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| Founded originally in 1865 as Wechsler & Abraham, the store moved to a building on Fulton Street, and began to occupy the whole block bounded by Fulton, Hoyt, and Livingston Streets and Gallatin Place on the west. |
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| In 1928, A&S announced that a 10-story building would replace the whole collection of buildings on the site. Before the Great Depression changed the store's plans, only the first three bays on the left (east) side of this illustration were built on Fulton Street. |
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| The Fulton Street portion of the new building adjoined A&S' older buildings on Brooklyn's main downtown shopping street. |
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| In addition to the Fulton Street portion, a major section of the 1928 plan occupied the corner of Livingston and Hoyt Streets, in a refined art-deco style. On the interior, the store's dominant feature was an elliptical elevator lobby lavishly detailed in brass and granite. |
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| Eventually, the ground floor of the complex was unified in order to give the store a handsome and complete image to passersby. |
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| More of the old structure along Livingston street was replaced by a functional new addition completed in 1947. |
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| The huge store was expanded in 1959 by the addition of an annex across Hoyt Street, with Street Floor selling pace and 3 floors of parking above. |
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| "Don't say you can't find it until you've shopped at A&S!" |
420 Fulton Street (At Hoyt Street)
Brooklyn, New York 11201
MAin 5-6000
Annex - Street Floor
Hardware (676) • Music Center (718) • Musical Instruments and Records (712) • Radios (719) • Stereos (719) • Television (718) • Appliances (689)(691) • Unpainted Furniture (673)
Basement
A&S Basement Store
Street Floor
Street Floor Sportswear (392) • Top Shop • Street Floor Blouses (232) • Sweaters (318) • Street Floor Lingerie (430) • Fashion Jewelry (141) • Fine Jewelry (145) • Clocks (145) • Beauty Accessories (123) • Cosmetics (125) • Fragrances • Estée Lauder • Handbags (141) • Purse Accessories • Small Leather Goods (172) • Gloves (260) • Umbrellas • Hosiery (251) • Fashion Accessories • Designer Wig Bar (419) • Sun Glasses (122) • Travel Shop • Notions (100) • Stationery (201) • Cameras (290) • Cutlery (108) • Drugs (122) • Priscilla Buffet • Men’s Furnishings (511) • Men’s Ties (516) • Men’s Handkerchiefs • Men’s Shirts • Men’s Fragrances • Men’s Jewelry • Men’s Accessories (515) • Men’s Hosiery (514) • Men’s Belts • Men’s Underwear (512) • Men’s Gloves • Men’s Sleepwear • Men’s Robes (517) • Men’s Sweaters (518)
Mezzanine
Mezzanine for Men Men’s Sportswear • Contemporary Sportswear • Young Men’s Shop (351) • Regency Shop 505 • Mustang Shop (507) • Men’s Suits (500) • Remsen Shop (519) • Men’s Outerwear (500) • Men’s Sport Coats (500) • Traditional Clothing (500) • Designer Shop (501) • Men’s Viewpoint (506) • New Additions for Men (530) • Men’s Shoes (540) • Men’s Hats (530) • Great Outdoors
Central Boys’ Wear • Boys’ Shoes (422) • Boys’ Accessories (552)
Second Floor
East Misses’ Budget Casuals (491) • Daytime Corner (492) • Loungewear (481) • Sleepwear (442) • Lingerie (482) • Foundations (451) • Infants (461) • Toddlers (465) • Girls (471) • Little Girls (463) • Kiddie Sleepwear (969) • Children’s Robes (469) • Teen Accessories (467)
Central Children’s and Teens’ Shoes (422) • Women’s Sportswear (388) • Women’s Dresses (348) (362) • Women’s Coats (311)
Third Floor Fashion Floor
East Moderate Price Dresses (361) • After Five Dresses (362) • Contemporary Dresses (365) • Fashion Floor Blouses (390) • Fashion Floor Sweaters (382) • Active Sportswear (383) • Suits (305) • Raincoats (314) • Better Coats (341) • Leather & Suede Coats (305) • Moderate Coats (342) • Budget Coats (345) • Town & Country Shop (385) • Better Sportswear (391) • Exclamation Point (393) • New Directions (386) • Furs (400) • Wig Salon (412) • Better Dresses (331) • Rose Room (332) • The Specialty Shop
Central Budget Sportswear (392) • Budget Dresses (368) • Casual Dresses (385)
