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| Another fine book authored by Michael Lisicky - Click to see it on Amazon.com |
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1929 Halsey and Bank Street addition to Bamberger's
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| "One of America' Great Stores" |
L. Bamberger & Co. (1893)
131 Market Street
Newark, New Jersey
MArket 2-1212
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY (1,240,000 sq. ft.)
Basement
Bamberger's Budget Store • Tea Room Soda Fountain
Street Floor
Fine Jewelry • Fashion Jewelry • Real Jewelry • Handbags • Gloves • Small Leather Goods • Hosiery • Misses' Slippers • Shoe Bar • Fashion Accessories • Neckwear • Misses' Blouses • Misses' Sweaters • Street Floor Sportswear • Playtex Bar • Cosmetics • Drugs • Notions • Stationery • Adult Games • Cameras • Greenhouse • Books • Tobacco Shop • Fine Wines and Liquors • Optical • Men's Accessories • Men's Furnishings • Men's Shirts • Men's Ties • Sport Shirts • Tennis Wear • Men's Shoes • Men's Sport Separates • Men's Separates • Izod Shop • Men's Leisure Separates • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats
Balcony
Jewelry Repair
Second Floor
Men's Clothing • Men's Outerwear • New Traditions • Misses' Robes • Misses' Loungewear • Misses' Lingerie • Misses' Foundations • Junior Lingerie • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Sportswear • Misses' Coats • Daytime Dresses • Women's World • Uniforms
Third Floor
Better Sportswear • Bamberger's-by-the-Sea • Status Jeans • Better Dresses • Better Coats • Suit Shop • Contemporary Dresses • Contemporary Sportswear • Contemporary Coats • Town & Country Shop • Clubhouse • Young Collector • Millinery • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Mirror Room • Misses' Shoes • Shoe Salon • Etienne Aigner Shop • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Perspective
Fourth Floor
Baby Center • Layette Room • Toddler's Shop • Girls' Wear • Little Girls' Wear • Little Boys' Wear • Boys' Wear • Student Shop • Children's Accessories • Children's Shoes • Children's Furniture • Teenery • Fashion Fabrics • Art Needlework • Sewing Machines
Fifth Floor
Furniture • Bedding • Pictures • Mirrors • Decorator Gift Shop • Piano Salon • Chantrey Beauty Salon
Sixth Floor
Lamps • Sheets • Blankets • Pillows • Towels • Bath Shop • Broadloom • Area Rugs • Draperies • Curtains • Home Furnishings • Vacuums • Toys • Game Room • Hobbies • Sporting Goods • Ski Shop
Seventh Floor
Housewares • Kitchenware • Gourmet Shop • Electrical Appliances • Hearth Shop • Clocks • Ready-to-Paint Furniture • Hardware • Garden Shop • Paint Headquarters • Gifts • China • Table Linens • Silver Shop • Glassware • Music Center • Televisions • Radio/Communications • Fancy Grocery • Fruitador
Eighth Floor
Offices
Ninth Floor
Employment Office • Offices
Tenth Floor
Bamberger's Restaurant • Alcove Room
Eleventh Floor
Credit Office
Basement
Bamberger's Budget Store • Tea Room Soda Fountain
Street Floor
Fine Jewelry • Fashion Jewelry • Real Jewelry • Handbags • Gloves • Small Leather Goods • Hosiery • Misses' Slippers • Shoe Bar • Fashion Accessories • Neckwear • Misses' Blouses • Misses' Sweaters • Street Floor Sportswear • Playtex Bar • Cosmetics • Drugs • Notions • Stationery • Adult Games • Cameras • Greenhouse • Books • Tobacco Shop • Fine Wines and Liquors • Optical • Men's Accessories • Men's Furnishings • Men's Shirts • Men's Ties • Sport Shirts • Tennis Wear • Men's Shoes • Men's Sport Separates • Men's Separates • Izod Shop • Men's Leisure Separates • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats
Balcony
Jewelry Repair
Second Floor
Men's Clothing • Men's Outerwear • New Traditions • Misses' Robes • Misses' Loungewear • Misses' Lingerie • Misses' Foundations • Junior Lingerie • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Sportswear • Misses' Coats • Daytime Dresses • Women's World • Uniforms
Third Floor
Better Sportswear • Bamberger's-by-the-Sea • Status Jeans • Better Dresses • Better Coats • Suit Shop • Contemporary Dresses • Contemporary Sportswear • Contemporary Coats • Town & Country Shop • Clubhouse • Young Collector • Millinery • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Mirror Room • Misses' Shoes • Shoe Salon • Etienne Aigner Shop • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Perspective
Fourth Floor
Baby Center • Layette Room • Toddler's Shop • Girls' Wear • Little Girls' Wear • Little Boys' Wear • Boys' Wear • Student Shop • Children's Accessories • Children's Shoes • Children's Furniture • Teenery • Fashion Fabrics • Art Needlework • Sewing Machines
Fifth Floor
Furniture • Bedding • Pictures • Mirrors • Decorator Gift Shop • Piano Salon • Chantrey Beauty Salon
Sixth Floor
Lamps • Sheets • Blankets • Pillows • Towels • Bath Shop • Broadloom • Area Rugs • Draperies • Curtains • Home Furnishings • Vacuums • Toys • Game Room • Hobbies • Sporting Goods • Ski Shop
Seventh Floor
Housewares • Kitchenware • Gourmet Shop • Electrical Appliances • Hearth Shop • Clocks • Ready-to-Paint Furniture • Hardware • Garden Shop • Paint Headquarters • Gifts • China • Table Linens • Silver Shop • Glassware • Music Center • Televisions • Radio/Communications • Fancy Grocery • Fruitador
Eighth Floor
Offices
Ninth Floor
Employment Office • Offices
Tenth Floor
Bamberger's Restaurant • Alcove Room
Eleventh Floor
Credit Office
BRANCH STORES
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Morristown
Park Place & Speedwell Ave.
100,000 sq. ft.
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Paramus (1957)
Garden State Plaza
343,000 sq. ft.
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Menlo Park Mall (1959)
Edison
360,000 sq. ft.
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The Mall at Cherry Hill (1962)
Cherry Hill
220,000 sq. ft.
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Monmouth Mall (02.29.1960)
Eatontown
288,000 sq. ft.
Garden State Restaurant
 Willowbrook (1967)
Wayne
266,000 sq. ft.
 Nanuet Mall (1969) Nanuet, NY 225,000 sq. ft.
Brunswick Square (1970)
East Brunswick
244,000 sq. ft.
Livingston Mall (1972)
Livingston
224,000 sq. ft.
Springfield Mall (1974)
Springfield, PA
Deptford Mall (1975)
Deptford
208,000 sq. ft.
Quaker Bridge Mall (1976)
Lawrenceville
221,000 sq. ft.
Ocean County Mall (1977)
Tom's River
170,000 sq.ft.
Rockaway Town Center (1977)
Rockaway
260,000 sq. ft.
Montgomery Mall (1978)
North Wales, PA
220,000 sq. ft.
Christiana Mall (1979)
Newark, DE
215,000 sq. ft.
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jersey's version of macy's lol
ReplyDeleteSome other long-departed stores in NJ:
ReplyDeleteTeppers, Plainfield & Short Hill, NJ
Meyer Brothers, Paterson & Wayne, NJ
JM Towne, Caldwell & Wayne, NJ
Steinbach, Asbury Park & many branches
Levy Brothers, Elizabeth, Clifton, South Plainfield
Kresge, Newark (not to be confused with Kmart's beginnings)
Stainton's, Ocean City, NJ
Quackenbush, Paterson, NJ
Goerkes, Elizabeth
Epstein's, Morristown & branches
Holthausen's, Union City
As an ex-Buyer for Bamb's, this was a great store, and nothing like Macy's. Bamberger's started the Thanksgiving Day parade and Macy's stole it. The Newark store was magnificent, a gem of architecture and style. Bamb's saw the potential of suburban NJ growth and never saw a mall it did not like. It was a great learning ground, a great retailer, and again I must state, NOTHING like it parent corporation Macy's (until the 90's merger). It should be noted that before everything became Macy's, and when Macy's had Ny, Kansas City, SF, Davidson's and Bamberger's...it was Bamberger's who was its single largest volume division...and most profitable.
