WxWyWz:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O!!!!!

(breath)
GOD, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! !!

Hey, our Maas Brothers here in Florida became Burdines and then became Macy's. If they change the sign one more time at the mall, the walls will leak from all the extra holes.

snowrooster-Lazarus was started here in Columbus by the Lazarus family. There are still some of them around. When the name was changed from Lazarus to Macy's, it was like a day of mourning here in Columbus. Lazarus downtown was a class store, beautiful Christmas displays, great customer service, wonderful restaurant, nice selection of merchandise. Store personnel actually worked there for the long haul and retired from there. Hard to find employees that dedicated in retail today. It was a sad day indeed. And Macy's IMO has junked up there stores here, you can't even move in the aisles, merchandise is crammed in.

As for Marshall Field's, I loved the downtown Chicago store! We had Marshall Field's here in Columbus also and I shopped there. The store was wonderful, nicely arranged, wide aisles and nice people working there.

It is a shame that Federated is making all the stores the same. And Patrick, I liked Maas Brothers also, before it was decapitated.

If anyone wonders why Marshall Fields is special to Chicago, read the article below on PBS on the history of Mr. Marshall Field. He is part of Chicago's history and legacy. The Field Museum is named after him as well.

Maybe Walmart could just buy up all department stores and Starbucks could be the only coffee shop in America too?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago...s/p_field.html

I sure understand how all of your feeling losing Marshall Fields. I still miss I.Magnin's in SF. Macy's took over the beautiful store I.Magnin's had been in (building connected). Macy's could never be an I.Magnin's. Time marches on but it is sad losing places that we loved.

I refuse to shop at Wally World (Wal Mart) for anything. Gee, I can't figure out why they aren't calling me everyday...."oh please, oh please dont boycott us!!!!!" LOL Well, it just makes me feel better...my one small protest.

I loved Frango Mints.

The Frango's are still made, but I do miss buying them at the Fredrick & Nelson stores in the PNW. I see them at Costco at the holidays now, lol!

LoveItaly--I think you are my mom...she thinks the same about I. Magnin

We lost our 'locally owned' Gayfers a few years ago. I was 'raised' on that store! Used to shop while mom was at work across the street, and then, on her lunch break, she'd come and approve our picks.

Now, this year, we've just lost our McRae's, the store I'm transfered my preference to (though never as good as Gayfers!).

Now, in our little town, we have TWO Parisians, which I loathe.

It's gotten to be what my mother would call 'slim pickens' around here!

Belle

buckeyemom, that's what Macy's was like in Dallas too, no better than a Dillards or Burdines. What a waste!

Now...when will this shoe fall? Who owns Neimans?? #39;(

Hi mms, well your mom had good taste,LOL. BTW, bet your mom grumbles about not having the beautiful ladies room lounge etc. on the 5th floor at I.Magnins. Right? My DD used it when they were in SF in spring expecting the same luxury that I.Maginins provided. The marble floor to ceiling stalls did not have working light bulbs...so stalls completely in the black plus no toilet paper, LOL. Well it wasn't funny to her. She grumbled for two weeks after that experience. P.S. I'll adopt you!

LoveItaly--You sound just like her, lol! I was just telling Scarlett last week about when my mom took me to Alcott & Andrews for my trousseau (sp?). I still have pieces I just cannot beat to get rid of.

Hello again mms! Question? Does your dear mother also grumble because they eliminated the Compass Room at the St. Francis Hotel and replaced it with Mina's? That is another gripe of mine. Hugs!

LoveItaly--I have heard her talk of the Compass room, but not of Mina's. I know she likes to go to the Top Of The Mark for drinks with friends.

Allright LoveItaly and mms, stop
hijacking swalter's thread !
You know the blue
forum police are gonna get you !


I purchased my first designer suit at
Marshall Fields on State. A gorgeous Norma Kamali...
~sigh~
I miss the Compass Rose too,

Was our Christmas tradition to window shop in Union Square, by each other a
little something at Gumps (so we could
get that too cool pleated tissue wrapping and have appetizers and drinks at the Compass Rose
overlooking the Square.
R5

LOL R5!

You're hijacking too though What is the restaurant in Neiman Marcus? I remember doing lunch there with my mom while shopping. The grandparents took DD there this summer after shopping as well. I think it is a good thing we live far enough away! lol!

The Rotunda is the restaurant in the upper reaches of Neiman Marcus. Usually, every holiday season we'll make reservations for mid-afternoon on a day when we hit Union Square for shopping. That is the only day of the year I go there. It's a nice respite from the madding crowds on the street -- but only if you get a table overlooking Union Square, and then only for a red wine and salad with bread. Maybe a Bloody Mary. Other offerings are very mediocre. Just a pretty place to catch your breath during frantic shopping sprees. The waitstaff ooze attitude - but, of course, that's no problem for me as I simply won't tolerate it.

I am devastated! Truly, utterly devastated. Anyone who isn't from Chicago simply doesn't feel our pain, swalter! I grew up at Marshall Field's. It's head and shoulders above any other dept store simply because of its history and legacy. People who aren't from Chicago think of MF as just a store - but the Field name in Chicago is one of the most revered. The Field Museum, for example. Even the local Fox affiliate, WFLD, was once owned by the Field family (hence, FLD). Granted, the store itself started slipping a little when it was first sold to Hudson's, but that State St. store is a masterpiece. The Tiffany ceiling, the Christmas windows, the famous clock... what Chicagoan wouldn't be upset?? Can't Daley do something?

And no offense to New Yorkers, honestly, but Macy's is kind of... dumpy. There, I said it. And yes, I mean the one on 42nd Street.

Why does everything have to be the same whereever you go - easy, because it makes the most business sense.

If you are a department store circa 2005 here's your reality: apparel deflation for several years, increased competition, an aging customer base, a casualization of the workplace.

What's that all mean, for one you need to reduce costs. You do that by leveraging advertising, which is why most of the Federated/May stores are being rebranded as Macy's, mergers to take out overhead, and greater centralization.

The reality is that those most likely to take exception to the name change, probably aren't the customer's they are aiming for.

Here is why....http://www.boston.com/business/artic..._to_6200_jobs/