Fourth Floor
Junior Beat Coats (371) • Junior Beat Active (377) • Junior Beat Sportswear (375) • Junior Beat Dresses (374) • College Shop (373) • Casual Shoes (425) • Better Shoes (421) • Red Cross Shoes (424) • Fabrics (020) • Bedspreads and Draperies (631) • Pillows and Hassocks (272) • Custom Workshop (634) • Drapery Hardware (636) • Curtains (653) • Continental Corner (201) • Area Rugs (614) • Floor Coverings (411)(611) • Garden Room Restaurant • Piano and Organ Center (715)
Fifth Floor
Gourmet Food Center • China (653) • Glassware (652) • Silver Center (160) • Gifts (280) • Housewares (672) • Housewares Cutlery (671) • Housewares Gifts (679) • Bar Shop (679) • Cookware (674) • Gourmet Kitchen • Small Electrics (675) • Bath Shop (677) • Merrie Christmas Shop (281) • Lamps (640) • Garden Shop (673)
Sixth Floor
Sheets (070) • Blankets (080) • Towels (064) • Bath Shop (064) • Table Linens (062) • Contemporama • Modern Furniture (604) • Beauty Salon • Optical Department (738)
Seventh Floor
Traditional Furniture (607) • Occasional Furniture (608) • Bedding (603) • Dual Sleep (608) • Pictures and Mirrors (700) • Gaylord Gallery (606)
Eighth Floor
Toys (600), (660) • Adult Games (570) • Books (191) • Records (712) • Luggage (560) • Sporting Goods (570) • Ski Shop (570) • Bicycles (571) • Art Supplies • Stamps & Coins (758) • Art Needlework (270)
(1,628,000 sq. ft.)
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Garden City
855 Franklin Avenue
1950
80,000 sq. ft.
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Hempstead
Fulton Avenue at Hilton St.
February, 1952
528,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
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Babylon
Great South Bay Shopping Center
October, 1957
257,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
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Huntington
Walt Whitman Shopping Center
March, 1962
315,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
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Manhasset
1100 Northern Blvd.
May, 1965
318,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
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Smith Haven Mall
Lake Grove
March, 1969
242,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
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Woodbridge Center
Woodbridge, NJ
March, 1971
280,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
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Queens Center
September, 1973
307,000 sq. ft.
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Paramus Park
Paramus, NJ
March, 1974
302,000 sq. ft.
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Monmouth Mall
Eatontown NJ
1978
278,000 sq. ft.
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White Plains Galleria
White Plains, NY
August,1980
329,000 sq. ft.
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Coming in due course.
The Babylon store was actually on Montauk Hwy; it moved in the 1980's to Massepequa's Sunrise Mall.
ReplyDeleteI miss A&S it was my favorite store....I shopped in the Hempstead store before that town was crime ridden.....ahhhhh the good ole days!
ReplyDeleteThe Fulton Street, Brooklyn store--a fixture in my youth. Remember the uniformed, white-gloved elevator operators who took their cue from the head elevator supervisor who watched as the elevators filled and snapped his clicker to signal when to close the doors. He wore a uniform too: a long tan jacket, smartly tailored, sharply creased matching trousers, a hat, much like an officer's and, of course, white gloves. He was tall, handsome, dignified.That image was carefully set to denote the class A & S wanted to portray. And it did! What a great memory.
ReplyDeleteRemember the first Abraham and Strauss on Fulton Street in Brooklyn? It was classic.
ReplyDeleteYou Missed the Paramus Park store in Paramus NJ, which opened in 1973...
ReplyDeleteThere were a few locations left out Abraham and Straus was in the former gimbels on 33rd street,paramus park mall in paramus nj and nanuet mall in nanuet n.y. They were a good stores i hate macys for taking them away.
ReplyDeleteAbraham AND Straus was also at paramus park mall in paramus nj, 33rd street in manhattan and nanuet mall in nanuet n.y.
