 |
| Another fine book by Michael Lisicky Informative, well wriitten and eminently readable - perhaps his finest effort in the series and highly recommended |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| The Fulton Street portion of the new building adjoined A&S' older buildings on Brooklyn's main downtown shopping street. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| Eventually, the ground floor of the complex was unified in order to give the store a handsome and complete image to passersby. |
 |
| More of the old structure along Livingston street was replaced by a functional new addition completed in 1947. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| "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) • Account Cashier and Credit Office
(1,628,000 sq. ft.)
 |
Garden City
855 Franklin Avenue
1950
80,000 sq. ft.
|
 |
Hempstead
Fulton Avenue at Hilton St.
February, 1952
528,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
|
 |
Babylon
Great South Bay Shopping Center
October, 1957
257,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
|
 |
Huntington
Walt Whitman Shopping Center
March, 1962
315,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
|
 |
Manhasset
1100 Northern Blvd.
May, 1965
318,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
|
 |
Smith Haven Mall
Lake Grove
March, 1969
242,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
|
 |
Woodbridge Center
Woodbridge, NJ
March, 1971
280,000 sq. ft.
Garden Room Restaurant
Snack Bar
|
 |
Queens Center
September, 1973
307,000 sq. ft.
|
 |
Paramus Park
Paramus, NJ
March, 1974
302,000 sq. ft.
|
 |
Monmouth Mall
Eatontown NJ
1978
278,000 sq. ft.
|
 |
White Plains Galleria
White Plains, NY
August,1980
329,000 sq. ft.
|
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 Fulton St. A&S fondly!!!
DeleteLoved: the windows during the holidays, the interior decorations, merry go round & little prizes, the beautiful ornate fast elevators, the waffles & ice cream in the basement; in a few words CLASS!!!
I remember the soft serve ice cream topuwith chocolate or strawberry and the delicious macaroons, would love to find a recipe for them
DeleteRemember 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.
Found a metal oval like tag that says on the back finder please return to Abraham & Straus Brooklyn NY... Any idea what's its from or was used for?
DeleteGo to the Charge Card section of this site for your answer.
Delete- Bruce
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.
That's right, and a great one at that. Fantastic amount of art at that store and it also registered artists and gave a discount.
DeleteYes you are right I do miss that store I still have my bears and mouse I use to get at Christmas times.
DeleteDuring 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.
ReplyDeleteWorked there for Christmas 1981, then back for inventory. Was a great store. Bought some furniture there over 30 years ago , still classic looks and looks brand new !
DeleteMy 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.
ReplyDeleteThe full street address was 20-40 Jay Street and the building was called Abraham & Straus Service Bldg.
Deletename 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.
ReplyDeleteThe closest thing that comes to it is French vanilla ice cream, preferably by giffords in Maine, but any really really good custard, one being made in Brooklyn called van leeuwen. It is nice and soft and creamy and you can put your own chocolate syrup in it to make it like the one at ANS
DeleteI 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 most certainly recall the basement level parfaits. They were the best. I have never had anything like it since then.
DeleteI 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 signed on in Manhasset as holiday staff in 1972 and was hired as a permanent employee shortly thereafter. In those days many part timers got their start at A&S that way. I recall the store expansion and our 20% employee discount. Then it meant something! Today all Macy's seems to do is hand out those "coupons" to discount the inflated prices.
DeleteA&S was always considered a "better" store than Macy's. Our customer service was superior and merchandise selection generally better quality. Many branches were either stand alones or part of small "strip malls" as was Manhasset. At Christmas the large parking lot was so full employees could not even use it but were bused to vacant lots elsewhere.
We also had a large employee cafeteria there and prices were low (chicken salad sandwich .50 cents!). I recall slices of cake that came from the downstairs bakery (a bit day old) but at .15 a slice were fine.
For the younger readers here, starting wage at the time was $2.40 an hour while the Christmas help $2.27 (minimum wage $1.85).
The story went our Hempstead store was built over a river and one could hear the water in the basement at various times. Never did find out it was true.
I 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.
ReplyDeleteI remember the hempstead store very well.Being in the boy scouts everyone shopped there for uniforms etc.the had the full line of scout clothing in the 50s.They even sold surplus M1 garrand rifles.
ReplyDeletethe brooklyn store was a beautiful place - white glove elevator attendants, great men's suits and a smell that was both stuffy and new and classy all at once
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.
ReplyDeleteA&S was one of my favorites and I curse the day that macy's took them over.I think outta the stores I only went to the NYC store, Monmouth and Woodbridge were all great stores. I just wish they were resurrected from the department store graveyard and reopen to downsize macy's reign.the quality at macy's has been horrendous over the years no wonder I shop at walmart or target lol
ReplyDeleteOmg... I too have fond memories of A&S. I remember taking the elevator down to the basement. There we waited in line with a crowd of people all waiting to order a parfait. The parfaits came in tall glasses with delicious vanilla icecream/custard with either chocolate or strawberry syrup. I have searched for that icecream (or whatever it was) for years, but can't seem to find it anywhere. If anyone knows who manufactured the icecream, please write it!
