"4th Floor - Lady's Wear"

[coriolis]

Has anyone ever been in a department store that has more than two floors? I guess that back in the old days the downtown department stores had many floors due to limited real estate. Now that the department stores are all "big boxes" at the mall, they only have one or two floors.

I remember that the Warner Brothers cartoons, (Bugs Bunny) had lots of gags involving elevators and announcments of what was on that floor. Does anyone remember that?

I can joke with some of my older co-workers when we're on the elevator going to our office on the second floor. I'll announce "Second Floor - Confusion and Office Politics" and sometimes get a laugh out of them.

Today I was on the elevator with a young guy, and announced "Second Floor - Swimming Pools, Movie Stars" (from the Ballad of Jed Clampett - anyone remember THAT?). What a blank look I got from him!

Sigh, I'm feeling old....

[Windswept]

LOL to "swimmin' pools and movie stars".

I would have stepped off the elevator, turned around and waved at him while saying " Y'all come back now, y'hear?."

[coriolis]

Ahh. A kindred spirit!

[Miss Mary]

My mom has never learned to drive, so she would pack us up and take us shopping on Saturdays, in downtown Cincinnati. Of course half the fun of our trip was taking public transit. My dad could have driven us but he wasn't a shopper so this plan suited us well. My mom liked the large department stores, with at least 4 or more floors. I remember the ladies' restroom had several rooms - the salon, with couches, chairs, table lamps, even phones. These long lost restrooms were like quiet, safe havens after say Christmas shopping. My mom would collapse in a chair and say we needed a break. I can still recall riding the elevators, even if escalators were installed later, we preferred the elevator. Also, a few stores had stairs too - next to the elevator, next to the yet to built escalator. The stairs were open and nicely appointed (not like a fire escape). These large department stores seemed to have it all and were a city unto themselves - coffee shop, nicer restaurants, hair salons, shoe shine, selling everything just about.

I visit Chicago with my in-law's each Fall. My favorite Chicago store is the former Marshall Fields on State Street, now named Macy's. But it will forever be MF to me......11 floors offering so much.

They don't make stores like this anymore!

Also, one of our long ago downtown dept. stores had a Santa land each December. You could walk down hallways and look into rooms set up with puppets - one might be Santa's mailroom, another would be the toy shop, another would be Mrs. Claus baking cookies. At the end, you got to see Santa and have your picture taken. Next door to all of this was the Secret Santa Shop. Children could shop without their parents, for gifts. Each table had prices and were gender specific. Each child was paired with a shopper/helper who would ask you who you were shopping for. I loved shopping at this shop! You really felt like no one knew what you bought, until Christmas Day. I usually bought my dad new socks or a tie and my mom, perfume. Each item was then gift wrapped and tagged.