1934
I imagine the first escalators were a huge draw for shoppers. Just going to ride the moving staircase would be enough to get almost anyone out of their house.
I bet the stores that paid to get escalators made their money back on sales real quick.
12. Marshall Field & Co. Tea Room, Chicago, IL, 1909
Who doesn’t get tired after shopping all day? Marshall Field & Co. was smart enough to add a tea room to their department store.
Rather than the shoppers leaving to go get refreshments, they could freshen up right in the store and then continue on with their shopping.
13. The Silverware Room, Woodward & Lothrop Department Store, Washington, DC, year unknown
Of course, you had to have nice silverware, plates, and the like if you were ever going to host people at your house.
Luckily, there were entire rooms dedicated to just that.
14. Unknown Department Store, Paris, France, 1965
This photo is one of the most recent and it starts to resemble department stores of today.
Although things have changed a lot since the 60s, there is still plenty of similarities.
15. Toyland Department, Dayton’s Department Store, Minneapolis, MN, 1940
And where would we be without toy stores?
Toyland was probably a zoo during the holidays, but at least you could buy all your gifts for the kids in one place and in one trip.
16. Yowell-Dew-Ivey Department Store, Orlando, FL, year unknown
Here’s an advertisement for all of the different rooms that the Yowell-Dew-Ivey Department Store had.
It looks like they were definitely a one-stop-shop for all of your household needs.
17. Passazh Department Store, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1902
This place was massive. If you couldn’t get everything that you needed here then I’m not sure where else you could go.
18. Interior View of C.F. Hovey and Co., Boston, MA, 1860
This is one of the earliest photos of a department store.
When this type of shopping was introduced, it was revolutionary and surely made running errands a bit easier for the folks in town.
19. The Silverware Room, Woodward & Lothrop Department Store, Washington, DC, year unknown
Here’s another shot of a silverware room. This was a time when cutlery and utensils weren’t disposable.
Most households probably had two sets: one for everyday use and one for special occasions.
20. Interior Of Marshall Field & Co., Chicago, IL, C. 1865
They certainly didn’t waste any space when filling up their department stores. The more stuff they could fit in, the more things they could sell.
I bet shopping here would have been pretty exciting for the time.
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