ReplyDeleteDo you know who and where is the company that produce the goods for the FUR SALON @ Bambergers? Thank you in advance for your reply.
DeleteDo you know who and where is the company that produce the goods for the FUR SALON @ Bambergers? Thank you in advance for your reply.
DeleteWhy are there so few pictures of Bam's available? I have shadowy memories of going there all the time in the early '60s with my mom and grandma but would love to see some photos of the store in that period...
ReplyDeleteI just found a tie that my great uncle left me that was from bambergers mens store, brand is Robert Stewart. wonder if i can post a pic of it?
ReplyDeleteanyone recall an exhibit of eskimos during l950's christmastime?
ReplyDeleteThat exhibit, with live reindeer, is described in Linda Forgosh's book,"Louis Bamberger, Department Store Innovator & Philanthropist". Fascinating.
DeleteDid the Bambergers at Christiana Mall in Newark DE ever have a restaurant?
ReplyDeleteYes, it was upstairs nestled in the back of the housewares area. Macy's called the area the cellar. After the restaurant closed, they sometimes setup christmas trees for the holidays in the rooms that made up the dining areas.
DeleteWere there art exhibitions held at Bamberger's in the 1980's? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteno, it did not
DeleteMy very first credit card when I was 17!! Thank you Bambergers for taking a chance on me.
ReplyDeleteso was mine, at 18. It was the old charge plate...a small card, red and white withe the scripted Bamberger's logo. It is now a long defunct card, but I STILL remember the account number...669-75-581. I miss the Bamberger's name. Bamb's was New Jersey.
DeleteI still have my red and white Bam's card tucked away in my treasures. I worked in the buyer's office (small leather goods) in 1969. :-)
DeleteI was a cosmetics Buyer form 1976-1985, then was "transferred" to Macy's in the same position, but stayed only 6 months, cause I hated Macy's...and still do.
DeleteWhat lines of cosmetics did bams carry ?
DeleteFlori Roberts and Fashion Fair, among others.
DeleteI have an artwork with a label on the back of the frame saying: L. Bamberger & Co. Newark N.J. Picture Dept. and Frames to Order with a hand-written number 3739. the artwork itself has no signature or date. I wonder if anyone could tell me what year would correspond to the number 3739 and how I could find out more about the work.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered this site. Great! Was doing some ancestry research on the Hecht and Bamberger families. My husband has ancesters on both sides. He also remembers all the great stores accross the country. Having worked for Levi Strauss & Co he worked with many of them nation wide.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever hear of a "Miss Bamberger" or "Mrs Bamberger" Contest?
ReplyDeleteI have a China Flower Basket that was supposed to be won in this contest. The piece has a very old paper sticker on the bottom that says, "Made in England for Bamberger & Co Newark". There is another sticker, like a price sticker, that says "Bambergers" but the rest is unreadable. The bottom of the china says "Thorley Bone China, Made in England."
I remember back in 1965/66, my girlfriend was in Kearny High and she was pledging for a sorority. We stood out front of Bamberger's Newark and sold toilet paper for 1 penny a sheet. Bam's customers were the best. They knew we were embarrassed but we ended up having a great time. I forget how many sheets were on a roll back then but I think we sold all ours that day.
ReplyDeleteI have an old plate inherited from my mother. It was made expressly for L. Bamberger & Co by D.E. McNicol, East Liverpool. The art on the plate shows Robert Treat directing the landing of (next words are worn out) Newark, N.J. It also says, 1666 and 1916. It is obviously a comemmorative plate.
ReplyDeleteI have a hatbox from Bambergers New Jersey
ReplyDeleteand it is a great design you can view it
on Etsy.com LaMaindeLavalle 161 is my shop
name it was in need of repair and i repaired it
i think it is from the 1970s
Does anyone know who built the upright pianos for Bambergers NJ 40 plus years ago?
ReplyDeleteMy mom got hers there for Christmas, 1940. She said it was a Story & Clark - made in Chicago I believe.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Bam's as a makeup artist in the cosmetics dept. It was so much fun and such a classy store. Once Macy's offcially took over, it went down hill. All its flair was taken away. I miss those days.
ReplyDeleteDid you work there in 1974/75? I'm looking for someone that used to work there. He played the accordion. His name is Mr. LaGuardia. Did you happen to know him?
DeleteI have a photograph of my mother taken when she was about 5 years old, 1941. The back has Bamberger's Newark, NJ from a stamp and the handwritten number is BA-6354.
ReplyDeleteI had just started my own business and I am looking for an idea to write great New England Uniform, Inc. company profile that catches people interest. Please have any suggestions. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNew England Uniform, Inc. company profile
\ I remember going "Uptown" to Bam's at Christmastime with my family, to see the Huge Lionel train layout that was set up in the toy dept. on the 6th. floor. It was around 1957 or 58. It was spectacular!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any photos of it?
I used to go to Bam's in Newark with my mother in the 1960's and 1970's. One of my favorite memories is of the malted milk drinks we would order at the lunch counter in Bam's basement. All of these comments make me very nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteI remember my Dad taking a snap in front of Bamberger's in Plainfield, I found it the other day in my old old slide.I'm walking with Mom in our Sunday best, I have a balloon in my hand and am wearing those ever so popular little girl dresses with the white pattent leather mary janes. My mom as spiffy as ever in her pencil skirt and cute white hat. It was great, we used to dress up to go shopping! Now its dungarees that are falling down with your knickers showing, Ah the good ole days ;)
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear a description of the inside of Bamberger's-what made it special and unique. We moved from. NJ when I was 7 and I have vague memories. I do remember Wannamaker's in Philly because I visited it as a teen. That was very different and uniques as well. My grandmother worked at Bamberger's in the late 39-40. Thanks for any descriptions you can write....
ReplyDeletekaylaenglelewis@me.com
I tried to email, but it bounced back
DeleteI saw your question on the Department Store Museum site. Let me start by saying, I live in DC but originally am a native of NJ. I was a Buyer for Bamberger's for 10 years, from the mid 70s thru the mid 80s, when I was "promoted" to Macy's. At that time the stores were completely separate from each other, with separate buying offices, credit departments, etc. It was not until the late 80s when the mergers started and my beloved Bamberger's went to hell. I can also tell you having worked for both divisions when they were separate, Bamberger's was AMAZING, mace's was a disaster, and continues to be.
What made it...
1. It was a large store of 1.3 million square feet.
2. The first floor had 20 foot ceilings all hand made wooden fixtures, and it was very much in the Art Deco mode.
3. Most of the floors were designed by famed architect Raymond Lowry and Associates, so there was a masterful sense of architectural beauty and it was one of the first stores, back in the 40s, that utilized what is now referred to as "shop" concepts.
4. The merchandising in the store because of Lowry's design did not allow for merchandise on top of each other...there was plenty of room to shop, you had seating (even in the 80s) and room...tons of room.
5. The main restaurant was mahogany wood panel, elegant and had great food.
6. the sales help was extremely professional, not like today's Macy's...and knowledgeable
7. The key factor to all this was Raymond Lowry's architecture, it had to be seen to believe. He designed other stores such as Lord and Taylor, and the defunct Hahne's Montclair store (talk about magnificent), but Bamberger's Newark was unlike any other. It was the curvature of the lines, and how he utilized it on the floors, the way they flowed and the interior color combinations. Bamberger's pretty much kept his 1940's redo until the end, with some updated, such as painting and carpeting, bit the store saw no renovations to destroy his work...that was the marvel.
I hope I answered your question. If you have any more, let me know.
See this, too - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamberger's
DeleteOf Willobrook mall...
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, there was Bambergers...
And only Bambergers, everything else came later.
I remember many Christmas shopping trips trying to find presents for my Mom without her knowlege. And I remember the big Peanuts fad in the 60s and my normally tightwaddy Mom caving (without my realizing it was happening) and splurging and doing my whole room Snoopy. Even bought me the mythical Astronaut Snoopy I wish I still had! I didn't know her suprise until the UPS truck pulled up and she said 'You can open ONE box now!' We weren't rich this was huge. Now its Macys and NO its NOT the same. Back then upstairs there was even a restaurant that had better hamburgers than any of that mall garbage!