ReplyDeleteI miss A&S wow 15 yrs since they were last open it suxs to live in this area and not have a local department store to relate to now we gotta see macy's in every mall and they are not as great as they used to be!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow..not only was the Downtown Brooklyn A&S the shopping destination of my youth, it was home to the beginning of my career. I grew up professionally on the 6th Floor as Assistant Buyer for Dept. 080.
ReplyDeleteGreat merchants, great training, great memories.
A&S was more than a department store, it was a culture! I worked P/T at 2 locations and enjoyed playing on the softball team; our natural rivals were Macy's/Bambergers and we routinely kicked their butts! A&S was more upscale than Sterns, less stuffy than Macy's. "It's Worth The Trip... From Anywhere!" went the jingle and they weren't kidding!
ReplyDeleteCheck out "A&S Fans" on Facebook for more pictures and info!
Thanks for keeping this site up, it brings back tremendously fond memories!
I love to see that there are any remembrances of A&S. I grew up going to these stores with my late Mother. I also worked in 3 branch stores in cosmetics and fragrance dept while going to college from 1989 to 1994 it was a great experience for me.
ReplyDeleteI have to remind everyone that there were other locations forgotten. Roosevelt Field which opened in 1992, in the old Alexander's location, then was replaced by Bloomingdale's when Federated closed A&S in 1995. Also forgotten was the Valley Stream location at the Green Acres Mall which was an old Gimbels, A&S took the location in 1987 when Gimbels closed for business.
During college I worked at the Abraham and Straus in The Mall at Short Hills. This mall is a very upscale center to say the least, and it took A & S a year or so to get it right. Perhaps the most upscale A & S store was at the Monmouth Mall, this location, and Woodbridge Center also had a Garden Room Restaurant. The Mall at Short Hills location had a "Kens Food Basket", food hall and cafe, downtown Brooklyn also had a kens Food basket on the 5th floor.
ReplyDeleteA post on the B. Altman "exhibit" confirms what I was going to write: There are two more branches - probably some of the last that A&S opened. In the early 80s, stores opened at the then new Willow Grove Park and The Court at King of Prussia both outside Philadelphia. A&S's first foray into the market (I think)although sister store Bambergers's was already at The Court at KofP (would become a Macy's when Bamberger's nameplate was discontinued). The Court at King of Prussia at that time was the "fancy" mall that sat next to the then very dated King of Prussia Plaza. When the Plaza underwent major renovation, the Court looked old and has been. The new plaza had (has) stores like Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Nordstroms and an existing Wanamakers + Sears and JCP). Eventually the A&S store closed at The Court and became a Strawbridge & Clothier after an extensive renovation. Strawbridge's was the only Philadelphia area store not represented at KofP (Plaza or Court) except for a branch of Saks that decided to stay on City Ave (a decision they probably regret). When May bought Wanamakers, there were then two S&C's at KofP (both under the S&C name)- one in the old Wanamakers at the Plaza and the one in the former A&S. They eventually closed the Court store to have one presence in the more upscale Plaza. The Court store was broken up into smaller retail space and includes a bookstore (a B&N or Borders I think) and a Cheese Cake Factory.
ReplyDeleteWasn't there a basement level in the Brooklyn store? My dad had worked in the garden room on the 4th floor for a while. He also filled in at the snack bar which I believe was on the basement level. I got lots of free custard whenever he worked at the snack bar. Well worth the trip for me at the time.
ReplyDeleteThe Manhasset store was the crown jewel in the A&S crown (or should I say Abraham & Straus..because in Manhasset it was never A&S).
ReplyDeleteThe store was so successful in the 60's that in the 70's they doubled their size. They had a wonderful restaurant and a very large men's store. Since no one would shop in their Hempstead store, this location became the destination for all of Nassau County .
