D. M. Read store, built in 1925 at Broad and John Streets
D. M. Read Co. (1857)
Broad and John Streets
Bridgeport, Connecticut
EDison 3-1151
BRIDGEPORT STORE DIRECTORY
Downstairs
China • Glassware • Silver • Gifts • Lamps • Housewares
Street Floor
Jewelry • Watch Repair • Cosmetics • Gloves • Small Leather Goods • Belts • Handbags • Fashion Accessories • Neckwear • Hosiery • Casual Shoe Bar • Hat Bar • Umbrellas • Blouses • Street Floor Sportswear • Street Floor Lingerie • Fashion Shoes • Corner I • Notions • Stationery • Cameras • Luggage • Confections • Snack Shop
John Street Men's Furnishings • Men's Sportswear • Men's Clothing • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats
East Building Appliance Center
Post Ofice Arcade Casual Shop
Second Floor
Domestics • Curtains • Draperies • Slipcovers • Portrait Studio
Young World Shops Infants' Shop • 2-to-6 Shop • Boys' Shop • Girls' Shop • Subteen Shop • Teen Shop • Young World Shoes • Children's Furniture
Third Floor
Sportswear • Dresses • Daytime Dresses • Coats • Suits • Town and Country Shop • Fairfield Room • Millinery • Fur Salon • Bride's Shop • Uniforms • Maternity Shop • Lingerie • Foundations • At Ease Shop
Jr. News Jr. Dresses • Jr. Coats • Jr. Sportswear
Fourth Floor
Bedding • Furniture • Rugs • Broadloom • Photo Studio • Trim-a-Home Shop • Beauty Salon
Fifth Floor
Toyland • Bicycles • Outdoor Equipment • Books • Venetian Tea Room • Offices
BRANCH STORES
Trumbull (1964)
Trumbull Shopping Park
220,000 sq. ft.
Jonathan Trumbull Restaurant
Danbury (1967)
1967
177,000 sq. ft.
Thank you for your site - these description of DM Read's brought back so many childhood memories that I got teary. As I read your descriptions of the Bridgeport store, I could see each floor in my mind's eye.
ReplyDeleteKaron
I remember Read's so well. My Mom took me there alot and we shared great memories of shopping and the restaurant. Later, I was hired in Gift Wrap for Christmas in 75 or 76. Then worked in the office in the Authorization Department for a few years. Joann
DeleteThe Danbury store was on Federal Road - I beleive #114, at the corner where Nabby Road meets it. The space is now a Bob's Store.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this site . In the late 40's and 50's my great uncle Micky ( James V. Beach ) work for Read's as custodian and for 11 years was both santa Claus and the Easter bunny . If any one has any info and / or photo's I would love to see them . He was before working for Read's , a professional clown with Ringling Bros. - Barnum & baily's circus . Contact me , Keith Beach of Buna Tx , @ billygoat45@yahoo.com - thanks
ReplyDeleteAlways knew that the 'real' Santa Claus was the one at Reads, so our mother told us, when we saw another Santa at Howlands. Glad to know that Santa had a name and was your uncle. Best wishes.
DeleteI love the old malls and dept store memories. i had worked in the reads store in trumbull when I was a teenager I worked in the restaurant and also waited on tables.I think it was so cool back then to have a restaurant in the store .And slso the employee lunchroom.Does anyone remember Skydells dept store in bpt i had brought my first 3 piece suit.Also anyone remeber lofts candy store?/ Billy Liebel liebel99@aol.com
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember that they moved reads to the old Gimbell store in bpt laff plaza ?
ReplyDeleteI do remember - I worked for a brief time in the late 80's at Meyers, Breiner and Neufeld and then at Lafayette Bank, both on Broad Street and often went over to the mall on my lunch break. I remember a beautiful light pink dress I bought there with a high neck and mutton sleeves.
DeleteYes my mother was retail credit manager for over 15 years. First at Reads on Broad st then when they moved to old Gimbals also at crossroads mall and than at trumbull shopping park
DeleteI worked at Read's Bridgeport store for about a year in 1976 and 1977. It was a great store. The elevators were operated by wonderful women and the doors of the elevators had metal grates. Even in the 70's there was a sense of style that the Trumbull store lacked. I was just out of college and worked in the Men's Department with 3 terrific women: Jean, Helen and Eleanor.
ReplyDeleteDonna Kruszewska
I was just a kid in 1970s I was scared of elevators til one of the operators was so nice. I then loved to ride elevators.they were indeed angels. Remember cars 4 and 5 dod not go to the basement. Its amazing I can forget things from yesterday but I can still see this vividly from over 40 years ago.