To Anaonymouas on 1/24/12. How true. I shopped paramus before WillowBrook opened. When Willowbrooked opened, that was closer, until I became a Buyer, and each Saturday would go to Willowbrook to visit my department. Yes,, the store had a restaurant and even a budget store, which became a renovated mens department in 1981...and a really fine one at that. It carried high end designers, because the customer base then was far different than today. As a Macy's, it is garbage. When I go back home to NJ, I still refer to it as Bambs, and still go to Willowbrook.
ReplyDeleteOne last thing about my beloved bamberger's...the stores which had restaurants (Newark, Paramus, Willowbrook, Menlo Park,Cherry Hill, Nanuet, Rockaway-which still does!, Livingston, Springfield, Montgomery, Oxford Valley, White Marsh (closed store-moved to Hecht's store), Hunt Valley (closed store), and Bridgewater) all of them were name Louie B's, after Louis Bamberger. Newark also had a restaurant on the lower level named the Carving Board. I do so miss department store restaurants.
ReplyDeleteThe restaurant in Rockaway was called The Carriage House. I worked there from 1980 to 1982. It was on the lower level across from the beauty salon. It had a rustic look with deer antlers deer heads a canoe over the bar which was on the left as you walked in. to the right was was a 2 counter station and the carvery that made sandwiches to order. The restaurant had a split level where in the back you had to go up two steps. Had a lot of fun there.
DeleteThere was a restaurant in the Bambergers in the Ocean County Mall. I vaguely remember it. I was trying to recall how it looked.
DeleteI always wondered whether Louis B's was tied to founder's name! Used to attend fund raising events at the Court (King of Prussia) location. Court's Bamberger's opened in 1981. I vividly remember the graphic nature of the displays (unlike any other store) and the mouse-maze floor plan that guaranteed you were in there at least 20 minutes before you could find a mall exit. Macy's unfinished reno in the mid 1990's still left unmasked hints of the originality from 1981: look at the floors and ceiling. Went over budget so they just stopped and painted over what remained. :- )
ReplyDeleteTo the Ex Buyer, you are so correct. Bamberger's was a great store and Macy's ruined it. I worked at Bambergers when I was a junior in high school, loved it so much, that I became degreed in Merchandising. I think I still have a report I did for college which includes several photographs and pages from the Fashion Reporter and the "Q". It was a time when a sales manager could actually call a buying office and influence the assortment or quantity of goods sent to a store. I can remember the store visits from senior execs from Newark. Bambs was top sin everything, from Loss Prevention, Display, Advertising, yadda yadda yadda. I believe Time magazine did a story on Bambergers and it does show that it was Macys top division. Louis is turning over in his grave.
ReplyDeleteI am so very appreciative to "ex-buyer" for writing the information that I had requested. Thank you. Also, thank you to RJ regarding the Wikepedia page. I will check back in case someone else writes another description....
ReplyDeleteBased on ex-buyer's info about the designer, Raymond Lowry, I found 2 articles from 1940 ("Women's Wear Daily" and the Elizabeth, N.J." Journal") about the dress salon, new at that time. It has some photos and alot of description. Here is the link: http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/libimages/LoewyScrapbooks/0019.jpg
ReplyDeleteN.B. Raymond Loewy was responsible for the design of the Pennsylvania Railroad's luxury train, The Broadway Limited in the late 1930s and again after WWII. His firm also famously designed renovations for Gimbels in 1950-51 and Higbee's in the 1960s, among many, many other other retail designs. Detroit's J. L. Hudson Company redesigned its 7th floor (The renowned "Woodward Shops") in the 1960s, and that, too, was a Loewy design. I personally saw that in its hey-day and I can say that it was beautiful; the epitome of mid-modern interior design. I would also venture to guess, given my experience as an architect that it is Loewy's staff that deserves much of the credit for all of this work.
ReplyDeleteBruce
I just found a flat wooden leg shape with holes in it with a L. Bamberber & Co sticker on it. I am not sure what it was used for but it is very interesting. Would anyone be able to help?
ReplyDeleteI must disagree with those executives who have " bad mouthed " Macy's. I began my career at Bam's in 1951 on the executive training squad and left to go to Mac's in 1967 as a Vice President for Merchandising. I had a great career in both divisions and although Bam's was and is my favorite store, Macy's was terrific. It had some bad years until Ed Finkelstein took over and remade Herald Square in to one of the world's shopping destinations.
ReplyDeleteI was one of the executives who opened the Plainfield branch and have nothing but good things to say about both Bamberger's and Macy's.
I would love to hear from some of my former coworkers. My e mail is: Mcaddy444@hotmail.com.My name is Marvin Laba.
Christiana,did have a resturant!
ReplyDeleteex.administrator,Helen Betachini was the store mngr.
My great grandmother painted fine china in the Newark Bams for Louie Bamberger. Would Love to know if anyone remembers her. Her name is Anna Spitz (also called "Tilly"). I have some of her pieces dated in the late 20's and 30's. Would love some information on her history.
ReplyDeletekathpa1207@hotmail.com
I remember Bams and my mom and grandma and their friends called it...We went to the one in Ocean County Mall in Toms River, NJ. It was right behind the center court, where Macy's(Gag...yuck...except they have Coach bags for 10-20% cheaper)is today. I remember going to the top floor and there was a kitchen/cooking/cutlery etc...place called The Cellar. The kids clothes were so fun...Jet Set, Spumoni, Guess, Esprit...I used to get these awesome sweatshirts with penguins or polar bears or mice...all doing stuff like in a theme...The penguin one can be seen on Jodie Sweetin(stephanie on full house)in the season 2 opening credits...along with the same book bag I had. The mouse one had them playing a wheel of fortune type game, and I had a PS Gitano pink sweater and black skirt set where there was black scotty dogs on the sweater and white ones on the skirt...
ReplyDeleteEvery week I would be like "I have the same outfit!" I swear the wardrobe dept. for them must have shopped Bams or Macy's or Kid's R Us.
I have what appears to be either an old credit card or employee ID card. It is 2 1/2" x 1 1/2". the front has a 5 digit number with L. Bamberger & co. "one of americas great stores" Newark, N.J. the back side is a picture of the Newark building.It is made of plastic. Can anyone tell me what it is?
ReplyDeletewcpfixit@optonline.net
My great grandmother Anna Spitz painted the fine china for Louie B in the Newark Store. I have many of her pieces. Does anyone remember her or her work. I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
ReplyDeletekathpa1207@hotmail.com
Found this site and brought back to some great memories. My father was a delivery man for Bamb's and then it went to UPS. The Thankgiving parade, when I was a kid was on Market St. My father drove one of the floates and was happy to make the extra money.When I was in high school my mother got a job in the office at Bamb's.It was a great store.When you made a purchase back then you could always have it delivered.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Bamberger's Bridgewater had a restaurant. Of course, it opened as Macy's
ReplyDeletewor tv origannly broadcast from the newark store
ReplyDeleteI Have A boy doll its called hans made by K&R in Germany mold 114 with the tag still attached Like new how can I find out what year it was sold in the store. it has been in a ceder chest many years.931-638-5722
ReplyDeleteDo you have the exact locations of the Bambergers Restaurants? I think I found the one in Livingston, on the third floor, across from the restrooms. It's a storage area, but it's decorated in red and had fake french windows and a distinctive doorway. Also think there was a hair salon next to where the restaurant was.
ReplyDeleteHere is some more information about Bamberger's restaurants. As the chain grew rapidly from the late 60's to the late 70's, MOST locations included a "Carriage House", full service restaurant, many with full bar service. During this time frame the downtown Newark store featured The Dinette, a counter style room on the Budget Level, and snack bars on the Street and 4th Floors. There was a more formal restaurant, and private party rooms on the 10th floor, but that floor was leased to a private club starting in the early 1960's. In the early 1980's some of the suburban locations saw their restaurants close, and a few others were re-branded, "Louie B's" in a node to Bamberger's founder. With dining options becoming less and less in downtown Newark during this same time frame, a table service room was added next to The Dinette.
ReplyDeleteKen
Thank you, Ken, for all of the information. It seems as though Bamberger's is really missed!
