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jmowreader

(52,818 posts)
172. The Crescent in Spokane, WA
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 08:39 PM
6 hrs ago

I think the people running The Crescent wanted to be Spokane's Macy's - this was back when the only traditional department stores in town were The Crescent and The Bon Marche.

Like the Macy's on 34th Street in New York City, The Crescent had this enormous display window that a Christmas display would be built in. About a month before what is now called Black Friday, they'd cover it from the inside and build the display - which was unique every year. The day before Thanksgiving the store itself had no trace of an indication Christmas was coming. On Thanksgiving Day, it was tradition that all employees report to work to reset the store for Thanksgiving - and when they were done their families were allowed to come in and the whole bunch would be served the most deluxe Thanksgiving dinner imaginable. (Strangely enough, the employees thought this was an honor to do.) At something like 6am, the townspeople would be gathered in front of the store for the window unveiling and opening the store to reveal the Christmas Wonderland it had become. IIRC they kept the place in holiday mode until January 1 then set it back to normal.

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1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

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 Yesterday #146
Me too! Thank you RazorbackExpat for bringing back that memory. debm55 17 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 Tuesday #143
Thank you MustLoveBeagles. debm55 Tuesday #144
This message was self-deleted by its author debm55 17 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 17 hrs ago #157
Thank you very much for sharing your memories. RazorobackExpat. debm55 17 hrs ago #158
That was late '60s, early '70s RazorbackExpat 16 hrs ago #160
Thank you very much. I liked the local mom and pop stores. TY RazorbackExpat. debm55 16 hrs ago #161
Back then, there were lots of mom-and-pop shops downtown RazorbackExpat 16 hrs ago #162
Sadly, most if not all are gone.Thank you for sharing RazorbackExpat. debm55 14 hrs ago #167
I worked Walmart #6 south of town BOSSHOG 15 hrs ago #165
Thank you very much, BOSSHOG for sharing your memories. debm55 14 hrs ago #166
Was that the Wal-Mart on West 6th Avenue, near Ramay Jr. High? RazorbackExpat 9 hrs ago #170
That "new" Wal Mart is near Ramey BOSSHOG 6 hrs ago #171
So the "old" Wal-Mart was closer to Drake Field? RazorbackExpat 3 hrs ago #174
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
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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
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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 Tuesday #123
Thank you very much for sharing with us. OldBaldy1701E debm55 Tuesday #124
Bambergers, Epsteins, Hahnes beaglelover Tuesday #125
Thank you very much for your selection of stores., beaglelover debm55 Tuesday #140
My father was in the Navy LogDog75 Tuesday #126
Thank you very much, for stores of your youth, LogDog75 debm55 Tuesday #137
Stores I went to as a child KC Shell Tuesday #127
Thank you very much for sharing with us. KC Shell debm55 Tuesday #138
Back when I was a kid there were no malls. Downtown Wheeling doc03 Tuesday #128
Thank you doc03. I lived my years in Duquesne and McKeesport. Lots of small stores. Now there is nothing there. Sad. debm55 Tuesday #139
Can't remember generally, but . . . . no_hypocrisy Tuesday #129
I remember those men's colognes. HAHAHAHHA. Got the message, no_hypocrisy. debm55 Tuesday #141
Sears, Montgomery Wards MustLoveBeagles Tuesday #130
Thank you very much, MustLoveBeagles. I don't think we ever had a Bergners around here in SW PA debm55 Tuesday #142
The Ogden Mall Redleg Tuesday #131
Thank you Redleg. Our local mall----Century III was beautiful at Christmas. Loved it. But now gone. debm55 Tuesday #136
Meier and Frank, Lippman Wolfe, Olds Wortman and King Thunderbeast Tuesday #132
Thank you for sharing your selection with us. Thunderbeast. debm55 Tuesday #145
Caldor's, G.E. Madisons, and Alexander's dem4decades Tuesday #133
Thank you very much, dem4decades. for sharing your selections with us. debm55 17 hrs ago #147
We visited Hills and Gold Circle religiously, and always during the holidays. Xavier Breath Tuesday #134
Thank you very much, Xavier Breath. I loved shopping at Hills and Gold Circle here in SW PA debm55 17 hrs ago #150
Marshall Fields, The Boston Store, Goldblatt's ProfessorGAC Tuesday #135
Thank you very much for sharing your selections ProfessorGAC debm55 17 hrs ago #151
The Downtown stores were so grand! 31st Street Bridge 17 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 17 hrs ago #154
Oh the memories Abstractartist 17 hrs ago #153
Thank you very much for sharing your memories, Abstractactist. debm55 17 hrs ago #156
Toys by Roy markodochartaigh 17 hrs ago #155
Thank you very much for that memory. That is so old fashioned. TY markodochartaigh. debm55 17 hrs ago #159
Filene's Basement in Newark macwriter 16 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 16 hrs ago #164
Sears. K-mart. Borders. Waldenbooks. Record Bar & Tower Records. QueerDuck 10 hrs ago #168
Thank you very much for sharing your selection of stores. I really liked Borders. TY QueerDuck debm55 10 hrs ago #169
The Crescent in Spokane, WA jmowreader 6 hrs ago #172
Thank you so much. That sounds so wonderful and beautiful. Thank you jmowreader for sharing. It sounds like a winter debm55 5 hrs ago #173
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