I loved A&S, My favorite store to shop in and they gave me my first credit card. I had moved out to Dix Hills in 1965. I worked Christmases there in 1966 and 67 as a Santa's helper and took pictures of children on santas lap, sold the pictures and when the film ran out had to change the film by putting the camera in a dark bag inserted hands and changed the roll of film by feel. We sure have come a long way since then, hey? I was called back to do yearly inventory in January and decided to do it since I had finals for college the next day (now Suffolk CC College) and always find it is better not to cram and better to do something to keep mind off tests, works for me anyway. Well while I was there doing inventory, I got a call from the office and wondered what I could have done to be called to the office but it was a call from my future mother in law, my then fiance was about to arrive at the airport that night, back from Vietnam. I drove the 20 miles to his home in Franklin Sq to see him. A very happy memory indeed. I did not arrive back home in Dix Hills until 4 0r 5 am, had a short sleep then off to take those finals on really very little sleep and I did not even try to think questions thru too much and it worked well, I aced tests in classes I was doing poorly in. Apparently I had knowledge in ther and did not know it. YES, A & S is in my memory very fondly for my Santa days and permenently linked to my husband coming home safely from Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteEvelyn!
ReplyDeleteThanks agin for the fine memories. Also, God bless your husband for his heroic service to our Nation! I can only imagine . . . but in my book anyone who served in that way is a hero.
Bruce
They had the best executive training program in the nation...many executives who passed through this program actually run Macys today, there is quite a bit of irony in that!
ReplyDeleteHI,
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any photos from A & S L'AFRICANA, boutique of African-inspired fashions for women and men. It opened Nov 18, 1968?
The A&S store in Massapequa's Sunrise Mall took-over the original(1973) E.J. Kovette's store. It is now a Wal Mart.
ReplyDeleteJMF
Does anyone have memories or pics of the A&S at Monmouth Mall? Would love to hear about it.
ReplyDeleteMy mom, sister and I used to go to the Nedicks on the corner before going to A&S. We would shop in the basement because it was cheaper. On the way home to the subway, we would stop at McCrory's and get a waffle ice cream sandwich. Those were the days (around 1958).
ReplyDeletei have a vintage 1960's Parkleigh bicycle made by murray specifically for the gimbels stores 0- it is rare and was made to compete with the schwinn 'stick shifter' bikes like the apple peeler, orange crate, and pea picker...very kool in metalflake blue!
ReplyDeleteCool! Half this space is now office or other use. The store never recovered from the flood damage and scalebacks of the 80's. (Where the retail now only goes up to the 5th floor, which is still housewares, but now renamed The Celler of course. Would be more accurate as "the Attic". And yes, there is a basement, which is now furniture, and was probably bargain stuff in the past. I don't know why they don't move the Celler down there).
ReplyDeleteIronically, the big news now is Macy's giving the flagship 34th street store a big makeover. But they need divert some of that attention to fixing up the Brooklyn store to its former glory.
Never forget the huge tree with large ornaments that used to hang from the ground floor elevator bank. Now that area is stuffed with counters in front of the elevators, and only two are still used.
Does anyone have photos of the A&S store or warehouse at 20 Jay Street Brooklyn pre 1980. Need it for a photo research job.
ReplyDeletename is Tom and I worked at A,S in fulton st ny think of chrstmas you walk in the store lobby. giant Xmastree it was decorated toy area beutiful I think of all the stores Christmas was so real. I worked in the store planing dept designing all holidays the sisteen chaple easter was beautiful.and I with all the buyers on the sq footage was fun,every body wanted a piece of the first floor nice memorys brooklyn was the store for me. Tom.o
ReplyDeleteI recently recover an "Abraham & Straus" Sewing machine. Does anyone know if indeed A&S actually made their own machine brand??
ReplyDeleteI remember during the 1960's there was a basement level in the Brooklyn A&S where we used to get this unbelievable french ice cream in tall parfait glasses with chocolate or strawberry. I don't know or can't remember what this was called but it was the best ice cream I have ever had to this day and would love to remember what they called it. There were no seats there, you had to stand up and eat it. My sister and I talk about it all the time and we're in our 50's now. A&S is sadly missed as are those great ice cream treats we had! Anyone remembers, let me know.