ReplyDeleteBruce
A few other notes about Bamberger's it's food service, and the downtown store. There were (3) levels to Bamberger's Budget store. "Lower Level Two"contained their Budget Domestic departments, "Lower level Annex" that ran under one of the Prudential buildings contained Budget Furniture and Rugs, a Budget Beauty Salon, and the Bamberger Butcher Shop and Deli. The main Lower Level, "Lower Level One" contained the remainder of the Budget Store. The size of the Budget Store complex rivaled that of their mall stores, which were larger than their competition. When Bamberger's started to cut back on selling space downtown in the mid-70's, the Annex and Lower Level Two were closed as selling space. The Butcher Shop and Deli were relocated to space on the Street Floor and remained until the early 80's. The Bamberger building itself had 4 lower levels, "3B" and "4 B" were part of the receiving department. The departments store of Newark would make for a great book (hint, hint).
ReplyDeleteKen
To Jill F.- I think the flat wooden leg was a display piece that women's stockings/hosiery was placed on so that customers could look at the product without tearing open the packages- I think I remember there were several of them attached together with a chain so all of the samples stayed together in one place. I worked in Bamberger's (and then Macy's) in Willowbrook Mall, Wayne NJ from 1985-1988. It was my first job at age 15 and I was a "floater"- so when someone called out sick in the "Swatch Watch Boutique" or in The Cellar Cafe, etc. etc. I was sent in that area to work. Brings back nightmare memories of me trying to find specific shoes in the enormous women's shoe stockroom!!
ReplyDeletePlease, someone tell me if I am dreaming or if it really happened! I remember going with my grandmother to Bamberger's around Christmas time and there was a "train" attached to rails on the ceiling of one of the floors. The "train" thus circled the floor from above. Did this really exist or only in my nostalgic imagination? My grandmother worked at nearby Ohrbachs, but, for the real deal, she took me to Bamberger's.
ReplyDeleteYes...there was a train on the ceiling. I remember it well !
DeleteI found this site by accident but... wow! It brings back memories! I grew up in Livingston, NJ and I recall the opening of Bambergers Livingston Mall (I think 1972... when I was 6) and I recall stories from my whole family about shopping "downtown" in Newark at Bambergers store.
ReplyDeleteLike most Americana-gone-by, it makes me sad, but I suppose, that's progress but sometimes I think we have not progressed we've just lost parts of our collective history.
Worked as a stockboy in the candy dept. in 1967. Was my first job out of high school.
ReplyDeleteRemember it fondly... it made for a most wonderful Christmas season!
Like Rick said above, this site does bring back memories! I grew up in Morristown and remember going to Bam's with my mom. At Christmas time, Santa always arrived by coming down from the roof of the building with a little help from the hook & ladder. Yes, Epstein's and Bam's had amazing Christmas displays in their windows! The Bamberger's in Morristown did have a restaurant back in the day, on the third floor. Later, after the building became Macy's, I worked there for a time. The restaurant at that point was being used as an employee break room. Sadly, the store closed in '93. Our beloved Bam's (turned Macy's) sat vacant for years until Century 21 moved in. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteBamberger's used to have shopping bags that showed people in clothes from hundreds of years ago & moving up to closer to the present. I remember making paper dolls out of my mom's bags. Are there any images of those bags?
ReplyDeleteI loved shopping in Bamberger's as a child with my mother. Then as an adult, it was such a great store. Does anyone know if Bamberger's carried Madame Alexander dolls back in the 1950's? My mother bought me one when I had my tonsils out and I still have it. Was wondering if she could have purchased it at Bamberger's because she did most of her shopping there.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question about the Madame Alexander dolls, if they were purchased downtown in the 1950's, my guesstimate would be that it was bought at Hahne & Co., or Kresge-Newark. By the 1950's Bamberger's (under RH Macy ownership) became a more middle level store, and their Toy Department carried more mass market products than anything else.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question about a monorail running around the ceiling of a Toy Department, that was Kresge-Newark. The Kresge-Newark monorail ran along the ceiling of their 9th floor Toy Dept through the Christmas season of 1958. In 1959 Kresge leased the 8th and 9th floor of their building to Western Electric, and the Toy Department moved (sans monrail) to the basement.
Ken
I miss the days of shopping at Bam's with my Mom and grandparents in the Menlo Park Mall. Does anyone remember the restaurant upstairs and the delicious burgers and home made coleslaw they served? The customer service in those days was first-rate!
ReplyDelete@ken: Thanks for the monorail answer. So I wasn't dreaming--just had the wrong store!
ReplyDeleteWasn't there a Bamberger's in North Brunswick, NJ and then moved to Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick?
ReplyDeleteI had a photograph of my Grandmother taken around the 1950's and after Sandy Hurricane it is gone It was taken at Bam's. Does anyone know if they had a photo archives from years back?
ReplyDeleteBamberger's used to have shopping bags that showed people in clothes from hundreds of years ago & moving up to closer to the present. I remember making paper dolls out of my mom's bags. Are there any images of those bags?
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see to see someone mention Holthausen's, Union City. Great memories of that store, even though I lived in Bergen County you always went to West New York or Union City to shop
ReplyDeleteBefore the name change to Macy's, there were three Bamberger's in MD...White Marsh, Owings Mills, and Hunt Valley. The Hunt Valley store closed, the White Marsh store is now Boscov's (Macy's occupies the old Hecht's store), and the Owings Mills store was converted to a Boscov's (now vacant)after Macy's moved to the old Hecht's store.
ReplyDeleteI remember those bags as well. The figures were dressed as if at Versailles. Wigs, long ornate dresses. Men in tails. The bags also had an unusual closure. When the handle was put through it the bag turned into a soft sided box.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous on 3-8-12...thank you for the kind compliment. I loved Bamb's and still refer to it as such whenever I go back to NJ to visit family and friends.
ReplyDeleteTo Michael. The Bridgewater store was in the planning stages under Bamberger's for years. When it opened it was actually Macy's-New Jersey (formely Bamb's) which meant it still was based out of Newark and used those buyers. Eventually Macy's NJ and NY were consolidated into one...the first of many consolidations. The store is interesting in that the interior design was only used in one other store and that was Macy's Santa Rosa, CA. Management did not like the layout and changed course on future stores. I personally like the look of the original store and being I have not been to Bridgewater in some time am not sure if it has seen any renovation.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure the Deptford store had a restaurant in the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteAs I remember, Bamberger's had a basement and a sub basement. One level had bargains, and one had food. Some of the best spreadable cheddar cheese came from that store. When teamed with the Pecter's rye bread which they also sold, it was a lunch worth waiting for
ReplyDeleteI remember when the Bam's opened in Princeton. My mother was raised I Newark and had moved to south Jersey. She never accepted the Princeton store as an equal the Newark store.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to Bamberger's in the '70s, mostly the one where I grew up, Morristown. We used to eat burgers and shakes at the restaurant-Carriage House I guess it was called?? I don't think anyone who grew up in the area back then felt good about the switchover to Macy's. Bam's was such a Morristown icon. At least they never altered the outside of the building with the cameos. Yeah, I still have one of those shopping bags with the costumed figures.
ReplyDeleteI went in the 1930's and 40's as a child..nothing like the toys on the 6th floor or the great food in the restaurant!
ReplyDeleteAre we better off now with Amazon and the Mall Macy's? Not for us.
I have a Bamberger's upright piano and want to sell it, does anyone know how much is worth? my email address is QMac31@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI have an old broach that came from there and wondered 1. If it is real? And 2. How much it is worth? It is round with 13 round cut yellowish gems on the outermost row. Then there is 13 marquise cut "emeralds". Then a row of 10 smaller yellowish gems. And one large round cut "emerald" in the center. I am not sure if the gems are real that is why there is quotation marks. And the gems seem to be set in real yellow gold. A magnet will not stick to it. Just wondering what you might know?
ReplyDeleteI forgot the broach is in the box from Bamberger's
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the name of the White Marsh Mall Bamberger's restaurant from the 80's?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the name of the White Marsh Mall Bamberger's restaurant from the 80's?