ReplyDeleteI often think of those parfaits. They were so delicious and unique. I have never found anything close to it since.
DeleteI too remember getting that custard right after my mother took us for "Back to School" shopping." The closest is Ted Drewes in St. Louis -- but the custard at Shake Shack (which is based on Ted Drewes) comes fairly close
DeleteOmg...I also have fond memories of A&S. I remember taking the elevator down to the basement. There we waited in line with a crowd of people to order a parfait. The parfaits came in tall glasses with vanilla icecream with either chocolate or strawberry syrup. I have searched for that icecream/custard (or whatever that was) for years but never found it. If anyone knows who manufactered the icecream, please write in. It was so delicious!
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine worked as a buyer for A&S in the 50s. He gave me some cookware - a fish poacher, a halibut poacher (!) and another piece that seems to be a rectangular roaster/poacher with lid for meat. I cannot remember the name of the cookware and it is not stamped on the pieces...they just say "50". He, now deceased, told me they were revolutionary at the time - just before America embraced French cooking. Anyone have any knowledge of this? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI recently found the metal charge charm in an old box. It is oval shaped. I started to cry when I found it. It was my first charge plate. It brought back the memories of working there as a college student. I walked down Bridge street to the Myrtle Ave. El at 9 p.m.after the store closed with no fear. The NY Telephone Co. bldg. there is now BellTel condos. They are very expensive. I just can't stand the dept. stores of today. Hardly any sense of service or knowledge. The only one I still like is Saks. Macy's ruined everything even Bloomingdales which they also own.
ReplyDeleteHello! I recently acquired a small metal tag that says return to Abraham & Straus (Brooklyn) with the number 14917-H1. Does anyone know what it is for? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHappened upon this website tonight. Really enjoyed reading all the comments. Ditto for many of them: the custards, the elevators, the quality of it all. My Mom's favorite store. She had a cardboard charge card until they finally made her get a modern one. We'd take the el and make a day of it. Lunch at Nedicks or Chock Full of Nuts. We had a neighbor who did the decorating in the store. We couldn't wait to see what he dreamed up for each holiday! Great memories!
ReplyDeleteI, too,loved A&S which is how we always referred to the store. I recently came across my mother's metal charge card. It says finder please return to A&S Can you imagine anyone assuming someone would return a charge card to the store today? I totally agree with all those who are unhappy with Macy's. The wonderful age of department stores with style & taste has vanished. The bar has been lowered all over
ReplyDeleteI too miss the A&S strawberry parfaits. NOTHING else like it since.
ReplyDeleteWhat I also miss about the stores of old, A&S, Martin's, Gimbels, was the way they wrapped your purchases, folded in tissue paper in a box. Now you can buy a $500 dress and its just rammed into a bag or hung in plastic at best.
AS A CHILD IN THE 50'S WE LIVED IN B'K'LYN AND ONE OF OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS WAS TO GO OUT "WINDOW-SHOPPING" LOOKING WITH AWE AT ALL OF THE CHRISTMAS DISPLAY WINDOWS SET UP EACH YEAR. THERE WERE LIGHTS,SOUNDS,SMELLS THAT STILL BRING BACK MEMORIES TO THIS DAY BUT WHAT I REMEMBER VAGUELY WAS A CAROUSEL INSIDE OF ONE OF THE BIG DEPARTMENT STORES . WE TOOK AN ELEVATOR TO GET INTO THE DEPT WHERE SANTA ...I MEAN "THE SANTA" WAS, AND WE WOULD TELL HIM WHAT WE WANTED AND THEN HE GAVE US A WRAPPED BOX TO PUT UNDER OUR TREE AND TOLD US THAT HE TRUSTED US NOT TO OPEN IT UNTIL CHRISTMAS MORNING... AND WE DID !!LATER IN MY LIFE I JUST COULDN'T WAIT AND FOUND AN EMPTY BOX .. MOM TOLD ME IT WAS A MAGICAL PRESENT AND IF I OPENED IT BEFORE CHRISTMAS MORNING IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE NORTH POLE AND TELL SANTA THAT I WAS PEEKING... WELL LET ME TELL YOU I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS QUICK THINKING ON MY MOM'S PART OR SOME GREAT PARENTAL/SANTA CONSPIRICY BUT AT THAT TIME I WAS SCARED!!... BUT BACK TO THE MERRY GO ROUND AFTER WE WAITED ON THE LINE WITH MANY OTHER KIDS WE GOT TO RIDE THE CAROUSEL IT WAS A VERY SMALL AS COMPARED TO THE ONE WE RODE IN THE SUMMER WHEN WE VISITED "OUR " SEALS , POLAR BEARS AND LEO THE LION OF MGM FAME AT THE PROSPECT PARK ZOO. DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER WHICH BIG STORE HAD THE CAROUSEL INSIDE?