DeleteI worked part time for a law firm on Broad Street in the late 80's, after Read's on Broad & John was closed. I had to bring some legal documents to a law firm over on Main Street. I was brought back to my childhood when I saw the elevator was the old fashioned cage type, exactly like the ones in Read's! The operator was an older black lady with a huge leather glove, I SWEAR it was the same woman from Read's!! It's corny, but I swear I felt almost like she was long-lost family :-)
DeleteTo answer the question about when the downtown Read's relocated, it was 1985. In 1983 BATUS (the parent of Gimbels) merged the NY and Philly divisions into a new business unit, Gimbels-East. In 1984 the Lafayette Square branch was closed (it was never a strong store for Gimbels).
ReplyDeleteRead's took over the space after much prodding from the City of Bridgeport, and although it initially survived the transition to Jordan Marsh, the store was closed in 1991. Lafayette Square was one of the many "downtown malls" to fail. Gimbel's as a retail company folded in 1986.
Ken
I used to work at the restaurant during high school in trumbull shopping park was lots of fun! does any one have any old pictures of that store. or the location at lafatette plaza
ReplyDeleteDoes Read's have any connection to Skydel's Department store?
ReplyDeleteSkydel's was family-owned store located on the corner of East Main Street and Arctic Street on Bridgeport's East Side. I don't think it had any connection to Read's It carried good quality clothing and jewelry. I still have a pair of earings purchased there. I lived about 2 blocks from it. Skydel's was where we went to buy dresses for such special occassions as weddings or graduations.I liked to just walk through it on the way home because it felt special.
ReplyDeleteDonna Kruszewska
Thank you, Donna, for your comment. I did not know it before, but Bridgeport must have had a large Eastern-European population. A fellow from Slovakia recently contacted me because he found an old portrait of a realtive, that they couldn't identify, in his grandmother's belongings - the portrait came from Read's!
ReplyDeleteBruce
I worked in both Read's stores in the mid !960's. First Bridgeport then onto Trumbull store to help with the opening. Many fond memories of both of both locations. Great times. I believe my dad was credit manager for Read's
ReplyDeleteat the time also. We moved to Ct. in 1962 so he could take that position...
My mom was retail credit manager in not reads for 8 years then when on to do the same in Trumbull untill Jordan Marsh bought them out.
DeleteMy mom Joyce johnson was credit manager also...your dad's name wasn't Bob or Bill was it? And did he live in not off of upper main street??
DeleteI also remembered the nice women running the elevators in the Bridgeport Reads, as My Dad moved our family out to Trumbull from Jackson Michigan in 1964, so he could run the personel Department of the Trumbull Reads store. He took me downtown to the Bridgeport store at times and we got to ride the elevators, it was so cool! He first started in the Bridgeport store until the Trumbull store was finished being built. He later moved on to be district personel manager for the Trumbull, Bridgeport, and Danbury stores, and soon after the Derby, Southbury, Yorktown heights, and Poughkipsie stores. Dad had many wonderful years at Reads and worked with so many wonderful people through the years. It was sad to see it end in the late 80's.
ReplyDeleteI worked for your dad for many years at Read's in Trumbull in Personnel(Human Resources now). He was a great guy. I learned a lot from him that helped me throughout my career. We have a Facebook group called DM Read's Alumni if you are interested in joining. Thanks...Peter Albrecht.
DeleteI would like to see the pictures of DM Reads Alummi
DeleteIt really wasn't Christmas until the two large Christmas trees went up in D M Reads on either side of the large double staircase that went downstairs to Housewares.
ReplyDeleteBridgeport had a very sizable Eastern European population, most coming from the eastern Carpathian Mountains, Besides the large Polish RC Church (St. Michael the Archangel) which still exists, there was St. Joseph's Polish National Catholic Church now out by the airport in Lordship, three Slovak RC Chruches (St. Cyril's--still there---and St. John Nepomocene,,,closed) and Holy Name of Jesus (actually just over the boarder in Stratford), a Slovak Lutheran Church (now in Trumbull), a very large Byzantine Catholic Church (Carpatho-Russian) St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic (now in Trumbull) and its offshoot (after the troubles of the 1930s) St. John the Baptist Carpatho Russian Greek Orthodox Catholic Church (on Mill Hill Avenue with the dome) and the two other offshoots also called St, John the Baptist CROGC in Stratford; a Ukrainian Catholic Church and two Ukrainian Orthodox Churches; a Russian Orthodox Church (on East Main Street with the domes) and numerous synagogues all on the East Side. On the West Side was one of the largest Hungarian settlements in the US with two RC churches (one in Fairfield), one Byzantine Catholic Church (now closed) and three Hungarian Reformed Churches (one in Fairfield) and at least one Orthodox Synagogue (now in Fairfield). In addition, there was a Slovenian RC Church (now in Fairfield).