ReplyDeleteI think it was called Louis B's like some of the other store restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI meant Louie B's
ReplyDeleteWorked there (Willowbrook Mall ) from 1983-1987 as a salesperson, then night department manager, then Service Manager. The store today does not seem to have the same prestige as it did in the 80's. I worked through the multi-million dollar renovation of the store as well as the transition from Bamberger's to Macy's. When I first started, Bamberger's in Willowbrook had a restaurant, liquor store and auto store. Gradually, as the store began taking on the Macy's name, they phased out the auto store(around 1984), then the liquor store (around 1986) and the restaurant may have made it almost until the 90's. It was a good store with good people working there, some of which I still communicate with today.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Bam's while a student at Rutgers-Newark, 1961-65... M-W-F 5:45PM-9:45PM and all day Saturday. Sold gloves one Christmas, also was in cosmetics, and finally in Juniors. Bought my wedding gown there. I remember the basement restaurant being called the Garden State Tea Room. Never was a big coffee drinker, but they has the best coffee.
ReplyDeleteWillowbrook mall bamburgers had a contest and kids put their hand prints in cement in front of the entrance somewhere. Inside I think.. Im sure those prints are long gone. Maybe it was outside but I remeber it being inside. My brother had his hand print there...
ReplyDeletedo you know what my knit baby clothes may be worth? says Bamberger's Newark made in spain
ReplyDeleteI also remembered the monorail train on the ceiling. I could have sworn it was in Bambergers but I saw someone write that it was in Kresges. My mother didn't shop in Kresges only Bambergers and Orbachs. But I guess she must have taken me there at Christmas back in the 1950's. :-)
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Bloomfield Warehouse from 1970 to 1977. We sorted all the merchandise for all the stores. I grew up just up the street so I knew about how crazy thing got when they had warehouse sales. I have fond memories of the people I worked with there.
ReplyDeleteI just lost my Father and as my brother, sister and I were going through his belongings we found a Velour Top Hat in perfect condition . Says Bambergers Men's Store Newark With the initials J C M in the top of the hat. Just wondering of a value
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute, I would of never thought of that. I am definitely making me one or maybe a few! Lol
I remember shopping at Bamberger's with Mom at Christmastime when she took me to see Santa. When I was 10, we went to see legendary singer, Connie Francis, who was doing a makeup presentaion at Bamberger's and promoting here new film, "Looking For Love". Then we went Schrafft's for lunch on Broad Street, then took in a great movie at the Loew's Theatre. Those were suchy beautiful wonderful days. Now it breaks my heart to see what newark has become. It looks like it was just deacyed by a great cancer.
ReplyDeletePerceptive comments! It was decayed by a great cancer, I believe.
ReplyDelete-Bruce
Newark, like a lot of cities, didn't have a chance, once the federal government began encouraging suburban development. Cheep gas, highway construction, tax deductibility of mortgage interest, reliance on property taxes to fund schools, all these things discouraged urban development. In Newark the problems were of course exacerbated by the riots. In addition, the housing stock there is fragile. No sturdy brownstone row houses. That has discouraged it coming back today like a lot of other cities, where a desire to be closer to the action has encouraged revival.
ReplyDeleteAt a yard sale in Orlando, I found a tweed jacket with the original Bamberger logo inside. It peeked my interest if only because the jacket had such character. I then came across this fascinating blog ! Thanks everyone for contributing. I would have loved to visit the Newark store in its heyday.
ReplyDeleteAny way to find out about an advertising artist back in the late 30's early 40's?
ReplyDeleteSomeone mentioned service managers in an earlier post. Bamaberger's had a unique in store management system. I started as a department manager in the Willowbrook store in 1979 in mens. I eventually became a Buyer. There were tow types of managers...department Department managers and their day staff worked just that...M-F 9-6, No nights, NO weekends, No holidays (except Christmas). Corporate management felt that department managers should be merchants...work closely with the Buyers. So our job was to merchandise, prepare for sales, analyze reports. The service managers jobs were nights and weekends. They were responsible for making sure the store was staffed (each area had its own service manager) and service (yes, we did provide that) was being provided.Who would not have wanted to be a department manager for Bamberger's. This set up was unique only to Bamberger's...Macy's DID NOT do this. Once the name changed this system was gone. The only time department managers worked extra was during the Christmas season, when we worked a 6 day week. As a result, all department managers received an extra week of vacation for that..NOT anymore. Retail life was civil at Bamberger's and Bamberger's was Macy's largest division at the time (even larger than Macy's, NY).
ReplyDeleteVery good point about retail life being civil. I just recently graduated with a degree in sales management with a focus in retail. Bam's way of doing things makes sense. Dept. managers should have more of a say in what is merchandised. Having worked with sales management at Macy's, this is not the case. Sigh.... I have enjoyed my time with Macy's; I wish I could have seen the good ole days of retailing.
DeleteAll adverting for Bamaberger's was done "in house", with its own staff.
ReplyDeleteex-buyer: Great memories of Bamberger's, and the structure it's stores followed. Bamberger's, in downtown Newark was my first job, and I worked there from 1977 to 1980 while still in school.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the full time, Sales/Department Managers, each manager had an Expeditor who acted as their assistant, and a Night Expeditor who worked the (2) evenings that downtown was open and all day Saturday. The Sales Managers wore white flowers, the Night Expeditor, yellow flowers. In Newark only the full time Expeditors also wore white flowers as they were NOT in the union. In SOTN (stores other than Newark) the full time expeditors wore yellow flowers. We also had part time senior managers known as Service managers who wore white flowers and worked the (2) evenings and Saturdays. When evening hours were cut completely in 1979, we part timers worked evenings in the vast offices that Bamberger's maintained in Newark, and on the sales floor Saturdays. Ken
Anonymous 7/29/14...I was in Newark 1980-1984 and then Macy's NY 1984-85 before I left. Bamb's was the BEST organization to learn and train...nothing like Macy's.
ReplyDeleteI was a Service Manager in the Monmouth Store in the early 80's. Soon after I left is when they did away with them. I grew up in that store, literally. My Mom was always shopping there as a kid, then it was my first job - still in high school. I started as a Christmas Temporary Carry Out. I helped people that bought big things or a lot of things get them in their car. I did that for about 6 months and finally got a position on the selling floor - The Cellar in Small Appliances. It was the BEST! I had a blast! About a year later, I got my "Yellow Flower" and was Expeditor over all of housewares and I had gift wrap too. (They had the BEST wrapping paper. Real thick and easy to use even for a guy!). About another year later, I got my "White Flower" and was the Service Manager over The Cellar and Men's. I am not sure what was a better education, working there or the college I was attending nearby. I filled in whenever and where ever they wanted. Like ExBuyer said, the day Sales Managers worked very closely with the Buyers to merchandise the floor. I learned a lot about using the "real estate" and "massing out" the merchandise. I left there to go to Hahne and Co in Newark. I was the highest starting non-engineering salary graduating that year, and it was all because of the experience I had at Bamberger's!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anyone has mentioned the Plainfield Bambergers store. I believe it was built over or next to a former pond or some sort of body of water that may have been used as recreational facility in 'Victorian times.... when they first opened, I believe there was a bakery by the back door!
ReplyDeleteI worked in Crystal and China department, and did temp gigs at Christmas time. The Carriage House Restaurant had dynamite frozen yogurt with chopped walnuts and fresh fruit on top!
Plainfield, Morristown and Princeton were the first three branch stores built prior to the 50's and I believe prior to WWII. Plainfield and Morristown were the two smallest volume stores, so they really never saw any money spent on them and terms of renovation and they received "just the basics" in terms of merchandise. I visited both stores twice as a buyer. I do remember the restaurant in Plainfield, but do not recall a bakery...whihc to say there wasn't one, I just do not remember.
ReplyDeleteI have an invitation from l.bamberger in beautiful color for the mannequin revue of the spring modes.on th back it says l.bamberger&co.5 cite' paradis paris. from what year could this be from.i also have several ww2 countercurrents magazines.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 9-9-14: I honestly would have no idea, but judging by the fact it states "L. Bamberger" and also has an origin of Paris...I would guess it has to be prior to 1950 as the "L' was dropped right after WWII.