ReplyDeleteA&S
DeleteThe carousel was run by the McCullogh brothers who had carousels in Coney Island
this is a great sight. went on trying to find the value of the AS CHRISTMAS BEAR AND MOUSE. I HAVE THREE OF THEM I WOULD LIKE TO SELL. CAN ANYONE TELL ME THE BEST PLACE TO DO THAT? MY E-MAIL IS GEOBOBH@AOL.COM
ReplyDeleteI worked at A & S Fulton St, Brooklyn while attending Brooklyn College in the 70's. I stayed on in various part-time positions until 1980. Christmas there was magical. The windows were always a treat and the Christmas tree in the elevator lobby was magnificent. I do remember that it fell off the ceiling one year but thank goodness no one was badly hurt. I can honestly say that my experience there was always enjoyable. I looked foward to going to work. And the shopping discount was pretty generous.
ReplyDeleteWow this is a great site. Thanks to my good friend, and former boss for sharing. It brings back great memories for me. I started my career at A&S in 1982 on the training program and worked there (and eventually for Macy's) for 14 years. Still have many good friends from A&S and it is thirty years later. What a beautiful store it was!
ReplyDeleteA&S Garden City, this was the place to be working in. Started working there in 1970, p/t stock in Women's Shoes while going to college. The customers who came into the store were by far a different type of cliental. Classic and refinded. Work my way up the ladder, stock, commission sales, manager, and final operations at Herald Square Macys for the Christmas of 2011. Very fond memories of a real department store is. Very one had respect for not only the customer, but for each other. Does anyone remember those BIG old brown NCR registers? Now look what we dont have to do. The new ones are all programed with SKU's, we had to HAND WRITE all sales receipts with all info, had to figurer out all taxes and discounts. Not today, sales associates on the registers today can't even figure out what change to give back if the register doesn't do it for them. Suits, ties, polished shoes, white blouses with pearls, dresses, etc. this is what I remember. ONE DAY SALES, OPPORTINUITY DAYS, INVENTORY, and yes, a closed holiday. Working holidays, 12-4, not 7-12. I could go on and on, but if anyone worked at the following store locations these locations from 1970-1986,Garden City, Hempstead, Babylon, and Sunrise, please reponse with your comments and memories. We are all getting older and the future generations are not going to know what we experienced. What a trip, I would do it over again if I could.
ReplyDeleteHi, My Mom & I took the subway, to see the window displays at A&S and then became Macy's. I was 8 years old and went to school in Brooklyn. It was spectancular and what a beautiful site. I agree, everyone should come to Macy's and see these window displays around the holidays, it's something you'll cherish and want your grand kids to see too.
ReplyDeleteHi! My name is Sylvia, and to all of your A&S lovers out there.My Mom took me to see the puppet window displays on my day off from school, and loved it, and always talk about it to everyone till this day on, and it leaves me with a memorable tradition during the holidays. I am the one above I wrote when I was 8 years old, she took me to see this beautiful attraction. A few years ago, I went with my son and his friends to NYCity, and saw the most beautiful window displays for Christmas, they were the Macy's historical christmas displays. I tookpictures of them, but I have to look for them. As of now Iam working in recovery at Macy's at the Mall, and love it. Because it brings back memories of when I saw these window displays during Christmas with my Mom. It doesn't matter if its A&S or Macy's they are both the same and their window displays are different and attractive during the holidays in their own special way, and leaves you with some memory of the way they were back then and still are today. Try to visit them in Brooklyn or NYCity, and anywhere you can too. Have a Happy New Year and response with your comments and memories. Thank you. Sylvia (Long Island,NY0
ReplyDeleteHello, Sylvia!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I think that we may be related in some way - My grandmother's last name was the same as yours (not too many out there) and I regularly visit my family in Poland who are from the Blaskiewicz branch of the family. I have pictures of my great-grandparents' graves in Ciechanow, Poland. Please Email me at bakgraphics@comcast.net.
Bruce - The Department Store Museum
I can't believe I stumbled on this site, I was just searching for Bamberger's on the internet and wanted to see if any history was out there on the dept. store. and I stumbled on this site.It is a fantastic site, As I do have memories of A&S, not old memories but memories of an A&S store which opened in the WIllow Grove Mall in Pennsylvannia then closed and became Strawbridges , now Macy's. When this mall was built it had A&S,B.Altman, and Bloomingdales. Now Macy's Blomingdales and Sears. A big change from years ago. But A&S was a fond memory at christmas and yes I still have my old charge card. That was the first place I have ever bought a TV from a dept. store. Many fond memories of Bamberger's having the best lunch every, B.Altman, A&S, Strawbridge & Clothier, many of Lunch and Dinner memories as a kid, Sterns, John Wanamakers, Gimbles. Now there are so many stores and they don't give you the treatment that you have received years ago. Thank you so much for this memory
ReplyDeleteI am a Dept Store Historian myself..going to Dept stores since I am a kid. I miss the dept stores of the 70's (when I grew up); the great memories shared on this site I can relate to and I always look for little things I can find from the past from these great stores..parts of Macy's Herald Square that are covered but still have elevators that not been used for years (on 34th Street off 6th Ave); I remember Gimbels, Kovettes, A&S Brooklyn..which has a beautiful elevator bank with most elevators unfortunately just covered up now..sad..but I remember when all the elevators worked and were (and most still are) manual..they should bring a few of them back in service for a great memory of the way the store was back in the day..it may even attract some people to the store...