ReplyDeleteThe original D. M. Read store was located at the NE corner of Main Street and Fairfield Avenue. It was two or three stories with a mansard roof. When I was a child, the building was the home to Leavitt's, another department store. My mother used to buy my uniform for St. Anthony School (Fairfield) there. The building is still standing, though sheathed in glass , functioning as an office building of some kind.
ReplyDeleteI loved shopping in the Danbury store! Does anyone remember the apple cake served in the restaurant? Since that time I haven't had such delicious apple cake. Any idea where i can get the recipe? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI would the restaurant every day have my dinner i would drive the transit bus evening's alice worked in the kitchen she would look out the window when my order came in she knew it was me! Loved DM Read's the BEST store in ct!!! Then would take the elevator to the top flr to pay my charge. Elizabeth ran the elevator was the boss of running all the car's and the women that ran them to! She was my friend a great lady! They don't make store's like this any longer! A lot of arm work running those elevator's then nothing then was push a button! Jim Tomassetti
ReplyDeleteStill Have my Read's charge card
ReplyDeleteI have a blue bag I'm guessing from the 70's . It has Bridgeport, Trumbull, Danbury printed towards the bottom. Before the times of Yorktown Heights, Southbury, Derby and Orange opening. Don't lose that charge card! That is great!!
ReplyDeleteIf there is any way you could send a flat photo/scan of the bag to bakgraphics@comcast.net, I will put a Read's bag in the exhibit in 2015. I am slowly updating the page, but like anything, it all takes time. Merry Christmas
ReplyDelete- Bruce
Amazed to find these comments about Reads Dept. Store. I started going to Trumbull Shopping park in early 70's when I got my license. As with you others, I can see so much in my minds eye and remember the great atmosphere in there. Loved the restaurant, casual but classy place with great food! I also spent most of my childhood shopping with my mother in Skydells. She died recently(89) and there were still things stored in Skydell boxes in her closet. I think my first communion dress came from Skydells. They carried lots of school uniforms etc for the Catholic schools. I remember the dip in the floor between sections of the store!
ReplyDeleteToday there is all kinds of shopping and certainly I have more money now than teen years--but nothing is as special as those days of shopping! Fun remembering with you all!
Read's was a wonderful store.We enjoyed the Danbury store very much ! Yes,indeed there was a full service restaurant on the third floor...and it was wonderful! Also,we remember they still used electro-mechanical cash registers instead of converting over to electronic IBM or NCR point of sale units. What is also interesting is that the outside of the Danbury store looked very similar to a classic Jordan Marsh stor,you know the kind the the beautiful triple copper enhanced entrances..just beautiful ! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the woman's clothing store close to Read's in the Trumbull Shopping Park during the late 60s? The store carried very nice casual sporty clothes for woman. The store had wooden floors and was marketing to an upscale clientele. It was located across from Woolworths.
ReplyDeleteBrooks Hirsh
DeleteI believe that was Lerners
DeleteMy clothes in the late 40s, early 50s, for Miss Braden's Nursery School, kindergarten at Pequot School, etc. came from Read's. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe ladies clothing store near Read's in the Trumbull Shopping center was Celines. My brother and cousin worked there in the late sixties in the stock room.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little (late 50's), I couldn't understand why my Nana was swearing all the time, I thought she was shopping at Damn Reads!
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious!!!
ReplyDelete-Bruce
Read's was in Southport, where KMart is now
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember the warehouse for Reads? It was also located in Trumbull Connecticut ..the building was named Reads Service Building?? I worked there from 1979 till it's closing in 1987??? Loved the people and my job very much! I am trying to connect with my coworkers especially a young man named Bob Radowski??? Not sure of the last name but he resided in Trumbull near the Daniel's Farm Road area? It's important that we talk?? We shared some intimate time together and I need to speak with this man! Any info would be appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI worked at the warehouse preparing for furniture clearance sales when I was an assistant buyer in the furniture department. Don't remember Bob.
Delete@Donna Davis. I have a picture of that Read's Warehouse. There was also a smaller Warehouse on Broad Street in Bridgeport. To this day the sign is still up. I am currently in the middle of selling my home. Stuff all over the place including storage. If I can find the picture I will send it in to this site, along with the picture of the Read's bag Bruce asked for.
ReplyDeleteIf you do find the bag, I am at bakgraphics@comcast.net
DeleteGood luck with the move!
