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mrsrtz t1_itd37wv wrote

It was a department store, like Kaufmann's or Horne's.

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Augiehack t1_itdbmjn wrote

Omg you unlocked a memory with Hornes...forgot all about them

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Ninjago987 t1_itdsofj wrote

Was going to say if they don’t know Gimbles probably won’t know Hornes. It’s been quite a while.

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Dartonion t1_iteb5z2 wrote

Recently got rid of a Horne's cardboard box my family had been using to package presents and gift things back and forth for years. Recently as in, 4 months ago. I have a pic of it somewhere I'll put up if I figure out how.

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Augiehack t1_itebeuy wrote

Ahh I was debating posting this.. I'm little "young" to really remember Hornes BUT remember my Mom talking about it AND my friends Mom would give him his Christmas presents on Hornes boxes until like 2010ish.

awesome that others have this same memory

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kmc1124 t1_itesp02 wrote

This tradition is still on going in my family… Hornes box and all!!!

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Daywalkingvampire OP t1_ith6n79 wrote

I grew up with hornes department store. I got gifts constantly from there.

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AmbientGravitas t1_itdzp8n wrote

My grandmother was an interior decorator for Hornes.

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tiredassmom66 t1_ite3l7p wrote

I worked for Hornes as a buyer

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Teddy-bare1713 t1_itgepq2 wrote

What was that like? And how do i start a career in that?

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tiredassmom66 t1_itggn9g wrote

It was super fun- it was the 80’s. Lol. So I had worked in retail since I was 16, with increasingly better jobs. I graduated from college and went into a buyer training program at hornes. So you will definitely need retail experience and you need to be good with numbers and computers and you need to find a major chain that is looking for people.

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Jen-Barkley t1_ite4cfb wrote

My mother worked at Horne’s in the early ‘60s.

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Shiloh_4336 t1_iteqrio wrote

My " desk" is a display table that I got from Horne's when they were selling everything in the place.

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GuncleShark t1_itfd1gz wrote

My aunt was an elevator operator at Horne’s.

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dtrain__ t1_itg77s9 wrote

My cousins uncles fathers mothers kid used to be a toilet cleaner there

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BuffyTheMoronSlayer t1_itfu58x wrote

My grandma was a store detective for Kaufmann and Hornes. She worked a bunch of different locations including the downtown ones.

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DragonflyValuable128 t1_itekr77 wrote

More like Korvettes.

2

NYCinPGH t1_iteob92 wrote

Oooh, I used to go to a Korvette’s with my mom, near-ish our house when I was growing up. We’d always park on the ‘ground’ floor, because it gave cover from the upper parking deck - kinda like the parking ‘garage’ at Century III - and there were offices / services on the top floor that always intrigued me, because we never went there.

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SWPenn t1_itdjdqs wrote

The "Big Three," Kaufmanns, Gimbels, and Horne's, were massive downtown department stores. There were others like Frank & Seder, McCreery's, Spear & Co., Boggs & Buhl, Rosenbaum's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Lord & Taylor was also here for a few years. Kaufmanns and Gimbels were each bigger than 1 million square feet and carried everything from clothing to garden supplies and appliances. Back before more women entered the workforce, they would spend the entire day in these stores shopping, having lunch, and going to fashion shows. Kaufmann's alone had 11 restaurants. Also, Wednesdays was "Ladies Day," downtown, when the movie theaters had special matinees beginning at 10 am.

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lefindecheri t1_itdvi0o wrote

35 years ago, I worked at Mellon Bank and would pop over to Kaufmann's on my lunch hour. In the winter, I wouldn't wear a coat or take my purse, only my credit card in my pocket. So customers thought I worked there and would ask me for directions. Where's the fur storage? Where's the hair salon? Where's gift wrap? I always knew the answers. I should have gotten Kaufmann's to pay me for my services! Or at least given me a nice discount.

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SWPenn t1_ite175b wrote

I remember they had a huge pantyhose department on the street floor near the Smithfield Street doors so women who worked downtown and "had a run" could get new ones quickly during their lunch hour.

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WoodpeckerFar9804 t1_ite4sf2 wrote

I don’t even think women wear pantyhose anymore, do they? I haven’t worn a pair in years!

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chartreuse6 t1_itewt78 wrote

Some of us do lol

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antalog t1_itj351x wrote

What do you do that requires pantyhose??