ReplyDeleteI also have great memories of A&S department store and shopping downtown Brooklyn in the 50's - we would go to May's, McCrory's, National Shoes, Chock Full O'Nuts and for a special occasion Martin's -- but the favorite store was A&S- I worked part time during my sophomore year at Brooklyn College. Worked in A&S complaint department and I remember that they paid me in cash My favorite was the delicious custard at the basement counter that my mother and I would enjoy before taking the subway home Would love to know what it was called, how it was made, can I buy or make any today???
ReplyDeleteThe downtown Brooklyn store was something to behold. I remember the first time I entered that store my mouth dropped...literally. It was redone in the 70s and recaptured the original Art Deco of the floor, which apparently had been covered over. The floor had recessed lighting in the ceiling...and high ceilings, a beautiful peach color for the entire first floor, large palm trees (OK, they were a bit out of place, but worked) and beautiful decorative gold elevator doors. Isadora Strauss spared no expense on his original palace, and at least Federated had the good sense to bring it back to its original beauty, with some updated touches...before it became a Macy's
ReplyDeleteCourt at King of Prussia branch opened in 1981 and Willow Grove Park branch opened a year later. The Willow Grove Park location was one of the strangest floor plans- escalators each in their separate turrets, walls at 45 degrees to the perimeter of the foot print, outdoor entrances on all 3 floors (to ground level parking-- talk about being built into a hill!). By the 80's A&S didn't have enough personality to compete with local PA chains, although they gave branch designers free reign with seasonal decor as long as materials from corporate were used. The PA staff was strange (but wonderful) and created some truly bizarre displays.
ReplyDeleteBEST DEPARTMENT STORE EVER.
ReplyDeleteI Agree,A&S was the best and the strawberry,
ReplyDeletecustard parfait was absolutely delicious my brother and I talk about it to this day. We are in our fifties and grateful to have experienced that wonderful confection. We have never had it since.
My Dad used to work at the A&S in Downtown Brooklyn in the Annex. I loved going there for Christmas. I even have the Bears that they used to sell around Christmas time. What a great store.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom always bought my shoes at the Children's and Teen's shoe dept. at the A&S store in Hempstead. The service and fitting was unsurpassed. The shoe dept. was huge with the larger children's shoe section in the center and teen girls and big boys sections on either side. The shoe dept. was staffed by all older girls and women. On most trips we would have to take a number and wait our turn. The lady would always measure both of my feet in sitting and standing positions. I never had a choice in the style as the fitter would pick the style and size that fit my feet best. She wouled always try at least three pair on me and carefully check my fit by feeling my feet in each pair.
ReplyDeleteWhen she was satisifed she would escort me to the observation and fitting platform which was about 3 1/2' high and spaned the back wall of the children's section. There she and a lady shoe fitting supervisor would meticuliously feel me feet from every angle while I stood in flat and tippee toed positions. If they were satisifed with my fit at this point they would ask me to go to te end, to step down and slide my feet all the way in the shoe fitting x ray machine. They would look down at my feet in my new shoes for about 20 seconds and they would ask me to wiggle my toes a few times. Once in a while they would let me see my feet in my shoes.
My last fitting there was in 1958 when I was a high school senior. In NY shoe fitting x ray machines were banned in Oct. of 1958.
I probably have not had a pair of proper fitting shoes since then. Now you fit yourself and search for some one to pay.
I really miss the good old days when customer service meant something.
I remember those elevators at A&S Downtown Brooklyn, cage like and made of shiny brass. All with an elevator man with a crank in his hand. I remember being in the fur department, and being by the elevator shaft with one of those little bouncy balls. The ball bounced all the way down an elevator shaft. I remember looking down the shaft and seeing the other floors below the floor I'm on. The entire shaft was like a cage without walls. That was my memory of 1973 A&S department store thru a 2 year old's eyes. I think those elevators gave me the elevator nightmares I have today and all my life of elevator cars made of crude metal that swing sideways and super fast. Good old days of A&S and mommy and Grandma taking me shopping as a baby.
ReplyDeleteI shopped at the Hempstead store until the very end. To me it had more than the entirety of Roosevelt Field and in one place too. In the 70's when I was in my late teens into early adulthood, I ran to A&S whenever I saw something in a magazine that I wanted. Usually Glamour and Mademoiselle magazines listed in the back of the magazine where one could purchase clothing and if A&S was listed, I probably bought it from there.