ReplyDeleteGuess my memory is older than the writer's. There was a small luncheonette and a book department directly opposite so that my mother easily bribed me. Also an area (playground) where children could be dumped so that parents could shop in peace.
ReplyDeleteWow this brings me back to my youth .I loved a&s as did my mother.I used to shop at the one on queens center.and also the one on Fulton st. They always had a great staff and a great collection to choose from , not to mention the excellent customer service they.had.I also like macys now but a&s was the best there ever was.and ever will be.
ReplyDeleteWow this brings back a lot of memories.I and my late mother loved a&s we used to shop at the ones in queens center and also the one on Fulton st.They always had a great collection to choose from, and a great staff that worked there. Not to mention the great customer service theyalso had.I also like Macys but there will never be another a&s they were one of a kind.
ReplyDeleteAs a native Manhattanite I can tell u that we New Yorkers can be very provincial. Growing up we never ventured to downtown Brooklyn, even though it was maybe 20 minutes by subway. We could be on 34 Street at Macys and Gimbels in half that time. It was not until I was an adult that I checked out A&S, largely because I was interested in the architecture. I mentioned to my mother the wonders I found there. She sort of shrugged, why would I go to Brooklyn? Last laugh is on her. The old A&S is a hollow and not that nice Macys, but Brooklyn is booming. Great restaurants, arts, culture, wonderful neighborhoods. I'm sure the Macys there will catch up soon.
ReplyDeleteI was born and bred in Brooklyn. I always thought that no children lived in Manhattan except very poor families. I did not know they had schools there. Talk about provincial. I grew up within walking distance of The Brooklyn Children's Museum which was across the street from my private school. My parents took me to Manhattan to look at the 5th Avenue window displays and the Easter Parade. I suppose much of it has to do with what era you came from. I was a child of the 40s and 50s. Nowadays there is nothing in NYC that interests me. It is corroded and full of newcomers who claim to be real New Yorkers. Personally I never set foot in Macy's. My mother shopped at Saks and Lord and Taylors.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone remember the pet department on the fifth floor and the time someone let the monkey out & he made his way up to the toy department on the 8th fl.
ReplyDeleteA&S has been a major part of my 1960's childhood and young adulthood. My parents would take us shopping mostly to the Brooklyn store and in later years, mostly to the Hempstead store as they felt the area was safer. As a child, the Brooklyn store was a wonderland with its two unmatched buildings connected by partial flights of stairs and its 2 sets of escalators and elevators. The 8th floor was always my favorite with its delightful toy department, and I can never forget wondering what was up on the 9th floor, which was restricted to employees. The restaurant on the 4th floor had windows overlooking the neighborhood until it was renovated, and then those windows were covered - I seem to recall - with fake windows which were lit. I remember the children's menu, pink and shaped like an elephant, and the items on that menu were named after zoo characters, such as Leo the Lion, which was a chopped steak. I recall riding a carousel on the 6th floor and being handed a wrapped present after the ride was over.
ReplyDeleteMuch of what we owned was bought in A&S - from wall to wall carpeting to furniture to clothing and housewares and linens. The merchandise was of excellent quality. A sale was truly a sale. A&S always stood behind its merchandise, and customer service was always at the forefront. Around holiday time, I remember the store was lavishly decorated. Of particular note was the elevator bank, with each floor decorated differently. Though not part of my personal traditions, it was beautiful and a sight to be seen. I still own a suit which I bought on the mezzanine in the Brooklyn store, and I still have a few bags and boxes around with the A&S logo imprinted upon them. Sadly, there will never be anything like A&S ever again, and I will always lament its closing. It feels like much more than a store having closed. It's a part of my childhood which is gone forever. My best wishes go out to all who worked there and made the store what it was.
Thank you for sharing such vividly-described memories. We are all the richer for for reading them and gaining understanding in how something seemingly mundane - a department store - was, in the past, so rich a part of peoples' lives.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
I worked at the Hempstead Store in the late '60's, just before entering the Marine Corps. I managed the pet department for awhile, but also worked the book dept, and the bakery. I was a contingent worker and was moved to different departments as needed. My favorite place to shop and my very first credit card. After discharge from the corps in 1970, we moved to the Smithtown area. My mom bought my daugters crib at the store in Smithhaven Mall. My daughter later won honorable mention in their "Child Model of the Year" photo competition. It was on display in the store for the entire year. I had most of her baby thru Kidnergarten pictures taken at their photo studio. Shopped there until we moved to North Carolina in 1977. We have a Macys in all our malls in the Raleigh/Durham area and I do shop there occaisionally. They carry some of the familiar A&S brands, but wish it was still A&S. I was saddened when I was told about the stores closing. That was one of the few things I missed moving south. I will say, however, our Hudson Belk stores are a lot like the old A&S in layout and atmosphere. Probably why I gravitated to them when I moved here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for keeping the memories alive! Thanks to all the commentaries for helping bring them back.