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chartreuse6 t1_itj37w6 wrote

I wore them to a wedding with a dressier dress. I’ve worn them at Christmas

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idkbruhwild t1_itetdqz wrote

I wish places like this were still around, it seems like such a nice way to spend an afternoon (and all of my money)

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whenwillthisend19 t1_ite6d9x wrote

Forgot Eiben &Errs on 10th? Where the bus bought it. Bought my first set of golf clubs there. 1969 maybe.

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SultanOfSwat0123 t1_itew72n wrote

So funny Eiben story. He owned C. Mel Eiben’s Jewelry shop downtown too. I was like 14 years old golfing at Frosty Valley and I get paired with C. Mel Eiben and his grandson. Now old man Eiben was VERY old at the time and the grandson was probably old enough to be my father. Had no business being anywhere within 1000 miles of a golf course as he could barely move. But I was a polite kid and listened to his stories the entire round with great fervor. Nearing the end of the round he tells me he wrote an autobiography and basically demands that I give him my address to send it to me. I complied thinking I was appeasing him and that it would be free and about a month or two later it comes packaged (autographed and all) in a large manilla envelope in the mail with a mailing address to send like $25 back for the book. I was a kid but I will never forget thinking, “Holy shit I got hustled by a 90 year old man.” It was hysterical. My next thought was, “How the Hell am I going to explain to Mom that I need $25 to send to this old guy for a book I didn’t want?”

The next time I go to my mom’s I’m going to have to do some digging around as I’m sure it’s still there hidden away somewhere.

https://obituaries.post-gazette.com/obituary/casper-melvin-eiben-1081516808

His obituary even mentions the book, Forks in the Road. Based on my math he would have been about 84 so not quite as old as I thought but holy cow what a character.

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OcelotWolf t1_itdh5ou wrote

Remember when Buddy the Elf decorated a store for Christmas? And then sat on imposter-Santa’s lap and got in a fight with the manager that completely demolished half the store? Yeah that was a Gimbels

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mokayemo t1_itek758 wrote

Came for the Elf reference. Thanks for not disappointing me! Have a useless award.

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mikeyHustle t1_itda48x wrote

I am absolutely living for these other comments that are basically "It was just like these other dead stores you probably don't know."

But yeah, department store. Clothes, housewares, jewelry. Like if you went back in time to before Target sold food, and if people respected the clothing. And add jewelry.

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ShoppinInDa412 t1_itdmxg8 wrote

Also back when the store employees actually knew their shit and cared about the job because they were paid a decent wage.

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SWPenn t1_iteaoas wrote

You got to know the sales people because it was their career and they stayed for years. Each department was staffed with multiple sales people who helped you pick out what you wanted. They were knowledgeable about everything they sold and would call when something came in that they thought you might like.

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hydrospanner t1_itgp3g2 wrote

>and would call when something came in that they thought you might like.

Really?

​

While I'm sure they'd stop if you asked them to, that just seems like "ending up on some company's mailing list" of the pre-internet age.

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colawars t1_itgyqmy wrote

We did this at Kaufmann's when I worked there in the early 2000's.

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rickrowld t1_itdzqb5 wrote

Christ. Enough of this. People care when they feel valued.

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mikeyHustle t1_ite7gug wrote

I think that's exactly what they were saying. Unless you're implying you can care when you feel valued but not paid, but I don't think so.

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44problems t1_ith2ef7 wrote

It makes sense. Target was a discount version of a Minneapolis department store called Dayton's. Another that was eventually eaten up by Macy's.

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cmyk412 t1_itd6fqp wrote

They had a great home video game section back in the 1980s. As a kid I’d go there and play Atari, Colecovision, and Intellivision games for hours.

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333scorpio t1_ite0roj wrote

Hell yeah!!! Spent many hours on that floor. Right around the same time, 83-84, Kaufmann's had one arcade game in the young men's section, I think they had Herbie Hancock's Rockit looping on multiple tv's.

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thoughtmecca t1_itdkjtj wrote

Now defunct, regional department stores are my jam. All y’all are forgetting Lazarus too.

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mrsrtz t1_itdmw9a wrote

I think you will enjoy this website, then, as much as I do!

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gordiarama t1_itg66t3 wrote

Thank you! Just went down a rabbit hole on the site which ended in buying a book about Kaufmanns on Amazon. Didn’t know until now that I needed that book!

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thatburghfan t1_ite1zoj wrote

Lazarus' owners purchased Horne's and put the Lazarus name on them.