ReplyDeleteIt pains me to pass by the site of the former store since I have such great memories of this wonderful store.
I remember the delicious custard that was sold in A&S basement. I have been trying to find out who manufactured that Ice Cream to see if the company is still in business. Loved it, my brother and I talk about it still.
ReplyDeleteI worked in A&S in the late 1960's and remember a reporter from one of the newspapers asked to take my picture under the big Christmas tree. It appeared in the paper the next day, So exciting!
I have a question regarding the timeframe when A&S on Fulton Street, Downtown Brooklyn closed and became Macy's. Most sources indicate this was in 1994. However, I worked in downtown Brooklyn from 1972 through 1991, and I remember shopping at Macy's there before I left in 1991. Am I completely mistaken about this?
ReplyDeleteTo Steve G-Federated acquired Macy's in the 3rd quarter of 1994. We then proceeded to convert the Abraham and Straus locations to Macy's or Stern's in the Metropolitan area. The last Abraham and Straus store was converted to Macy's and or Stern's by 2nd quarter of 1995. Yes-You are completely mistaken about the Fulton St. store being a Macy's before 1995. I was a corporate executive for Federated and have these dates imbedded in my memory due to the shear madness of it all at the time!
ReplyDeleteTo: "Annonymous 19 July, 2012
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the info. I really appreciate it.
Steve G
I still have one of the "charge plate" that my mother had from A&S, the metal oval one.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember them?
I worked as an assistant buyer in A&S Brooklyn and as a dept. mgr. in Manhasset from 1967 to 1972 after graduating St. John's University. Those were some of the best years of my life. I made great friends and had a wonderful work experience. I don't think their was ever a store as great as A&S. IT sold everything you could possibly imagine. Remember "Opportunity Days", the sales were unbelievable. The basement custard can never be duplicated. I ate it every day and it cost .25. The store was always decorated beautifully especially at Christmas time.The store was decorated on Thanksgiving Day when the store was closed. When the store opened the next day it was fully decorated for the season. Today stores are decorated for Christmas before Halloween ugh! As everyone has previously commented, those were the good old days. I wish we could go back to them.
ReplyDeleteI think there was an A&S in Garden City on Franklin Avenue and then for a time it was an A&S outlet of sorts. A&S was a great store and I too went to the Hempstead store as a child.
ReplyDeleteThe only A&S I had experience shopping in was at NJ's Paramus Park Mall. I must say it was (and now as Macy's still is) very open and spacious, an easy place to shop. A friend worked security there and we still have the gift he gave my daughter at Christmas ... I think 1988? It is a large stuffed white "ABEARHAM" and sitting on his shoulder is "Straus the Mouse". Both wear their original knit sweaters and caps and every year they come out to sit on the couch at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Industrial Home for the Blind, 57 Willoughby St. in Brooklyn. My lunch hours were frequently spent browsing A & S which was essentially across the street. That was in 1970-1971.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful site! The A&S branch store @ Paramus Park included a full-service, Garden Room Restaurant.It was located in it's own area that included a dining room,small lunch counter area on the right,walk-up candy counters on the outside perimeter.Off to the side was a beauty salon,the employee cafeteria in the back and finally the elevator with pay telephones off to the side.
ReplyDeleteWhen the store renovation came sometime after 1987,the restaurant and candy counters were removed.Oddly enough,a small snack bar was put back in its place but that only lasted for a short while so it seemed. To this day,we truly miss the full-service department store experience.It was wonderful !
I was in the executive training program in 1978 and was a Department Manager in Manhasset. It was an exciting time, met some wonderful people there.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone out there remember what exactly A&S called its fall import event - was it Import Fair?
