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LisaM

(29,451 posts)

81. Hudson's. The downtown Detroit store was magical.

Sat Nov 29, 2025, 08:09 PM

Saturday

And on Thanksgiving Day, we would watch the then-national coverage of all four Thanksgiving Parades - the Detroit one, of course, but also Macy's in New York, Gimbel's in Philadelphia, and Eaton's in Toronto. They'd switch between all four.

It was a big deal and it's still a little shocking to me that those days are gone forever. It all seemed so permanent. Now the only one with an original sponsor is Macy's, and their parade is more like an ad for Broadway, at least the part they show on TV.

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debm55

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As a youngster or older, What stores did you do your holiday "shopping" at, that are no more? We would go to Kaufmanns [View all] debm55 Saturday OP

The Jones Store (Kansas City), Harzfeld's (Kansas City--even longer gone), Rich's (Atlanta), May D&F (Denver) hlthe2b Saturday #1

Thank you very much, hlthe2b.for sharing the memories. debm55 Saturday #7

Mostly at Sears. It's not totally gone (yet) but it might as well be. rsdsharp Saturday #2

Thank you rsdsharp. I loved Sears and their Holiday catalogue. back then our list was circling the toys we wanted from debm55 Saturday #8

I remember when the Sears Wishbook arrived in the mail RazorbackExpat 18 hrs ago #146

Me too! Thank you RazorbackExpat for bringing back that memory. debm55 9 hrs ago #148

K-Mart...they were worth going to back in the day Lochloosa Saturday #3

I loved K-Mart! And the blue-light special! CrispyQ Saturday #6

It was fun watching everyone trying to find the light. Lochloosa Saturday #9

Thank you Lochloosa. Kaufmann's was a treat for us. But K-mart is where we bought our items. debm55 Saturday #11

Thank you very much. Lochloosa. debm55 Saturday #48

How could I've forgotten KMart? MustLoveBeagles 22 hrs ago #143

Thank you MustLoveBeagles. debm55 22 hrs ago #144

This message was self-deleted by its author debm55 9 hrs ago #149

Wiebolt's for kid toys SheltieLover Saturday #4

Thank you very much, SheltieLover. debm55 Saturday #13

My faves were Hecht's. and Woodward & Lothrop (Woodies) dept. stores (DC area). 50 Shades Of Blue Saturday #5

Thank you very much for sharing with us. 50 Shades Of Blue. debm55 Saturday #49

It's great to see oberle Sunday #111

Ditto! 50 Shades Of Blue Sunday #120

Kresge's RandySF Saturday #10

Thanks RandySF, Didn't they later change to K-Mart? debm55 Saturday #50

Yep RandySF Saturday #54

Thanks. debm55 Saturday #60

I don't remember much shopping going on, Diamond_Dog Saturday #12

Beautiful, Diamond_Dog Simply beautiful. debm55 Saturday #24

My father worked in part-time in sales at Halle's... Wuddles440 Saturday #28

Halle's was my favorite downtown Cleveland department store! Diamond_Dog Saturday #31

Thank you very much for sharing that memory of your dad. debm55 Saturday #52

ohm myyyyyy! AllaN01Bear Saturday #38

S.S. Kresge Eugene Saturday #14

Thank you ,Eugene. My husband is from Boston. His mom would buy our son clothing from Jordan Marsh's basement. debm55 Saturday #53

Hudson's JoseBalow Saturday #15

Thank you very much, JoseBalow. Didn't they have there own Thanksgiving parade. I vaguely remember it as part of the CBS debm55 Saturday #55

Yes, the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade JoseBalow Saturday #59

Thank you very much JoseBalow. debm55 Saturday #61

Yes, there is. I watched it yesterday! LisaM Saturday #78

I'm glad to know that tradition continues! JoseBalow Saturday #88

In detroit it was Hudson's, woolworth, kmart and sears. n/t Jacson6 Saturday #16

Thank you very much, Jacson6 for sharing. debm55 Saturday #56

Sears toy catalog DBoon Saturday #17

Thank you DBoon, I loved the Sears toy catalog. Spent hours looking through it. debm55 Saturday #22