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44problems t1_ith26rb wrote

It's fun finding a Hornes box mixed in with your parents Christmas wrapping

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thatburghfan t1_ithjq8s wrote

My parents are the same way - you better hand those boxes back to them after you open the presents and the stick-on bow, too! I've seen Hornes, Kaufmann's, Gimbels, even a Service Merchandise box.

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44problems t1_ithmf0s wrote

Service Merchandise! Fill out some paperwork and wait for your toaster

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1029Dash t1_itd34ni wrote

It was a department store like Kaufmann’s was

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OwtoIwtn t1_itdhjhg wrote

The big 3 Gimbel’s, Kauffman’s and Horne’s, all gone. 😕I visited them all frequently as a kid.

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StyreneAddict1965 t1_itdw5z9 wrote

I wish I could have experienced downtown Pittsburgh in its heyday.

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SWPenn t1_ite054w wrote

It was packed and had something for everybody. Before the suburban malls and shopping centers, downtown was THE place to shop, dine, go to movies, and meet friends. Before suburban multiplexes, movies premiered downtown only and played for weeks and weeks, then move to the neighborhood theaters.

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First_name_Lastname5 t1_itdos71 wrote

What didn't they.

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ravia t1_itfbds3 wrote

G. C. Murphy's had parakeets. Did Gimbel's?

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GuncleShark t1_itfdbqm wrote

I don’t remember if Gimbel’s did, but Kaufmann’s definitely had a pet department.

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First_name_Lastname5 t1_itgggcz wrote

I don't know honestly. Wasn't around for it tbh but I'm kind of a Pittsburgh nerd so I know they had a lot of stuff.

1

lefthandb1ack t1_iteb72o wrote

I was a child clothing model for Gimbels. MFrs put my 10 year old ass in my damn underwear and stood me next to a pretty teenage girl in a nightgown. THEY HUNG THE PICTURES UP IN THE HALLWAY OF MY GRADE SCHOOL

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ventorun t1_iteneqf wrote

Yeah, but you were knee deep in that sweet Gimbel’s model money, right?

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lefthandb1ack t1_itenr50 wrote

$35/hr in 80-83 was hella money but as far as I know I never saw an actual dime. Could be I was wearing it and was unaware, or it was for gas and tickets to kennywood 🤷🏻‍♂️

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MissMurderpants t1_itdy8dj wrote

The one in Pittsburgh was awesome. It had a haberdasher and one of the best liquor selections inside it. I was too young to purchase but I could browse and it’s where I first saw Poire William. It was fancy and had great items in there. I was in there last in the late 80’s.

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ravia t1_itfbg7k wrote

Wait. Liquor? Wasn't that totally a matter for State stores?

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SWPenn t1_itfuzix wrote

There was a fine wine department in Horne's in the 70s and 80s. Don't know what the legality was, but it was there.

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jaycee9799 t1_ite6t1f wrote

Each of the contemporary department stores had their own delivery fleets before the prevalence of UPS and Fedex. I think Gimbels trucks were green. You could take the trolley to town, buy a refrigerator, couch , toys for the kids, wait a week, and everything would be delivered.

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Daywalkingvampire OP t1_ite7314 wrote

So almost like Amazon

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jaycee9799 t1_itea0p5 wrote

Yes, but shopping at a store like Kaufmann was like a curated experience. The clerks in individual departments were tenured experts My grandmother was in charge of the area that sold men's handkerchiefs . She would interview a customer and make recommendations

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mrsrtz t1_itg9kah wrote

I kind of think Amazon is like the old Sear's catalog back in the old, old days. Before there were Sears stores.

I don't think you can buy a house on Amazon though.

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Davmilasav t1_itdicnp wrote

Gimbel's, Horne's, and Sears were the three anchor stores at Beaver Valley Mall throughout the 1970s. I think Horne's became Lazarus and Gimbel's changed to Kaufman's when that store left Monaca but I could have them backwards.

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mikeyHustle t1_itdqxwt wrote

The Kaufman's became a Macy's before it closed.

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Daywalkingvampire OP t1_itdr6c2 wrote

Happy cake day

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mikeyHustle t1_itdrko5 wrote

Haha, thank you.

And thanks for bringing up Gimbel's. It closed before I was born, too, but my grandma loved to talk about it. She said she used to pay her Gimbel's bill (before you used the same credit card everywhere, they had their own charge account) with a check, and they'd shove it into a vacuum tube and physically shoot it upstairs. I thought it was wild how this was old tech from the past, but it sounded like The Jetsons future.