ReplyDeleteI was an Account cashier at A&S Brooklyn during my college years at St.John's ,Jamaica campus. i used to take the El train from Metropolitan Ave.down to the last stop and walk to the store. I worked Thursday nights and all day Saturday and all day summers. Thursday night was the only night the store was open in 1962. I sold gift certificates. People also came to the windows to pay their bills. We also cashed paychecks for people. Various NYC employees would pay $10 on their bill and get their paycheck cashed. Then we started to charge 10Cents to cash checks. What a hulabaloo that created. That job helped me pay for my college books. I loved that job and the 20% employee discount. I was very well dressed! Mr.Peters and Mr. Berman were my bosses. i used to eat in the cafe on the first floor.I was offered a job in the Executive Training Program but I became a teacher instead. I always shopped at A&S. I cried when the store was sold to Macy's The Myrtle Ave. El is torn down part of the way too. I don't know about progress!!. Great memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Anita--I was born a few years after the Myrtle Ave. El was dismantled but my mother told me she used to take that line when she would go to downtown Brooklyn. I remember the A&S when it opened in the new Manhattan Mall in the late '80s. By that time I lived in NJ and would go to the one at Paramus Park.
ReplyDeleteIt was my favorite dept. store I do miss it a lot I would hope one day for it to return Everything now is Macy's So many great stores are gone Pity
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful memories of being a kid and my parents would take us to A&S downtown to see the store decorations.....especially the brilliant tree in the Elevator Bank on the 1st floor......such an exquisite, classy store....even with the basement level. Worked there in the mid-70's with the "college kids" doing customer accts at night and Saturdays in the back of the 4th floor offices. Would love to have a reunion with all those people and have a fun time reminiscing!!!
ReplyDeleteMy first paying job other than baby sitting! I worked as a sales clerk in the Garden City store in the late 1950's. Oh how my feet would pinch after hours in my spiffy heels! I worked in the sweater dept. and spent many hours making sure the merchandise looked as it should. How exciting to operate the cash register and to give a warm welcome to customers. A&S was a great store and all of Franklin Ave. is filed in my book of memories as something very special indeed!!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to find this page. Helped confirm my memories of many childhood lunches at Brooklyn's A&S...The Garden Restaurant. Loved their elevator bank.
ReplyDeleteI have such wonderful memories of shopping with my mother in A & S and stopping for a delicious custard/ice cream treat served in the basement before we got on the subway to go home. I haven't lived in Brooklyn for over 40 years but I still think fondly of my childhood there. You have to have lived there to appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI had the priviledge of working in the Advertising Department of A & S beginning in Sept. 1981, under the famous Doris Shaw...First I was a Catalog Coordinator and handled catalogs from beginning to end...even got to go on all the photo shoots...worked with CEOs, the artists, editors, proof readers, etc..all the way to going to the Color Separation House in Elmsford, NY towards the end of the catalog. Then I was promoted as the Fashion Events Manager and got do the Fashion Shows for the store and all the fashion events in the main store while overseeing the branches. One of the most exciting events was getting to live in Willow Grove, PA for a few weeks to help open their first PA store. it was alot of hard work, but a very exciting time. The other was the Bi-centennial of the Brooklyn Bridge which was co-sponsored by A & S and Manufacturer Hanover Bank. It was an experience I will never forget. We had a parade and I got to walk across the Bridge walking with one of the original A & S delivery trucks. We had a sound and light show..and I got to meet all the original Brooklyn Dodgers who were still alive. True chance of a lifetime...and I was only in my early 20's. I have tons of pictures which I would love to share when this gets up and running. Any of you have similar memories?
ReplyDeletei'm seriously searching for any photos of araham & strauss' beautiful christmas windows of my childhood..
ReplyDeletethey were displayed to the hilt only w. fully operational (& moving) lifesize animatronics of every sesame st. character.
mind you, at 6 yrs. old in 1971, this would be my first time ever experiencing anything 'animatronic'.
i've searched for many (many) years for photos of this, but have never found anything..
can anyone help me w. this?
thanks, franklin fuentes
my grandfather worke in the bklyn store for 40 years. i worked in garden city store in 1973 and that is where i met my husband. great stores and nice people.
ReplyDeleteA store like no other. I bought so many clothes in the Junior Dept. It was on my way to St. John's U on Schermerhorn Street. I also worked there one year in the account department and we got paid in cash (some two dollar bills included). They paid you right near the shoe department and I don't think my money ever left the store, but I did have great shoes when I was in college. Also bought some furniture there when I was getting married. The Christmas windows were also lovely.
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