What great memories! I worked part time in the Babylon store in college back in the 70's, it was magical! It was before the days of the big regional mall and as such was the destination for most of the area for all their family needs - from pets to major appliances to scout uniforms to fur coats and bridal gowns. There was even a pharmacy. All these years later I still remember the sound of paging bells signaling for a manager, the peaceful quiet time right before the store opened, crowds rushing in for the two or three big sales a year, even the floor plan. There were little islands of bargains called "O-Tables" on the main floor, every department vied for space on those tables (I think they were called dump tables) because whatever it was flew off the shelves and made for a very nice sales increase. Credit card sales were written up in booklets with a number 2 pencil and the lettering and numbers had to be very neat as they were read by a computer somewhere that optically scanned - sounded like something from the Jetsons at the time, we were all under pressure to be extremely meticulous about those receipts and actually got little bonuses from time to time for having "perfect optics". At the end of the day we counted the cash and credit card receipts and totaled them using a comptometer, bet there are very few people who remember what that is! I just loved that job, went on after school to a career in retailing that began in A&S Executive Training program and on to other stores afterwards. Over the years I saw department stores all over fade away to just shadows of what they used to be and it makes me sad for the good old days when there was a knowledgable sales person in every department who kept the inventory well organized and easy to shop and you never had to hunt down someone to make a purchase.
ReplyDeleteDITTO! to all of the above! I was talking to a friend about my memories of "A&S"....and i stumbled on this site! Thank you so much! It brought back so many fond memories of shopping in the 1960's with my late Mom & sister in the 1960's (downtown Brooklyn store) ! Does anybody remember the homemade fudge on one of the upper floors? And of course the "white-gloved" elevator attendants!
ReplyDeleteI remember the white gloved elevator attendants. I also still have my mother's metal credit tag. They were kind of like dog tags for a key chain instead of today's credit cards.
ReplyDeleteA&S was the only retailer I knew that within 1 years time changed its charge plates 4 different times. I know because within that year I asked for a new card with each change. It was around 1976...first was the long served green/blue card with A&S in the left corner; then came a similar version but also had the words "TERRIFIC" under the A&S logo (very short lived), A&S motto at that time in all ads was "A&S...Terrific."; then came a very short lived burgundy with taupe trim around the border and "Abraham and Straus" written in the center with a taupe line under the words; then the last incarnation for that year ,which lasted for several years after, was the beige plate with brown A&S logo on the left (exact as the blue/green plate but different color scheme). I guess poor A&S was having an identity crisis that year.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the back office on the 4th floor as a college kid during the 70's also....great times....would love to find a bunch of us --- Tony, Phyllis, Peggy, Tom, Danny, Lenny, Angel and so many more.....working 3 nights a week and on Saturdays......lunch at the employees' cafeteria on Saturdays......Chock-ful-O'Nuts on weeknights......hope we can gather to remember a really fun time!!! Susan
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother, Marie Moran Abut, worked at A&S and she was an artist in the advertising department. She retired in 1960. I remember some of her drawings (particularly shoes). I was hoping to find resources to locate some of the ads she drew. Are there archives of ads anywhere? Would it be possible to find ads with her drawings? Thanks in advance for any information.
ReplyDeletePlease refer to ProQuest Historical Newspapers (via your library) for the New York Times or Newspapers.com for the Broolyn Eagle. You can see all of A&S ads there.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
Main 5-6000 is listed as the store number at the flagship on Fulton Street. No so, this was only for Telephone Orders. The main switchboard, TRiangle 5-7200, is still their number, now known as as 875-7200.
ReplyDeleteThe A&S/Strawbridge & Clothier at Willow Grove park did not become a Macy's. this A&S/S&C location closed in 2006 because of the Federated/may merger, and there was a brand new Macy's (opened 2001) already in the mall.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to A&S on the A train with my mother and older brother in the 1950s and early '60s, especially before the school year started and around Christmas. Living in Queens, our other choices (before Green Acres was developed in Valley Stream) were Gertz's in Jamaica or Macy's and Gimbel's in "the city." A regular part of a shopping trip was stopping for lunch at Horn and Hardart; getting some nickels and choosing my own meal was a delight. At A&S I remember a fluoroscope in the shoe department -- customers could see a foot inside a shoe they were trying on. This was fascinating to a child but not something that would be done today! The Christmas displays still give me a pleasure, more a matter of a lingering feeling than specific details. There was a connection at that store to the past, something that I felt even as a child. Reading about the place brought back good memories, and I am happy to know that there are others who shared my experiences.