ReplyDeleteA Anonymous on 8/3/14...for some reason your post just popped up on my email page. Thanks for the title clarifications at store line...I remember the flowers (white and yellow) but could not think of the titles. That gave me chills and wonderful flashbacks to my days with my beloved Bamberger's. Like you, I grew up with the store. Prior to the Newark riots, we would shop downtown Newark. Afterwards, we did more with Paramus and eventually Willowbrook once it opened. I gre up in my teens years during the early 70s at Willowbrook. Once I went to work for Bamb's, I was men's department manager until going to Newark as a buyer. I visited Monmouth on several occasions in the early 80s, but the store had not seen a renovation at that point in time. Hahne's had a lovely store in the mall (now L&T). I know this sounds corny, but I loved working for them, they were just such a great retailer with amazing people...nothing like its parent company at the time, and certainly nothing like it was since the name change.
ReplyDeleteI lived in East Orange in the 40's and 50's. My mom and i would thake the bus to Bambergers for shopping at Bams, Orbachs, Haynes and others, We always had lunch at Bams, Those were different times, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteSOMEWHERE IN MY COLLECTION I HAVE SEVERAL COPIES OF COUNTER CURRENTS AN INHOUSE MAGAZINE FROM BAMBERGERS.SOME FROM WW2.I ALSO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL INVITATION FOR A FASHION SHOW FROM PARIS ?BEAUTIFUL PAINTIG ON THE INVITTION.THE WW2 EDITINS TELL OF WHAT EACH FLOOR IS DOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WAR EFFORT AND NEWS OF THE BOYS AND MEN WHO WENT TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY. DAVID ZEAK
ReplyDeleteToday, Thanksgiving Day 2014, I was telling my son about the Christmas window displays and seeing the Eskimos in the store one year. I guess in the Late 40s or early 50s
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I am desperately searching for Bambergers holiday circulars from 1979 and forward for a collage project I'm working on. I would greatly appreciate any tips so I can continue with this art project. I would PAY for those circulars.
ReplyDeleteNancy.. the best way might be to go to your local library and see if they have newspapers (archived) that go back that far...The Star Ledger would be the best bet as every ad we ever ran was in that paper.Also, local papers as well...Philadelphia market was the Inquirer, also the Bergen Record would be another. Newspaper back then was the main form of advertising and circulars were inserted especially in Sunday editions.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Macy's/Bamberger's in the Springfield Mall a couple of day ago, and the outside almost resembles the pic of the Oxford Valley Mall location. this particular Macy's/Bamberger's is 3 floors, with the mall entrances on the 1st & 2nd floor.
ReplyDeleteI have an upright Bamberger's piano which I am researching. Apparently the manufacturer was a company called Artist Newark NJ. Does anyone have additional information on these pianos? Original price? Years sold? Current value? Thanks & happy new year!
ReplyDeleteSeashore Delivery Station for BAMBERGERS Dept. Store ~ASBURY PARK NJ
ReplyDeleteThis photo is on a vintage post card and was also in an ad dating from the 1920s. In 1935 Bam's had a shop on the AP Boardwalk!
Does anyone know the location of the seashore delivery station?
I started in Operations at the Cherry Hill store and then promoted to helping open the New Brunswick store and promoted back to the Cherry Hill store. Long hours but good company and made a lot of friends. 1967-1973......Ray
ReplyDeleteI started at Bam's in January ' 72 on the Executive Training Squad, right out of the Army. i became an Assistant Buyer, Department Mgr., Buyer, Merch. Mgr., and finally Store mgr. in Christiana and Hunt Valley (back in my hometown). Left in ' 83 to go to the May Company. Bam's was a great place to work, learn, and grow. The May Company was the opposite.
ReplyDelete@ Stan. I agree. When I left Bams as a Buyer, I went to L&T when they were owned by ADG as a buyer. The day it was announced that ADG was purchased by may I went into my divisionals office and resigned. He pleated and I said "NO", my only retail rule..NEVER work for May Company. I went back to Sak's as a buyer.
ReplyDeleteex-buyer do we know each other?
ReplyDeleteMy Grandmother was a secretary on the 11th floor of the Newark branch.I have memos which are like cartoons drawn and written by her boss "from the desk of Dan Bergman"they are self portrait like and quite unique.
ReplyDeleteMy father was happy running Bamberger's sometime in the Fourties and Fifties. I would join him for lunch on Saturdays. Once in a while I would do a little artwork for a sale in the store. Some time when I was in highschool Macy's wanted him to change to NY. He ended up in Philly running Lit's department store for years.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to what the Bamberger's building is used for today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.165halsey.com/company/history/
Ken
To Anonymous : "Ken"...WOW, simply beautiful...Know where that is as the eleveators were only in one location
ReplyDeleteIt is a telling experience to look at this building's new use - It is full of tech equipment. Look at the ground floor retail spaces on the floor plan and they say "Vacant."
ReplyDeleteWhere people once shopped and enjoyed themselves, technology buzzes, and that's it. Are we becoming robots?
Just asking.
The elevator lobby is nicely designed, but the photo, for good reason, doesn't show a single person. That's the world we live in. Ask about the demise of the department store, and this might be a major clue to the answer . . .
BAK: A stout observation to say the least..and very sad commentary. These days will never return and now even "malls" are in danger of non existence.
ReplyDeleteTwo words: MENLO PARK
ReplyDeleteyes There is a store in Menlo Park...elaborate
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Bamberger's in White Marsh for 10 years. My husband and I met there and have been married for almost 22 years. There were also 4 other couples that met there and got married. When they went to being Macy's it was down hill from there. I have a glass from the Louie B's Restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI was a cosmetics buyer and opened the White Marsh store in '81. The layout at the time was a new format they were trying. I loved the light fixture that was above the escalators...not sure if still there or not. As with ALL Bamberger's stores (even though they were always a part of Macy*s) they were run as a "division" and not as "part of" Macy*s which means they had autonomy. Once the name changed and all divisions were merged it was a quick downhill spiral.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the Newark Bambergers when I was a kid. there was a wooden escalator that went to the third floor. I also remember the caged live Peacock. the basement has the most delicious hot dogs and the food staff wore white shirts, bowties and hats.
ReplyDeleteMy mom told me when I was young that my baby picture was put up in a Bamberger's baby section. I was born in Newark, NJ. I've never looked up this store before.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for ANONYMOUS and anyone else familiar with the old newsletters,
ReplyDeleteAre you willing to share a copy of a newsletter from the World War II era? I am working on a book and one of the non-fiction characters I am covering worked at Bamberger's with the job of producing the newsletter.
Thanks for any help you can provide. You can reach me at stone@kathleencstone.com.
My family lived in the Bamberger mansion in West Orange New Jersey in the mid-60's. It had sat empty for close to ten+ years. I remember my mother touring the place still full of furniture, clothes and broken toys. It took my mother almost 2 years to refurbish and redecorate, bringing this massive house up from its knees. Such fond memories.
ReplyDeleteWorked at Bambergers Newark 1964-67 got promoted from asset buyer budget furniture to sales manager Willowbrook at stores opening. I was in fact first employee assigned to Willowbrook which opened as a free brandishing store. The mall came later. Stayed 2 years then back to Newark as asset buyer China and glass. What a great retail learning experience. Was a member of executive training squad and Bill Schuldenfreie' s little red school house! Great people to work for and to work with. Employees stayed forever we had a budget furniture salesman who worked in Newark store over 50 years! Have some great memories and good stories to tell of those years. My name is Jeff
ReplyDeleteJeff...how right you are, of all the retailers I worked for in the 70s-80s-90s Bamberger's was the best. I was transferred from a buyer at Bamb's to a buyer at Macy*s (before it all merged), I figured same company should be the same. HOW WRONG I WAS. As wonderful as Bamb's was is as awful as Macy*s was at the time. I can never say enough good things about Bamb's. I too was a department manager at Bamb's in mens furnishings. Retail has gone to hell.