Woolworth's...Federal's ....Hudson's... MiHale Saturday #18

Thank you very much, MiHale. debm55 Saturday #21

Federal's, yes Cirsium Saturday #86

Applebaums in the Twin Cities JMCKUSICK Saturday #19

Thank you very much, John debm55 Saturday #20

Sears, Montgomery Ward's lpbk2713 Saturday #23

Thank you Ipbk2713. Toys r Us and Zayre's around here. debm55 Saturday #57

Horne's (my favorite), Kaufmann's and Gimbels for the Yinzers in the audience. Wuddles440 Saturday #25

I loved going their to see all the decorations. Wasn't Horne's bought by Lazarus? I'm a Yinzer. debm55 Saturday #58

Yes, they were acquired by Federated Department Stores (Lazarus). Wuddles440 Saturday #80

Thank you very much, Wuddles440 debm55 Saturday #82

Our schools held little inexpensive gifts fairs to buy things for our families. Almost 70 years ago. And we loved Sears. marble falls Saturday #26

Thank you marble falls. When I taught they had the gift fairs for kids to buy gifts. We would go downtown to just look debm55 Saturday #62

Sure you're not a buckeye? marble falls Saturday #64

Closer to WV. I am a Yinzer. debm55 Saturday #73

The Yinzers I knew were from Pittsburgh. marble falls Saturday #74

I am 10 miles south of Pittsburgh. I am a Yinzer, debm55 Saturday #76

My granmother from Nanny Glo used to use 'yooze' and 'you'uns'. marble falls Saturday #79

Thank you marble falls. I use yooze. Help me here, is Nanny Glo by Penn State. I have a brain freeze and can't remember. debm55 Saturday #83

A little south and east of Pittsburg, near Johnstown. My Grandfather was a coal miner and farmer. He dug coal at ... marble falls Saturday #90

After I posted to you, I remembered it was near Johnstown area. My father was born in Derry. debm55 Saturday #94

We're all a lot closer than we think. marble falls Saturday #99

Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Field CanonRay Saturday #27

Yes, DOWNTOWN on the EL. Zackzzzz Saturday #39

Thank you very much, CanonRay. for sharing debm55 Saturday #63

Deb-We took our first son to either Horne's or Kaufmann's in Pittsburgh one Christmas, I forget which one it was. Diamond_Dog Saturday #29

Thank you very much, Diamond_Dog. Mark Malone--eye candy debm55 Saturday #66

While in college in Seattle, Frederick & Nelson, The Bon Marche KitFox Saturday #30

Wow. I like how you could activate the displays on the outside of the window.Thank you KitFox. I love it. debm55 Saturday #67

Strictly speaking, The Bon Marche didn't "go out of business"... regnaD kciN Saturday #108

Woolworth's and TG&Y...here in small town Kansas... wcmagumba Saturday #32

Thank you very much, wcmagumba. The last one I have seen was in the late 80s in Butler, PA. debm55 Saturday #68

Gibson's BOSSHOG Saturday #33

Oh, I had forgotten Gibsons...loved it too... wcmagumba Saturday #35

Thank you very much, BOSSHOG, debm55 Saturday #46

At one time, there was a Gibson's in Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville RazorbackExpat 9 hrs ago #157

Thank you very much for sharing your memories. RazorobackExpat. debm55 9 hrs ago #158

That was late '60s, early '70s RazorbackExpat 8 hrs ago #160

Thank you very much. I liked the local mom and pop stores. TY RazorbackExpat. debm55 8 hrs ago #161

Back then, there were lots of mom-and-pop shops downtown RazorbackExpat 8 hrs ago #162

Sadly, most if not all are gone.Thank you for sharing RazorbackExpat. debm55 6 hrs ago #167