ReplyDeleteIf only there were some place to get that custard!!!
ReplyDeleteMore sweet memories (in addition to those I posted on May 2, 2014):
ReplyDeleteOn the first floor of the Brooklyn store, there was a bakery (I believe it was on the Fulton Street side). They made delicious cheesecake with apple chunks baked in, cut from a sheet and sold by the pound.
Near the restaurant there was a coat check room in which you could hang up your coat on a special locking hook which would then have a key pop up, so your coat would be locked in place while you were shopping or dining. Inserting the key would make the hook pop open, releasing your coat.
I recall that in the restroom near the restaurant, there was an attendant who would hand you a cloth towel after you washed your hands. The towels had a hole in one corner and secured to a big metal loop.
I had read something on line about a year ago which said that someone is looking into reopening stores under the A&S name - something I seriously doubt would or could happen, but if anyone knows specifically as to whether this is true or not, please post.
My thanks to the manager of this site, allowing all of us to relive these memories.
I am trying to find out about the Beautiful Baby Contest held at the Brooklyn store in the early 1970's. Are there any news articles about it? According to my mom I won the Brooklyn store contest and my cousin won the Long Island Store Contest at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Bklyn store as a restaurant manager from 1975-1977. I ran the snack bar on the 1st floor. Had a great group of women that worked very hard there , Marta, Elsie, Bette, Carmela and Cliff Who was the busses.we also had a great guy named Charles at the counter. He was extremely polite. I also was in charge of the bakery on the first floor (luisa was the lead person
ReplyDelete.) They made everything..from raspberry Danish to wedding cakes. I also was in charge of the milk bar on the lower level next to the escalators. There was another food location , I think it was called the buffet. I was also responsible for the employee cafeteria on the top floor. I worked for William Curtis and Helmut Bosch.
This post brings back great memories.
I actually was in a cosmetic commercial for A&S back then too. I had to arrive at the store early for a breakfast to go along with this shoot. The actor hired didn't show and they asked me to step in and brush some blush on a lady's cheek. I didn't earn a penny in residuals .
I was there twenty years before that so no idea where those areas were. As a child my favorite lunch was ham on white with the crusts cut off. What a little brat!! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to A&S from childhood to early 20's 1960's. There was a restaurant on the main floor called "Priscilla". The waitresses had old time uniforms with hats that looked like nurses hats. My Mom bought my first bra at A&S. We sat around a counter where the saleswoman took out the bra from a drawer, and fitted me. Nowadays the bras are all hanging on hangers (where the bras are falling off them) and you are lucky if someone is there to help
ReplyDeletefinding a size.
The ice cream parfaits were delicious. Never could go home without eating one.
I remember Mr. Jones who was the head elevator operator.
How about the information booth by the elevators? The booth was under the clock before the elevator bank. Yes...could not wait for the day after Thanksgiving to see Christmas windows.
Will never forget the store.
It was 1967 and I needed a second job to help support my Muscle Car habit (Olds 442). I knew the manager (Frank M.) of the Shipping/Receiving Department at the A&S Garden City Store. Frank hired me and my friend Gene who also had a Muscle Car habit (SS 396)... The store was up scale as was the rest of shopping district on Franklin Ave. at the time. All the sales personnel were dressed and the elevator operators wore uniforms and had white gloves. Being young It was a great place to work and meet people... Gene and I worked at A&S for about 1-1/2 years and then we returned to PA. where we were originally from. Years later, when we would get together, we would reminisce about our time at A&S in Garden City and the people that we met there. It always brought smiles to our faces.
ReplyDeleteTom
I just read in the New York Post, that the old A&S Department store in Brooklyn which is now Macy's will be torn down to make way for a multi use building. It will incorporate Macy's on the first 4 four floors and high end condos above it. Another high rise will be built where the garage was on the side with the overpass. It will be great for downtown Brooklyn, the article stated. The article also said the store has fallen into disrepair. Well, who let that happen? When they made Fulton St. a pedestrian mall with cheap stores, look what happened. That area was a premier shopping area years ago! I am disgusted with Macy's.
ReplyDeleteThe A&S in Garden City had opened as another retailer. Any information on that???
ReplyDeleteFrederick Loeser & Co., opened about 1937.
ReplyDeleteWhat I read was not the old building necessarily being torn down, but rather sold, for other uses, and then moving to the former garage location, which is what will get the glass tower with MAcy's on the first four floors. The façade of the old Fulton/Hoyt SW corner building would be kept, to give it that classic look.
ReplyDeleteI wish they just would use the new space as an annex like it used to be, and keep the old building, and expand, like they did in the Herald Sq. flagship. The area is up and coming, and there's no reason to scale down like that.