ReplyDeleteSorry, should have said a department manager in mens furnishings in Willowbrook (store 11)
ReplyDeleteWorked at Bambergers Newark 1964-67 got promoted from asset buyer budget furniture to sales manager Willowbrook at stores opening. I was in fact first employee assigned to Willowbrook which opened as a free brandishing store. The mall came later. Stayed 2 years then back to Newark as asset buyer China and glass. What a great retail learning experience. Was a member of executive training squad and Bill Schuldenfreie' s little red school house! Great people to work for and to work with. Employees stayed forever we had a budget furniture salesman who worked in Newark store over 50 years! Have some great memories and good stories to tell of those years. My name is Jeff
ReplyDeleteWorked at Bamberger's Newark from 1958 to 1988, then transferred to Macy's for another 15 years. I started working on the main floor Aisle Tables and had a wonderful training experience. Later on was buying office expeditor in a few different offices, more lovely people. Housewares floor expeditor. Secretary in store manager's office on 6th floor, then to Blankets, Table linens and Bath shop...then to Book Department, then to Cosmetics Office, then to Secretary to Cosmetics Administrator, Barbara Zinn. End of Bam's. Then on to Macy's. Dolores
ReplyDeleteWorked at Bamberger's Newark as a Sales Manager in Blankets, Tablecloths and Bath Shop 1968-1972. Then assigned to the Book department in 1973. At that time Hank Goldberg had a wonderful idea about selling books by the pound. It was a huge success.
ReplyDeleteDolores
Dolores....If this is the Dolores whom I think it is...this is Thomas DeFeo (ex-buyer).
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, my first job at Bam's was as the asst buyer in the TV dept.
ReplyDeleteHank Greenberg was my administrator.
Yes Delores there were some great merchants back then who had the courage to try new ideas. Today all the stores do the same thing the same way. No-one at the store level would dare do something new
ReplyDeleteAs a buyer and later sore manager at Bam's, I felt I had the support to try new thing, within reason,as long as I could make it work. Not so later at the May Company.
ReplyDeleteStan Cohen...I had one simple rule I lived by when I was in retailing...NEVER WORK FOR MAY COMPANY.
ReplyDeleteDolores... If this is the same Thomas De Feo here, I remember a bright guy from the Executive Training squad under my wing. Then to Men's slacks as an assistant, then promoted to Buyer. Lost track afterwards.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm from Jersey City and my Grandma used to take me to the Newark store in the 50s and 60s. I would spend the whole time, she was shopping,riding the train that was elevated around the perimeter walls. That was just the best thing ever! :)
ReplyDeleteAfter all these years, I still miss Bamb's. I still have my mother's mink stole, from the Newark store in 1965, has the Bamberger's in script in the lining. I remember buying tickets to see Richard Gere in "Bent" in their ticket buying service. It truly was a great store. Lord, how I miss Bamb's, Altman's and Bonwit's. I was in Newark recently, walking, and saw that the Hahne's is becoming condos. I also noticed a few HIP coffee shops populated by HIPSTERS, a couple of HIP women's boutiques. a couple of jazz clubs. I live in Manhattan in Chelsea...thank God for rent control. If things continue, I won't be able to afford Newark (think Brooklyn)! Also, recently I read the entire run of Vogue from 1920-1930. Bamb's did a lot of advertising in Vogue, who knew they used to sell Patou, Lanvin, Chanel, Lelong, etc. back then. I graduated FIT in 1979 with a degree in Buying. Great. Just when retail started going to hell in a (French) handbasket. I might as well have studied buggy-whip making.
ReplyDeleteBamberger's was more than a store. It was a lifestyle. Simply stated,there was a feeling that each store branch operated like a large family place where co-workers truly cared for one another and everything revolved around caring for the guest. It is a certain something that truly made you feel like you were special when you walked in the door. We felt very blessed to be able to visit a place where value offered was more than the markdown on a price tag. Much,much more. Do you agree ? Thank you so very much once again !
ReplyDeleteI agree. I really appreciated how innovative, progressive, and entrepreneurial working at Bam's was once I left and accepted a senior position with The May Company, which was the opposite. I also believe that Bam's was unique within the old Macy Corp.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Stan. I worked for Bambs for four years before being transferred to the "old" Macy's-NYC. I thought, basically the same company how bad could this be? It was a NIGHTMARE. Nothing was remotely thew same and how great Bamberger's was is how awful Macy's was during those years. Bamberger's was the best run of the five divisions back then and had the best people.
ReplyDeleteWhile Bamberger's name remained until the 1980s, Louis Bamberger sold the business to Macy's a few weeks before the 1929 stock market crash.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, extraordinary website--so tasteful and well put together. I happened upon it while searching "persistently" for the name of a certain defunct store over the past hour or so. Thank you for your thorough masterful piece of research and recollection, you wonderful man. Yes, it IS awesome. Most of all, thanks ever so much for what you revealed about your marriage and family life. It is rare to hear anyone speak that way of marriages lasting until death ends them. God bless you and your family, BAK! Keep on being that badly needed example that marriages can work, and that God always has another special someone waiting for widows and widowers desiring re-marriage. Reading your blog has certainly made this particular day of mine--it being both the anniversary of my Mother's birth and Father's death. Indeed, God does work in mysterious ways. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment - I'd say that you have an insight into my soul. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteStan Cohen- I worked with you in Christiana. Great memories of a grand company.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well.
Diane, Hi, nice to hear from you after all these years. we're all good out here. how about you?
ReplyDeleteJust found out that four key Bam's execs passed this year. Hank Greenberg 89, Joe Kahn 93, Marc Handler 83, and just last week Beth Morris 76. All great people and friends,
ReplyDeleteSad News
I owe my life to Bamberger's--literally! My parents met there in the 1930s, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have a picture of them on the top of the building during a break--newly engaged. There were adirondack chairs strewn about for people to sit in and enjoy the view. Can you imagine? :) My sister used to be the Design Director there, and she met her husband there as well. So my nephew is a Bamberger's baby, too. I miss that store, especially during the holidays. I passed the building the other day and it's like an enormous ghost. Sad.
ReplyDeletewonderful story..thanks for sharing
DeleteI just found an old trunk made by this company. Can anyone tell me anything about that? Like maybe how old it is or what it's made of. There is almost no info on it. I want to refurbish it but I can't even get the locks open. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I just found an old trunk made by this company. Can anyone tell me anything about that? Like maybe how old it is or what it's made of. There is almost no info on it. I want to refurbish it but I can't even get the locks open. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I have a dresser set that has El Bambergers on the back, I believe it is made from maple wood. I am trying to see if it is worth some money. I did have an antique dealer interested but what he wanted to pay seemed to be ok but I want to know if it is a fair price since it did belong to my elderly aunt.
ReplyDeleteSorry, this site does not deal in antiques, and cannot help in these matters. I post them only in the case someone might see them; but without an e-mail address or some other information, it is impossible to do.
Delete-Bruce
I have a dresser set that has the name El Bambergers on the back. I received it from my elderly aunt. It appears to be maple. I was offered an ok amount but I want to make sure I am not being taken advantage of. Where would I be able to find out what it is worth?
ReplyDeleteSorry, this site does not deal in antiques, and cannot help in these matters. I post them only in the case someone might see them; but without an e-mail address or some other information, it is impossible to do.
Delete-Bruce
Long ago, I head an expression, and am trying to dig into it? When a rich girl went shopping in New York it was the "Three B's". Does anyone remember the names of those stores. Back then I rode the 20th Century Limited in so I was rather young. Thanks! Mike
ReplyDeleteAs a train buff myself, I well know the 20th Century Limited - it ceased being an all-Pullman train in the year I was born, 1958. I assume that the three b's were Bonwit's, Bergdorf's, and wither B. Altman's or Bendel's a fashion retailer. It might have also been Best & Co., but that store only carried clothes for women & children.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
Bruce, In June, 1970 I was to sail for Europe on the SS France. We checked in at an exclusive hotel, the Sherry Netherland. It was near the theater district and we went to see the original musical "Hair" with people cavorting around in what appeared to be the altogether, when they were actually wearing body suits. We also went to see Katharine Hepburn in "CoCo", a musical about the life of CoCo Chanel. It only ran a short time due to Hepburn's health, but what a treat to have been able to see her in it. We went to Macy's and I remembered the 1940s movie "Miracle on 34th Street." New York is definitely an amazing place, but I'd never want to live there.