I worked Walmart #6 south of town BOSSHOG 7 hrs ago #165

Thank you very much, BOSSHOG for sharing your memories. debm55 6 hrs ago #166

Was that the Wal-Mart on West 6th Avenue, near Ramay Jr. High? RazorbackExpat 1 hr ago #170

A few stores that I use to holiday shop at: Niagara Saturday #34

Niagara, I have missed you. Yes, some of those I remember. Thank you debm55 Saturday #45

I've missed you too, Debbie. I hope that you're doing well. Niagara Saturday #91

Thank you. debm55 Saturday #106

Greengate Mall in Greensburg Pa. johnp3907 Saturday #36

Thank you johnp3907. I remember that Mall well. Spent my teen years there. Lived in North Huntingdon(Irwin) PA They had debm55 Saturday #44

may company. jc pennies and a few others that are fallen flags. AllaN01Bear Saturday #37

Thank you very much, Bear. Kaufmanns was bought out by the May Co. . debm55 Saturday #43

Along with many already mentioned, tavernier Saturday #40

Thank you very much, tavernier. I shopped at many of them. debm55 Saturday #41

K Mart duckworth969 Saturday #42

Thank you duckworth969. We had one that was local. Would run after the Blue Light cart to see what was on special. debm55 Saturday #47

Ogilvies Department Store. They had the best french fries. My applegrove Saturday #51

Thank you very applegrove. That sounds like so much fun. debm55 Saturday #70

Radio Shack, Robert Hall, KMart Linder Saturday #65

Thank you very much Linder. I remember the three in your title. Wow, I love carmel corn. Lucky you debm55 Saturday #71

Prange's in Sheboygan Wisconsin chowmama Saturday #69

Oh, I like the idea of a miniature store. That was a really great idea. Thank you chowmama debm55 Saturday #72

David's Dept Store in Wichita, KS. It had a unique pointed triangle roof design and refreshment stand at the exit... wcmagumba Saturday #75

Oh that would be neat to have a Santa's Workshop on TV. Thank you wcmagumba. debm55 Saturday #77

Hudson's. The downtown Detroit store was magical. LisaM Saturday #81

Oh yes, I remember the grand 4. I read about the bummer the coverage was this year. I liked it with the Grand 4. debm55 Saturday #85

Hudson's Cirsium Saturday #84

Thank you you very much, Cirsium. debm55 Saturday #95

Kaufmann's, Horne's, and Gimbels Deep State Witch Saturday #87

Thank you very much, Deep State Witch, I remember those stores. I worked at David Weis one Christmas. debm55 Sunday #115

Korvettes Bluestocking Saturday #89

Thank you very much. Bluestocking. debm55 Saturday #105

Bunches in Baltimore Bmoboy Saturday #92

Thank you very much, Bmoboy.for your selection of stores that once were but aren't anymore. debm55 Saturday #104

Zayre's again. Norrrm Saturday #93

Thank you , Norrrm. Wasn't Zayre's bought by Ames. I loved the Christmas commercial Zayre's did. debm55 Saturday #97

Woolworths displacedvermoter Saturday #96

Oh I remember Woolworths and their ice cream fountain. I remember popping the balloon. Never got a freebie. Thank debm55 Saturday #101

Arlens WmChris Saturday #98

Thank you very much. WmChris. debm55 Saturday #100

May Company, Sears, Woolworth Raven123 Saturday #102

Remember all three. Thank you very much for bringing the memories back to me. Raven123. debm55 Saturday #103

Bambergers and Sterns in NJ. GP6971 Saturday #107

Thank you very much for sharining with us. GP6971 debm55 Sunday #112

California: Starting in Fresno, Gotschalk's Department Store. vanlassie Saturday #109

Thank you for sharing, vaniassie. It's sad when your favorite store is done, debm55 Sunday #113

I don't know about holiday shopping but the department stores that are gone that I shopped at.... electric_blue68 Sunday #110

