The John Shillito Company (Shillito’s)
7th & Race Sts.,
Cincinnati, Ohio (1830)
Do you remember
The Dining Room, the
Coffee Shop or
any of the restaurants
at Shillito's?
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| Click above to read about a new book about Cincinnati's great department store Tea Rooms . . . and contact the author with your memories of them. |
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY (840,000 sq. ft.)
Lower Level
Charlie’s Downstairs • Shillito’s Budget Store
Street Floor
Fine Jewelry • Jewelry • Handbags • Small Leather Goods • Gloves • Hosiery • Neckwear • Cosmetics • Health & Beauty Aids • Prescriptions • Top Shop • Blouses • Sweater Shop • Street Floor Sportswear • Street Floor Shoes • Notions • Luggage • Travel Shop • Stationery • Games • Calculator Center • Books • Bake Shop • La Gourmandise • Optical • Men’s Bar • Men’s Gift Shop • Men’s Accessories • Men’s Furnishings • Sport Shirts • Active Sportswear • Shillito’s Coffee Shop
Balcony
Men’s Suits • Men’s Outerwear • Men’s Shoes • University Shop • Men’s Sportswear • Trendsetter • Levi’s Shop • U-Shop • Formal Wear Rental • General Repair Office
Second Floor
Infants’ Wear • Toddlers’ Wear • Children’s Accessories • Children’s Shoes • Girls’ Wear • Jr. Boys • Prep Boys • Boys’ Wear • Teens • Prep Shop • Toys • Pet Shop • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Shoes • Young Juniors • Junior Shoes • Shoe Salon • Pavilion Shoes • Pappagallo Shop • Etienne Aigner Shop • Concept Shoes • Millinery • Town Hall • Place Elegant
Third Floor
Moderate Sportswear • Moderate Dresses • Casual Dresse • Gallery Dresses and Knitss • Active Sportswear • Moderate Coats • All Weather Coats • Contemporaries Shop • Miss Shillito Shop • Regency Room • Regency Place • La Boutique • Young Designer Shop • Clubhouse Sportswear • Cosmopolitan Dresses • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Coat Salon • Discovery Sportswear • Sportique • Signature Sportswear
Fourth Floor
Pavilion Sportswear • Pavilion Dresses • Pavilion Coats • Pavilion Lingerie • Sleepwear • Loungewear • Daytime Lingerie • Foundations • Pavilion Juniors • Daytowne Dresses • Studio 4 • Women’s Sport Shop • Women’s World • China • Glassware • Silver • Crystal • Gifts • Table Linens • Bridal Gift Registry • Decorative Home Accessories • Bed Linens • Bath Shop • Notions • Closet Sjhop • La Bite
Fifth Floor
Furniture • Recliners • Interior Design Studio • Sleep Shop • Broadloom • Accent Rugs • Old World Shop • Homeworks • Contemporary Accent Shop • Pictures and Mirrors
Sixth Floor
Housewares • Small Electrics • Cleaning Supplies • Gourmet Housewares • Gourmet Cookware • Clock Shop • Lamps • Lifestyle Shop • Hardware • Garden Shop • Paints • Home Accessories • Gift Galleries • Fabrics • Sewing Center • Art Needlework • The Dining Room
Seventh Floor
Rob Paris Portrait Studio • Beauty Salon • Canned Ego • Tonsorial Parlour for Men • Travel Service
Garage Store
Appliances • Vacuums • Televisions • Sound Center • Records • Cameras • Sporting Goods • Ski Chalet
BRANCH STORES
230,000 sq. ft.
Western Woods (1963)
189,000 sq. ft.
Kenwood Mall (1966)
209,000 sq. ft.
114,000 sq. ft.
Oxmoor Mall (1970)
Louisville Kentucky
281,000 sq. ft.
Fayette Mall (1977)
Lexington Kentucky
185,000 sq. ft.
Florence Mall (1977)
Florence, Kentucky
125,000 sq. ft.
Jefferson Mall (1979)
Louisville, Kentucky
150,000 sq. ft.
I loved Shillito's. Every Christmas my Mom and Grandma would take me downtown to see Santa there. So many memories!