ReplyDeleteSharon, Mike's wife
Hi Sharon! Aside from being an architect, I have always had a soft spot for history, not just architecture, but of the Grand Hotels of the US and Europe, and the great ocean liners. I am not a crybaby, but now that I have attained a decent income level, many of the things I aspired to when younger (i.e. shopping in great department stores) are just not around any longer. One day I will make the transatlantic crossing, but you should be very happy that you had those experiences. The S.S. France was the last of a breed, and I always felt she was a modern-day replica of the great Normandie, which died such a sad death due to WWII. Thank you for sharing your interesting experiences with us.
ReplyDelete-Bruce
In 1982 (or very close to that), at the age of 19, I was hired by Bambergers in Newark. I am from Spokane, WA, and once they heard that I worked for Nordstrom here, they hired me on the spot! I worked on the 5th floor (if I recall correctly) where they had the TV's, vacuums, etc. (I think it was called the "entertainment department?) I worked behind the scenes and took "tickets" to the storage area from the phone room to post on the merchandise to be shipped out. I loved it! I wish I had checked out the store more at that time. So sad to see it is all closed up. Such a beautiful store.
ReplyDeleteI was a buyer in the Newark store back then. Fifth floor would be about right for that department as they kept shrinking the selling floors. The beautiful thirteen selling floors was reduced to five and all the other ancillary areas had vanished. The Newark store by the early 80s was less than a former shell of itself, but you could see the beauty that was once there. You are correct that your department was on the fifth floor as all the buying office were moved to the sixth floor in 1981, from being scattered all over the building. It was done to consolidate all to one floor which was now empty, but the main reason was for security. My office, prior to being on the sixth floor with everyone else, was in a stairwell office on the fourth floor. Not the safest place to be in that store.
ReplyDeleteTo add to that above list of defunct New Jersey department stores, S. P. Dunham of Trenton.
ReplyDeleteI plan do add Dunham's in due course
ReplyDelete-Bruce
Working on Felix Fuld's story - love the above Bamberger's commentary.
ReplyDelete@ Mike Craig...Bloomies, Bonwits and B.Altman
ReplyDelete@ Mike Craig...or if not B. Altman then Bergdorf's
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newarkhistory.com/branchbrookcherries.html "Branch Brook Park's Cherry Blossoms were not in the original Olmsted Brothers design.
ReplyDeleteIt is Caroline Bamberger Fuld, the sister of department store magnate Louis Bamberger and widow of Felix Fuld, whom we have to thank for the cherry blossoms that enliven this park every April.
Mrs. Fuld was an avid gardener and traveller. Impressed by the cherry blossom groves in Washington DC, Fuld wanted Newark to have something similar. The Cherry trees were planted in the northern part of Branch Brook Park because it was the newest addition to the park, and had not been fully landscaped.
In 1926, Mrs. Fuld announced her gift of 2,050 "Oriental cherry" trees. Over the next few years the trees were grown at her Orange, New Jersey estate (site of the present VA hospital), until they were large enough to be planted in Newark. It was not until the 1940s that the cherry blossoms really came into their own, and "cherryblossomland" was born. At the time, Newarkers seemed not to appreciate Fuld's gift due to the trees' association with Japan."
I remember my mother talking about the great clock in front of Bamberger's. She said that all you would have to say to your friends "meet me under the clock" and they exactly knew where to go. When the store closed she said I hope people don't forget about "meeting under the clock
ReplyDeleteOn a recent trip to the Macy's in the Willowbrook Mall, I encountered a large metal rolling cart loaded with folded jeans being put out in the men's department. Stenciled on the back in paint was BAMBERGERS. Nice to know some of the equipment is still hanging around at this former branch store. Made me smile.
ReplyDeleteI have a doll from BAMBERGERS STORE with the original price tag and is in like new condition. It’s a precious doll.
ReplyDeleteI have a add that states Rose O'Neill was going to be at Filene's store to show her Cuddle Kewpies and it said Bamberger's Had invited her to visit.I would like to know what year Bamberger had a Filene store ?
ReplyDeleteI was first employee at Willowbrook store! In 1967 I was asst buyer budget furniture .I'm Newark. Hal Olsen hired me as sales manager 2nd floor and I stArted there well before store opened. It opened as a freestAnding store and the mall ultimately was built around it. Hal went on to be head of Macy's Kansas City division. He. Was a Great guy! The store when it opened pioneered the "shop concept" design, the first Macy store to do so. I remember Jack Strauss visiting at the opening, quite an event at the time.
ReplyDeleteJeff S: I was a mens department manager in Willowbrook. I lived in Clifton, so prior to Willowbrook opening, we would do Paramus and sometimes Newark. My career was backwards with Bamb's. I was hired as an Assistant Buyer first, then became a Department Manager (vica-versa of the norm), skipped Group Manager and became a cosmetics buyer---which is where I was assitant buyer. My divisional and my buyer--who was a legend in the industry, pulled some strings so I didn't have to be a group manager and went straight to buying. I think it may have been the fact when I was a cosmetics assistant buyer (there were four of them at the time and my boss had Lauder, Clinique) we had a $30 shortage and a 0.00% shortage rate. They loved me for that as you know the assistants major responsibility were the journals. I am sure that is why I skipped a few steps in the normal corporate ladder.
ReplyDeleteJeff S: Willowbrook store from the opening day was built too small and once blue laws were lifted (except Paramus) it was bursting at the seam. The extension and renovation took the store from 235,000sq. ft to 365,00o sq. ft. I was the mens furnishing manager when the "first" new men's department opened--taking the space of the budget store. Not for anything, but of all men's departments in any store, I thought the layout of the new mens department was the best ever--it flowed naturally and all the adjacent men's area made sense. The "second new" mens department (current location) is too confusing and the flow makes no sense at all.
ReplyDeleteI was first employee at Willowbrook store! In 1967 I was asst buyer budget furniture .I'm Newark. Hal Olsen hired me as sales manager 2nd floor and I stArted there well before store opened. It opened as a freestAnding store and the mall ultimately was built around it. Hal went on to be head of Macy's Kansas City division. He. Was a Great guy! The store when it opened pioneered the "shop concept" design, the first Macy store to do so. I remember Jack Strauss visiting at the opening, quite an event at the time.
ReplyDeleteWould anyone know someone interested in a Pewter Jug "Made especially for L. Bamberger"? If so, check this out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/173542321997
ReplyDeleteunder the clock at Bambergers-the place to meet your shopping companions. Shopped Bams thru the 50s and 60s. Loved this trip down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteBamb's was also my first credit card. I still have it. It joins my "store collection" - Hahnes, A&S, Bonwit, Sterns, Altman's - all safe is a special box.
ReplyDeleteBamb's was mine as well, the old red and white plate card. I still have it 669-75-581. Like you I have all those mentioned and a few more all from the early 70s and they are all stored in my safety deposit box. Obviously none are valed, not even the old green L&T plate, but they are nostalgic. Brings one back when one had a choice of stores to shop.
DeleteBamberger's was my great aunt's favorite store. We loved not only the warmth but having wonderful items in the store with excellent quality. I was sorry to hear that it closed. The court case held in Newark, NJ (1954 to 1959) is really a problem. The courts do not have any record of the wrongful death case and have never updated her death certificate or corrected the Surrogate's decision; this has stopped our family from representing not only my great aunt but my great uncle and his son. The problem has gotten out of hand. Now, France, England, Germany and China are involved. Somehow, with God's help I need to locate a document of the wrongful death case because the lawyers handled all three together. I need to represent my aunt. Please help anyone PLEASE HELP!!!! My name is Judy Frank Moken. MY great aunt is Dorothea Dreyfus(s). My email is jmoken@gmail.com. This affects thousands. HELP!!!
ReplyDeleteBamberger's (Macy's) Rockaway,NJ in-store restaurant is STILL OPEN ! As far as we know,this is the very last legacy full-service Bamberger's kitchen and restaurant & bar that is still open. It is a lease operation pub style restaurant called Muldoon's Steakhouse & Pub. More casual in nature,the restaurant still provides table service and bar/beverage service. This restaurant is located on the lower level and has its own door access to the parking lot as opposed to some of the in-store restaurants that were up on the second floor like the Nanuet,NY,Livingston,NJ,Paramus,NJ or Cherry Hill,NJ in-store restaurants. Thank you and have a pleasant day !
ReplyDelete