(I also notice Macy's did away with The Cellar, and moved that stuff to the 8th floor now, so my old suggestion to move the Cellar at this store to the basement is now moot anyway, they actually made the main store like this one in that regard).
I meant the SE (southeast) corner, which is One Hoyt St. (https://i0.wp.com/newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/217-Livingston-2-e1422511749563.jpg and here's the main tower on the Livingston side https://i0.wp.com/newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/217-Livingston-1-e1422511739971.jpg)
ReplyDeleteI worked at the A&S in Garden City from 1970-1973. I started out as Christmas hire and kept on after the holiday. I worked for the flying squad out of personnel which was a group that would fill in all over the store for those on vacation or sick. I was even trained as a relief PBX operator! I went to the community college and A&S accommodated my class schedule working days or evenings. There was no working Sundays back then. I left in 1973 to join the Air Force and have friends from there to this day.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember McCrory's department store that was located on Myrtle Ave and Forest in Ridgewood back in the 70's? I used to live in an apartment building behind the store. I have not been back to New York in close to 34 years. I wanted to see if I could find an old picture to show my grandchildren where I used to live.
ReplyDeleteI remember walking from my home on Idaho Street in Lindenhurst to the A & S that was on Montauk Highway and Park Avenue in Babylon. They used to decorate the windows and it was always fun to take my kids in the stroller to see what was new.
ReplyDeleteGreat time reading these posts. Thanks everyone. I have fond memories of the Fulton Street A & S. It was the best store. I miss it and those times very much.
ReplyDeleteWorked at the store in King of Prussia, PA. Great store and memories!
ReplyDeleteThey forgot The Mall at Short Hills, NJ location (which is now Macy's) as well as the Roosevelt Field locations (which is now Bloomingdales)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah I remember shopping at A&S as a kid. the RR train to Lawrence St. All the stores, Martins, E.J.Korvettes all the way down to Albee Square and the RKO and Mays department store. Remember the A&S fishing contests in Prospect Park? I still have my badge from the 1966 A&S contest. I actually worked as Christmas help there in the mid 1970's. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only one with an old fishing contest badge. Mine is dated 1969. I was only 8. Yes, those were the days.
DeleteOh yeah I remember shopping at A&S as a kid. the RR train to Lawrence St. All the stores, Martins, E.J.Korvettes all the way down to Albee Square and the RKO and Mays department store. Remember the A&S fishing contests in Prospect Park? I still have my badge from the 1966 A&S contest. I actually worked as Christmas help there in the mid 1970's. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteI've aquired a Abraham & Straus sewing machine and would love and info on it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn my early 20s in the late 70s, I applied for a Job around the Christmas Holiday as a Stockboy and somehow the Interviewer saw on my Application that I was studying Architecture in School, he looked at me for several minutes without uttering a Word, I'll never forget that; then said " I think that they are looking for someone like you in the Store Design Dept.. He sent me to to be interviewed by the Head of that Dept.. And there I worked for several years, first, as a gofer and moved up up to become the youngest Executive in the entire Store. Although it was just an ego trip more or less, it was a truly exhilarating learning experience and the best Job that I ever had. Old Abraham & Strauss
ReplyDeleteI remember the Brooklyn store fondly. My grandmother worked in the area rug section on the fourth floor for nearly 20 yrs in the 50's and 60's. I especially remember seeing Santa Claus, ripping the receipt in half and getting two gifts wrapped in colored tissue paper.
ReplyDeleteI recently bought a floor length Raccoon Fur Coat that came from the NY location. Has the A S FUR SHOWCASE label on it and the coat took my breath away and I had to have it. Wish I could post a pic of it one here. Next time I'm in NY, I'm going by the location where the store was in NY.
ReplyDeleteDebby
Regarding the Paramus Park Mall A&S location,with your permission please,we would like to mention that the Garden Room Restaurant was located on the 2nd Floor near the elevator until sometime in the late 80s.
ReplyDeleteQUESTION: Does anyone have any stories and dates regarding the restaurant closures and information about how and why those decisions were made, (not only here in Paramus,but throughout the branch store locations & Brooklyn flagship ?) By the way,to our knowledge,there was never a restaurant in the Manhattan Mall A&S location which operated in the former New York City Gimbels flagship. Thanks again!
I found a medallion with a serial number of the back. My mother-in-law work for A&S. Would the museum be interested in it? Email me at pseison@aol.com
ReplyDeleteWhen I was an infant in 1964, my mother was walking through the downtown Brooklyn store with me, when she was stopped by the store photographer. He asked if they could hang my picture in the store, in exchange for a free portrait package. My mother agreed. Some of those photos still exist today. They gave her a huge package that included every size imaginable. I remember going there as a young child, and looking to see if I could find my picture hanging anywhere.