Read's in Bridgeport was one of my favorite stores. With their decorated windows. I believe it may be one of the last stores that you did not have to operate the elevator yourself. (Too bad we did not do selfies at the time). I do remember my great aunt Hazel worked there for many years. I would always try to get there when I could, since I was in the downtown area. From 69 - 79 and relocating our business to the corner of John and Main. Everyone remembers Dunkin Donuts. Donna K. I employed your 3 sisters. Barbara, Margaret and Eva. I am sure they remember Reads too. Was it Holland's that was located where our court house on Main St, stands today? If so it was a no match to Reads. Sincerely Barbara Bowman - Bruce thank you for the memories...
DeleteYou are very welcome, and thank you for sharing them!
Delete- Bruce
Barbara Bowman OMG Dunkin Donuts. Of course, I remember. You have no idea what a DD cult my sisters have developed over the years. Eva's children think nothing of driving 5 hours just to go to an opening of a DD in California. Any potential mate/spouse had to pass DD test.
ReplyDeleteDonna Kruszewska
My mother Lynne Jurgens worked in the notions department of DM Reads in Trumbull for many, many years as us kids grew up and went to school. If anyone remembers her, she would love to hear from you,. you can e-mail me at doejurgens@yahoo.com ...I'm her youngest daughter
ReplyDeleteRead's had a stand-a-lone presence in Danbury,CT. They had a wonderful restaurant located on the third floor that was full-service and felt very comfortable. They also utilized those wonderful NCR mechanical cash registers right up through the mid-1980s (class 6000 I think). The store was housed in a building that looked much like the Jordan Marsh suburban locations from the 1970's,you know the brick ones with the three copper accents over the doors. It really was wonderful to be able to enjoy a shopping experience that made you feel comfortable and fulfilled at the same time. Those really were wonderful times and wonderful days ! Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteI came across this site looking at the articles of how the Trumbull warehouse just got purchased by Amazon. I worked for Reads security at the Trumbull store in 1986 then went to the Southbury Store. When Allied closed Reads it was sad. Many great people worked there and it felt like family. Great memories. Dave Ferris
ReplyDeleteI have an unusual item that has a arrow shaped blade that retracts. It has markings. D M COM ...pat sep 3.72... assuming 1872. It has ridges on the outside edges. Am early utility knife?
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have found this page. I was looking for information online about the Lafayette Plaza when this popped up. I worked for DM Read Co in the late 70s-early 80s. I had the privilege of working in the downtown store with the historic caged elevators and the gloved ladies who ran them. I can still remember getting on and hearing them say "going up" or "going down". As a kid, we always went downtown with our families,especially at Christmastime to go shopping. We would take the bus from the Beardsley Park area. This was a thrill for us as kids, to drive over the Congress St bridge and see all of the Christmas lights hanging over Main St from the old fashioned street light poles. I also remember the other stores downtown and of course who could forget the Arcade where you can also enter through revolving doors into the DM Read building. Oh, the memories are the best and I will never forget how special it was. There was an air of elegance and fashion that just does not exist anymore. I was in heaven every time I walked through those doors. I learned so much here about retail and the employees, every one I came in contact with, was purely professional, just a dream. The Trumbull store was very nice too, but there was nothing like experiencing the Bridgeport store. That store had a spirit all it's own, and a very good spirit it was!
ReplyDeleteDoes this site allow for sales of items related to these old department stores? I have a small dry goods table with DM Reads stenciled on top with a yard stick measurement for cutting cloth etc. it’s a very unique piece which I may be selling.
ReplyDeleteRead's also had a location in Derby, CT on Route 34 in the Orange Derby shopping center. It was a one floor building. I believe the building was previously Zayre prior to Read's moving in sometime in the 70's. I worked there part time as a second job in the late 80's. However it had already been converted to the Jordan Marsh Company
ReplyDeleteAdditionally they also had a branch store in Yorktown Heights, NY.
Read's had downsized considerably and closed their parent location on John Street & moved into the prior Gimbel's location anchoring the North end of the Lafayette Center Hi Ho Center Mall. They again downsized their Bridgeport location when they closed the location anchoring the Hi Ho Mall and moved inside the mall on the second floor. It was a very small location. This location never became Jordan Marsh it just closed as the majority of shops had in the mall.
Trumbull was then considered to be the main store location
The former Gimbel's location was purchased by Chase Manhattan and gutted. It became their main office for Connecticut.
One of my most cherished Christmas memories is the beautiful displays of the special limited edition Madame Alexander dolls in Read's windows in the early 1950s, when I was 8 - 10 years old. That was magical!
ReplyDelete