Thank you very much, electric_blue68. I loved to walk around the store and the malls and just see the decorations. When debm55 Sunday #114

Joske's department store, downtown San Antonio, TX. Paladin Sunday #116

Thank you very much , Paladin , for sharing your memeories with us. I also remember getting all dressed up to go go to debm55 Sunday #117

Woolworth's, Newberry's, and TG&Y lastlib Sunday #118

Thank you very much, lastlib. The locals are what I miss the most. I would walk to the hardware store. Upstairs , they debm55 Sunday #119

JB Branch & co WestMichRad Monday #121

Thank you very much for sharing WestMichRad. When I was a kid, I enjoyed watching those capsules. Drive through banks debm55 Monday #122

In eastern North Carolina, we went to Roses or Sears. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #123

Thank you very much for sharing with us. OldBaldy1701E debm55 Yesterday #124

Bambergers, Epsteins, Hahnes beaglelover Yesterday #125

Thank you very much for your selection of stores., beaglelover debm55 23 hrs ago #140

My father was in the Navy LogDog75 Yesterday #126

Thank you very much, for stores of your youth, LogDog75 debm55 23 hrs ago #137

Stores I went to as a child KC Shell Yesterday #127

Thank you very much for sharing with us. KC Shell debm55 23 hrs ago #138

Back when I was a kid there were no malls. Downtown Wheeling doc03 Yesterday #128

Thank you doc03. I lived my years in Duquesne and McKeesport. Lots of small stores. Now there is nothing there. Sad. debm55 23 hrs ago #139

Can't remember generally, but . . . . no_hypocrisy Yesterday #129

I remember those men's colognes. HAHAHAHHA. Got the message, no_hypocrisy. debm55 23 hrs ago #141

Sears, Montgomery Wards MustLoveBeagles Yesterday #130

Thank you very much, MustLoveBeagles. I don't think we ever had a Bergners around here in SW PA debm55 22 hrs ago #142

The Ogden Mall Redleg Yesterday #131

Thank you Redleg. Our local mall----Century III was beautiful at Christmas. Loved it. But now gone. debm55 23 hrs ago #136

Meier and Frank, Lippman Wolfe, Olds Wortman and King Thunderbeast Yesterday #132

Thank you for sharing your selection with us. Thunderbeast. debm55 22 hrs ago #145

Caldor's, G.E. Madisons, and Alexander's dem4decades Yesterday #133

Thank you very much, dem4decades. for sharing your selections with us. debm55 9 hrs ago #147

We visited Hills and Gold Circle religiously, and always during the holidays. Xavier Breath 23 hrs ago #134

Thank you very much, Xavier Breath. I loved shopping at Hills and Gold Circle here in SW PA debm55 9 hrs ago #150

Marshall Fields, The Boston Store, Goldblatt's ProfessorGAC 23 hrs ago #135

Thank you very much for sharing your selections ProfessorGAC debm55 9 hrs ago #151

The Downtown stores were so grand! 31st Street Bridge 9 hrs ago #152

HAHAHAH. I agree. 31st Street Bridge. They were great. I enjoyed the wooden escalators at Kaufmann's they reminded me of debm55 9 hrs ago #154

Oh the memories Abstractartist 9 hrs ago #153

Thank you very much for sharing your memories, Abstractactist. debm55 9 hrs ago #156

Toys by Roy markodochartaigh 9 hrs ago #155

Thank you very much for that memory. That is so old fashioned. TY markodochartaigh. debm55 8 hrs ago #159

Filene's Basement in Newark macwriter 8 hrs ago #163

Thank you very much, macwriter. There was a Filene"s Basement in Boston too. My MIL would buy my baby outfits debm55 8 hrs ago #164

Sears. K-mart. Borders. Waldenbooks. Record Bar & Tower Records. QueerDuck 2 hrs ago #168

Thank you very much for sharing your selection of stores. I really liked Borders. TY QueerDuck debm55 2 hrs ago #169