I've been getting the emails for the past 24 hours about Marshall Field's being changed to Macy's. The Chicago State Street landmark along with its other 60 odd suburb stores will be changed to what has become quite a generic name across America. I am among those who think it is a pity. (Only the Mayor is trying to sound positive) I was just telling a friend the other day who was talking about Bergdorf's, that was about the ONLY department store I HADN'T worked at. Although, it having become under the Neiman Marcus umbrella, I am only one degree of seperation from having worked there...
Nonetheless, my first job was at the brand new mall in Aurora, IL in the seventies at Lord & Taylor and a year later on the other side of the mall at Marshall Field. My mother had preceded me there. She also had taken me shopping in my youth it now seems like once a month (at least) to Oakbrook where I stood in front of the circular candy counter for an hour (by myself, while she tried on shoes) and decide what confection I needed. She'd eventually gather me, pay for my treat and buy a box of Frango Mints for my Dad. Inevetibly we would lunch in the Oak Room where there was always a strolling fashion show and I insisted on the cheese cake for dessert. The Frango Mints and that cheese cake alone are indelible. Of course in the winter, the troops woud be gathered and we'd go into the city to shop at the State Street Store, see the animated Christmas windows and wait in the long line to eat in the Walnut Room.
I don't see that there is much in the way of experiences such as these in our current department stores. Granted, the last couple times I went into a Marshall Field's, it wasn't as special, in fact it felt Macy-ish, but the Frango Mints were still there, the buzz about the windows was still alive and the name still felt like those rabbit earmuffs I bought there once with my discount.
Posted by nora murphy at September 21, 2005 07:26 AM | TrackBack