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lefindecheri t1_itdzdja wrote

Up until a few years ago, my BofA drive thru used those pneumatic tubes to deposit cash/checks and receive deposits. "Pneumatic tubes are systems that propel cylindrical containers through networks of tubes by compressed air or by partial vacuum."

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deepblue66 t1_itdgjlr wrote

Believe it or not but I bought my first VCR there 😂

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AnonPlzzzzzz t1_ite1owf wrote

Tell me you never seen ELF without telling me you've never seen ELF...

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Seejay784 t1_itd4idh wrote

It was a department store like Kaufmans, Hornes, Sesrs, and Macy's

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jgrumiaux t1_itdh6aa wrote

They had a location at South Hills Village, before it became a revolving door of worse department stores. Now that location is a Dick’s and a Target. RIP

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tj15241 t1_itdm0ra wrote

There is a Christmas movie Miracle on 34th street. You will learn about Gimbals vs Macys

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vibes86 t1_itdznfk wrote

What didn’t they sell? They were an enormous department store. You could buy almost anything.

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plantatreeretard t1_itdq7re wrote

gimbel’s is gone. long gone.

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LovedAJackass t1_itdz4rf wrote

You could also get quality furniture at all three stories.

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tiredassmom66 t1_iteqsoy wrote

Alright - Jenkins Arcade

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These_Plastic5571 t1_iteud9v wrote

I’m still bitter about Jenkins Arcade! Miss it. My favorite building downtown!!

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tiredassmom66 t1_iteuisc wrote

We used to go to the button store there which was pretty magical. They had so many choices

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These_Plastic5571 t1_itf2xog wrote

The last I knew, Parker Button was on East Carson Street! My mom loved it in there too! I had an eye doctor in Jenkins Arcade. I was so fascinated by the openness of the whole building. Always busy! And a great short cut to Horne’s!!

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BeMancini t1_ite35wz wrote

I have a black, Gimbel’s necktie. Got it second hand. One of my favorite ties too.

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mjw217 t1_itecdbh wrote

Horne’s had a wonderful art supply department. I also loved their book department and record department. The first time I was allowed to go back to school shopping with a friend I bought some really nice skirts and tops (couldn’t wear pants to school back then). Then we went to the book department. I went a bit nuts with mom’s credit card. (Each department store had their own.) Because they were books she wasn’t too upset, but I had to return about 2/3 of them. Horne’s was our favorite because our bus stop was nearby.

Kaufmann’s was where you (well, my family) went for “special” shopping. I got my wedding dress there and had most of my registry there. When I had my kids I loved their kids department. They had a great makeup department, too.

We didn’t go to Gimbels much. I don’t know why.

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dshd66 t1_itdt589 wrote

Cymbals. Gimbel's cymbals put Pittsburgh on the map.

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grammargrl t1_ite87ay wrote

Zildjian and Sabian didn't stand a chance here in the Burgh.

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deVriesse t1_iteu42t wrote

They missed the mark when they tried to branch out into gimbals.

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AmlyGry t1_itdz4cm wrote

They were all also on Mcknight Road. Kaufmann’s sat up the hill and Hornes and Gimbels were in Northway Mall, I believe. One could have been in North Hills Village?

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PurplePigeon96 t1_ite0nxv wrote

Gimbel's was in North Hills Village where Burlington is currently. Then it was Hill's after that in the early 90's till that turned into Ames and then the mall closed.

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Ok_Elephant2777 t1_ite7685 wrote

Check out the original “Miracle on 34th (?) Street”. Gimbals was Macy’s main competition back in the day.

4

krizlaska t1_ite8igm wrote

Macy’s but better and less awful

4

Key_Dust7595 t1_itf2xzo wrote

I grew up with Century III Mall in the 80s when it was amazing, and it had Gimble’s, Horne’s, Montgomery Ward’s, JC Penney, and Sears, and gained a Kaufmann’s after Horne’s left. And I have wonderful memories of the Kaufmann’s downtown, especially at Christmas; visiting their window display and their Christmas department were the highlights of my family’s Light Up Night celebration.

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Daywalkingvampire OP t1_itfbnuu wrote

Growing up I grew to resent sears's photo department. Everytime they put out coupons for a sale for a photo special, (they would air it on tv mentioning to watch the Sunday paper for coupons) my mom would clip them and rush me down to sears to have my picture taken. As a 6year old I did not fancy this as fun/did not want my picture taken. I would try everything from running out of the waiting room of the portrait studio to moving at the last second when the photographer was ready to snap the picture.