ReplyDeleteThe Macy's stores at Oxmoor Center in Louisville and Fayette Mall in Lexington (which opened in 1971, not 1977) still have the original Shillito's look on the outside, though they have both been redone on the inside several times over the years.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know whatever happened to the Christmas display they had at Shillito's? I went there every year when I was young, and I took my Children there until the mid 1980's. I was just wondering what they did with it?
ReplyDeleteThey are trying to find a home for the Shillito's Christmas display now. Here is a link to the official Face Book page...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1584960717#!/pages/Shillitos-Christmas-Display/138110972911216
My first real job. The basics of discipline, talking to people, and service are the fundamentals I use to today in my current job. I would be very interested linking up with people who worked in the Kenwood store from 1972-1975. markj10350@fuse.net
ReplyDeleteShillitos in Cincinnati was not just the flagship of the chain, but the premier department store of Southern Ohio. They set a standard for quality and customer service that has never been equalled since.
ReplyDeleteMy first job out of High School was Shillito's Better Shoe Dept. on the 2nd floor. After having children, I took them to see Santa at Shillito's every year. They were the good days. I now have grandchildren and miss being able to share those days with them.
ReplyDeleteSuch fond memories I have of the early 1980's with my mom and sister dress shopping at the downtown Cincinnati Shilito's.
ReplyDeleteAt one point, SHillito's was the Largest department store in America. Until the 1930's it was the largest west if the Appalachian Mtns. Shillito's was famed for buying directly from Paris. They would also buy from New York. Influential families would travel from all over the mid west and south to attend their fashion shows to see and buy what was new from Paris.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in finding out about dresses that might have been sold at Shillito's around 1910, particularly so-called "lawn dresses." If anyone has any information, please contact me at mpriogrande@gmail.com Thanks!
DeleteThe Cincinnati Art Museum has a collection of costumes including dresses from Shillito's. You might try contacting the Curator, Cynthia Amneus, to see if she can help. See www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org
DeleteMy family and I always looked forward to shopping there many times a year. The store was part of our family!!!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the 840,000 sq. ft. given for the downtown store includes their "garage store". It was accross the street at the northwest corner of 7th and Elm Sts. on the first floor of the vast Shillito's parking garage which took up most of that whole block (the garage is still there, but the current owners obliterated all evidence of the old store by bricking up the doors and windows so that one would never know they had ever been there.) The garage store housed their appliances, electronics and phonograph records departments. The Federated Department Stores corporate offices were also in that structure on the top floor.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for the 1960's Capezio shoes (not Capezio dance shoes) that I use to purchase at Shillito's in CIncinati, OH as a teen..many people are lookin for these shoes (kinda like a t-strap flat shoe..came in suede and leather in various colors)...lots of people would purchase them again...if any info please email me at shrncffy@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy mom purchased a child's toy Garden design set back in the mid to late 60's. It had a plastic greenhouse you put together, with cardboard covered in green fuzz to look like grass. It had planting beds you put little plastic flowers in, rock walls, columns and plastic wrought Iron gates. Not sure if is was made in England? or what the name was. I still have it today but no information about it. LOVED it, probably the root of my love of gardening!!!! If anyone has any information on this please email me at Themom800@zoomtown.com
ReplyDeleteIn the 1950's and 60', Shillito's served a wonderful chef salad with an amazing French-style dressing. I still try to duplicate that dressing, but it never matches the original. Anyone have a recipie for this?
ReplyDeletein the mid 1960's we used to go to Cincinnati at Christmas and one of the big department stores had the most incredible area for children - they had a big wooden playhouse that only children could fit in the door - there was a "lemonade tree" with a spigot and paper cups you could fill and refill as many times as you wanted, but my favorite thing was the candy cane factory - elves behind a window and a row of telephones you could call the elves and request what flavor of candy cane you wanted and out would come a warm candy cane - does anyone remember what store that was or where I might find more information about it?
ReplyDeleteShillitos's probably wasn't the biggest store W of the Alleghenies for long, if at all. May Co (Cleveland), Hudson's, and Marshall Field's all were larger, and all came well before the 30s.