ReplyDeleteDept. Store photographers worked for the in -store franchise photo studio. It was owned by American Photograph Co. in NYC. Bobby Riggs wife's family owned that company. he was the tennis player vs. Billie Jean King. One of my my daytime summer jobs in college one summer was for American Photograph. No AC in the NYC office in 1964. I was a receptionist and filled in for vacationing secretaries. I was a great typist on the IBM Selectric with the round ball! $65 a week! I worked Thurs. night and all day Sat. at A and S b/c I wanted a car. to drive to college. My Ford Falcon. Crazy days.
ReplyDeleteI started in Brooklyn in 1965 in the shoe dept and became and asst buyer in dept 429 in 1967 then a department manager in Hempstead from 1967 -1971 ? Learned how to merchandise and operate retail operations. operated my own operation until retirement in 2010. anyone who was part of that time , say hello joel
ReplyDeleteDuring college, I worked in the Queens Center Malll A&S, in Elmhurst, Queens. I was assigned to the men's store on the first floor and also subbed in housewares on the third floor.
ReplyDeleteGreat people, great store. Some of the saleswomen apparently came with the building, they wore their glasses on long chains around their neck And knew everything about everything in the store!
Ironically (and coincidentally), I joined the engineering firm that actually designed the store and Queens Center Mall.
When will there be another A&S reunion?
ReplyDeleteRichard Karp
rkarp1@aol.com
239-281-7509
Hi all
ReplyDeleteI came across a Abraham & Strauss piano. Does anyone know if a piano was ever played in the store? Or does anyone know what it is worth?
Ahhhh!!Those great memories!
ReplyDeleteRecently i went downtown and i saw the former A&S parking garage was torn down.I miss the old downtown Brooklyn now it's just bland and sterile when i was growing up in the mid to late 60's that place was like magic as a kid it was a wonderland!
ReplyDeleteA&S Born:1865 Died:1990 R.I.P
ReplyDeleteI worked during my college days 1969-1973 in the Hempstead Store as a stock counter , great memories
ReplyDeleteWorked the Brooklyn store in the early 70's as a sales clerk in handbags, then upon college grad., joined the merchandise training program. Became an asst buyer for drugs, Sun Glasses (122), Travel Shop, Notions (100), Stationery (201). Got promoted to Dept Manager in Hempstead. Great experience! Wonderful training!
ReplyDeletedoes anyone know any info of A&S sewing machine or where i can find info out google is not giving me nothing at all thanks
ReplyDeleteYup I have my grandmothers hanging around my neck!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteShe was the stockings and sleeper lady with the round table when you got off the escalator
She retired in 1977 after 30 years
I have a very old desk that was clearly handmade and in all original condition with porcelain draw knobs and beautiful dovetail work. The return key says abraham &Strauss 15124N on front and finder return to abraham &Strauss on the back. Can anyone give any insight on this desk?
ReplyDeleteOur wonderful memories of A&S, Paramus Park included many years of enjoyment at the "The Garden Room Restaurant," on the second floor of the A&S store. It also included a candy counter that wrapped around the dining room and a hair salon that was off to the side. The memories are wonderful.Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember whether the Hempstead store had a pet department. I have an incredible childhood memory that I believe occured in the A & S Hempstead pet department, but it was in 1962, and my memory of the name of the store might be faulty. It involved me (9 years old) convincing a young clerk to allow me to pick up a small caimen (a type of crocodile) from its tank to transfer it to a new tank for me to purchase it to take it home.It was about 24 inches long and the clerk told me it had been in the store for a long time, and was no longer a baby. He was afraid to touch it, and he had no protection gloves, and I told him , "Hey no problem, I can handle gators". He lifted me into position so I could reach down into the tank, and of course it bit my wrist and would not let go. The young clerk held me in mid-air with me shaking my arm with the animal attached by its teeth to my skinny wrist. My parents then arrived to see this horrific tableau, and everybody was freaking screaming. No big harm, just flesh wounds. My question is, was this at A & S? I am really not sure. I would love to find the clerk today if he is still alive, and check his memory of this insane but HILARIOUS event. I was an insane 9 year old. Anyone out there who can shed light?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Aunt gifted me an A&S Christmas story book, and I can't find it on the web. It was blue, and it was about Abearham and Straus the Mouse sharing one pair of mittens and being warm together in the snow. Does anyone have a copy so I can at least know the title? It was ever so sweet a story.
ReplyDeleteMy retail journey started in the Downtown Fulton Street Brooklyn after college graduation in 1975. Executive training program, Assistant Buyer, and Manager in Huntington. Just being a part of A & S opened many doors in the retail world. So many great merchants!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great page as it has brought back many memories. BTW still have my Mom's metal charge card on my key ring.
hi this is Robert Van Eron.I live on Long Island in west islip.I inquired a abraham and straus chair so beatiful.it is yellow and dark oak wood with these crazy awsome ingravings on it.the tag says 1973 and has dates of delivery with address.wondering if its worth anything.it is in almost perfect condition..please call me at 9631)704-2962 IF INTERESTED..
ReplyDeleteI remember that A&S in Brooklyn had their own subway station and as I recall the token seller was an A&S employee
ReplyDelete