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mutinybligh t1_itd3n5y wrote

I think it was a department store,like Kaufmann’s, Horne’s and Sears…

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dunredding t1_ite03ee wrote

Everything, but not as much as Kaufmann's

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LayneInVain t1_ite8am4 wrote

Basically, a throwback Macy’s.

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Buttercupia t1_ite92di wrote

Everything! Great store. The big 3 downtown, Kaufmann’s, Gimbels, and Hornes.

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aesthetichovvell t1_iteapmz wrote

My grandfather was a truck driver for Gimbel's. I come from a looong line of truck drivers

3

These_Plastic5571 t1_iteui01 wrote

I was just lamenting with my 91 year old mom about how much I miss all of the department stores. East Liberty had Mansmans!

3

DennisG47 t1_itfba28 wrote

My grandmother worked there and she got 10% discount on everything in the store. However, once a month they had 15% day and on that day her children got to alternate who would get to use Nana"s charge-a-plate to get the 15% off everything their entire family needed.

Edit: And shipping, home delivery of whatever you bought was always free.

3

tagibear t1_itfhx7w wrote

I worked at Gimbels beauty salon in the Monroeville Mall (late 1970’s)

3

PurplePigeon96 t1_ite0wla wrote

I would compare Gimbel's to modern day Kohl's honestly. They had lots of bargain deal racks and maybe a bargain section. Growing up in the 80's we shopped at the North Hills one a lot but we didn't have a ton of money.

2

greentea1985 t1_itebhlj wrote

Imagine a store like Walmart or Target but multi-storied and considered fancy, sometimes with extremely nice restaurants in them. That’s what the old department stores were, like Gimbel’s. It’s what Macy’s was like until relatively recently.

2

44problems t1_itgy6sz wrote

Those department stores didn't sell groceries though right? Like you couldn't buy a head of lettuce and a raw T-bone.

I went to the downtown Kaufmann's a few times in college right at the end of that brand. While it was far from its heyday, it was impressive. And I remember going floor to floor and sometimes seeing ones just empty with one person working the rug and carpet department hoping this 19 year old was interested. Liked the bookstore on top.

1

greentea1985 t1_itgyj2w wrote

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If they sold food, it’d be specialty pantry items, not anything requiring refrigeration. Cookies, candy, etc.

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randomatic t1_itee7i8 wrote

Watch Miracle on 34th street this holiday season to see. classic.

2

Worried_Astronaut_41 t1_itfu4nc wrote

My grandmother would take us to gambles on Saturdays in the morning.

2

Guilty_Cup3377 t1_itggga1 wrote

Go watch “Are You Being Served” and imagine a Yinzer accent instead of a British one. You’ll get the picture. Great show and man do I miss real service.

2

Daywalkingvampire OP t1_itimag0 wrote

I've seen are you being served as a child.(my guardians used to watch it)

1

T-Hi t1_ite4bp4 wrote

Gims

1

cmac4ster t1_ite7itb wrote

Gimb masks, I'm assuming

1

[deleted] t1_itef73g wrote

Same as Kaufmanns Horne’s Jc Penny

1

Big_P4U t1_itej9e6 wrote

They were like Macy's

1

Pitlkj t1_itg403i wrote

It was great shopping at this department store. Fond memories.

1

Temporary-Voice8174 t1_itgfms1 wrote

It was a department store. Any type of clothing shoes perfume etc.

1

Nikkylicky45 t1_ithferg wrote

Is this a Burlington now? The downtown Burlington

1

ravia t1_itfb9wt wrote

Gim bells. Horne's sold horns. Kaufman's sold cuffs, originally: Cuffman's, cuffs for cuffless shirts as was common bacck then.

−3

NoSwimmers45 t1_itdn96o wrote

A higher quality Walmart without groceries.

−6

LayneInVain t1_ite8e2w wrote

No.

4

NoSwimmers45 t1_itecrmg wrote

Ha! Tell me a better reference people are guaranteed to understand. Lots of people citing Kaufmann’s and Hornes. There are generations of people who have no idea what those are. And believe it or not there are plenty who have no idea what Macys or Sears were either. But I bet you everyone on this thread knows what a Walmart or Target are. Maybe I should have said that…a higher end Target…

−1