ReplyDeleteYears after shillitos closed the Boy Scouts purchased the elf display. I was thrilled to go through it again on Harrison Ave. about ten years ago. The display has moved again and i have no idea where it is. I would like to see it again. I have such wonderful memories of it. I have a video and maybe pictures. Can I somehow get the video to the webmaster for this site?
ReplyDeleteI also have pictures of Pogue and Pogie from Pogues. They were at the Cincinnati Museum Center in the room with the train display.
I have several pieces of art that my grandfather purchased at Shillitos, possibly as early as the 1930's. I believe that they are originals and I am trying to authenticate them. Does anyone know if sales records exist from that time period?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if anyone knows where Shillitos bought candy from? They had peanut cream clusters, and at Easter they bring in Fiesta Malted Milk Ball Eggs. I love them and always look to see if someone else carries these but have yet to find a replacement. Any ideas on where I can look to find this information out. This was in the 60's and 70's and even into the early 80's.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom use to work there most candy and baked goods were done in store.
DeleteWHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLAQUE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING DECLARING
ReplyDeleteTHE JOHN SHILLITO COMPANY
I loved the bally shoes sold in the Men's shoe dept at Shillito's. The tie ups with the leather upper sides and the various suede colors on the top were my favorites. Wish I could buy some today
ReplyDeleteI worked at Federated Department Stores in the Garage store from 1967 until I just retired last year (2012) from Macy's in the "new" bulding (which was built in 1979). I could write a book on the way downtown used to be...... It broke my heart when they took the pictures of Fred Lazarus, Jr. and Ralph Lazarus down and replaced with Macy's private label posters. Mr. Fred was Founder of the company. The name Federated Department Stores,Inc. has been buried with their pictures. What a sad thing. History is history......
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that I googled department stores in Cincinnati! I was born and raised in Cincinnati but now live in Arizona! Just reading all the comments puts a smile on my face! I loved going downtown to Shillito's and spending the day shopping with my mother and grandma! I loved the different levels of the store, the bakery everything! I miss all the richness that Cincinnati had and has lost with technology! Now living in Arizona we have lost a lot of history too with stores and malls closing. I long for the simple times in life when we were all happy! Wouldn't you agree? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCapezio person above - I was/am very into them although the ones from Shillitos were mostly from the childrens/teen shoe dept. In the mid 60's Pogues carried the ones I'd love to find, but can't. Also sold @ Giddings in the '60's. Also looking all over online for a purse that everyone carried during the 1962-63 school year - they were leather and had a huge bamboo hoop for a handle. The body of the purse was attached to the hoop by brass rings. The purse closed by flipping over a leather strap that was weighted down by a large/heavier brass ring. Also NOTHING was as good as the downtown pre-teen dept.!!
ReplyDeleteI can remember my grandmother taking the four of us grandkids to Shillito's to buy us Easter outfits. We girls dresses, hats, white patten letter shoes the boys suits, ties and shoes. We had a ball. I also remember seeing the Christmas displays and all the fun of sitting in Santa's lap.
ReplyDeleteI have Ideal Toledo Cooker with a cooper label on it stating The John Shilleto Company Cincinnati Ohio. It is in excellent Condition. If it would be of any interest to anyone to purchase you can contact me at event12@comcast.net. The cookers alone are estimated for $200-$400 dollars. I can sent you pictures of it also if you are interested.
ReplyDeleteI have some pencil sketches done by a student named Mary Lou Wilson who attened Holmes. These where entries into the The John Shillito's Company scholastic art exhibit. Classification is commerical 14. ANyone interested can contact me at 937-618-1621. Annette
ReplyDeleteI remember trips to Shillito's with my Aunt when I was very little. early 70's. We moved to Florida and then she moved to Florida years after we did. We recently moved her to a nursing home. To my surprise I found a Shillito's paper sack in her closet neatly folded like brand new. It came home with me. :)
ReplyDeleteGod Bless your Aunt, and how dine that a memento of her love and care for you as a child "popped up!"
ReplyDeleteI would be happy to show the bag in my bag exhibit and dedicate it to your Aunt if you'd like. bakgraphics@comcast.net
Thanks for sharing the story, though!
Bruce