Steinfeld's received a streamlined 'new look' in 1958
Albert Steinfeld & Co.
Stone at Pennington
Tucson, Arizona
MAin 4-6631
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY
Lower Floor
Silver • China • Glassware • Gifts • Unique Boutique • Gift Wrapping • Housewares • Toys • Sporting Goods • Sight 'n' Sound Shop • Fine Spirits • Fine Foods • Fruit Box
Street Floor
Jewelry • Accessories • Neckwear • Knitbar • Handbags • Leather Accessories • Hosiery • Millinery • Wig Salon • Cosmetics • Lingerie • Foundations • Shoe Salon • Men's Shoes • Children's Shoes • Junior ShopSportswear • Tucsonian Shop • Fashion Salon • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Piece Goods • Art Needlework • The Man's Shop
Mezzanine
Round Square • Yellow Orange • The New Shop • Stationery • Books • Beauty Salon
Second Floor
Yellow Orange • Books • Notions • Infants' • Toddlers' • Boys' 4-7 • Boys' 8-20 • Girls' 3-6x • Girls' 7-14 • Young Men's Shop • Domestics • Bedding and Linens • Carpeting • Furniture • Draperies • Lamps • Pictures and Mirrors
BRANCH STORE
El Con Mall (March 27, 1971) 60,000 sq. ft.
I LOVE TUCSON SINCE I WAS A CHILD VISIT THE TOWN, I REMEMBER WALGREENS STEINFELD,S , JACOME,S ALL DOWNTOWN,THE PORTER,S OF TUCSON, THE OLD GREYHOUND BUS STATION, AND THEN EL CON MALL. ALL MY LOVE TO TUCSON
ReplyDeleteI THINK, NO ONE LOVE STEINFELD,S I DO. I LOVE TUCSON¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ I NEDD SO MUCH PICTURES OF INSIDE STEINFELD,S, THE WALGREENS RESTAURANT, AND H. PORTERS OF TUCSON, PLEASE. JOSEFA LECUONA joselecuona@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteHello, I just thought I would say that I have the original Mosler safe that was pulled out before/during the demolition of Steinfeld's. It is a VERY heavy refridgerator sized doubble door safe with another cash safe built inside it. Beautiful engraving and hand painting. My mom had "Many Goats Indian Gallery" near the U of A main gate in the 70s and bought it from the demo company while it hung from a crane! Eric Bonecutter. Thebone@swcp.com
ReplyDeleteMy mom worked at Steinfeld's in the mid 160's. She worked inthe fine foods department. She was called teh Destert Treaures girl because she handled all the merchiandise from a grove of that name near Tucson. My father died in 1966 and we returned to New Jersey. She loved her job though.
ReplyDeleteI was the shoe buyer for Steinfeld's downtown and El Con Center stores from early 1971 through mid 1973. My departments were leased by Wohl Shoe Co, a retail subsidiary of Brown Shoe Co. It was the most stressful two and a half years of my retail management career. I met some great folks there and have some great memories. But even then the writing was on the wall. I believe Steinfeld's demise began with the unfortunate Pioneer Hotel fire death of Albert Steinfeld. Too bad. It was a grand old store in many ways.
ReplyDeleteCorretion to previous post: I meant Harold Steinfeld, not Albert.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandparents especially appreciated that (in the 50's & 60's at least) the first Wednesday in December was a shopping day reserved for the elderly and infirm. Grandma and her friends would ride the bus over together (seniors paid a nickle), dressed in their finest. I can not remember if it was all day or just until 5 pm.
ReplyDeleteFunny i still have the light fixtures that use to hang in the center of the store and the light fixtures from desinger...LOL
ReplyDeleteMy Mom Elizabeth(Betty) W. worked at the Steinfeld's department store downtown Tucson, for several years in the 1950's, in the lay-a-way department, after transferring there from sales. As a Kid in school I used to go downtown on occasion and meet her for lunch. We would eat upstairs in the lunch room. She used to buy our Christmas presents during the year and store them in law-a-way until Christmas. We had four boys. This helped her pay for them too. Good Memories!
ReplyDeleteI remember shopping at Steinfeld's in downtown Tucson in the late 1950's-early 1960's. I especially remember the beautiful chrystal chandeliers!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson has photos, both interior and exterior of the store.
Steinfelds at ElCon is where my lifelong fear of elevators started in the late 70s. I was about 4 years old! Other than that I loved that store!
ReplyDeleteThis site is awesome, btw!
PLEASE...,TO THE DEPARTAMENT STORE MUSEUM,SEND TO YOUR PAGE SOME PICTURES OF VINTAGE TUCSON, DOWNTOWN AND THE BEAUTIFUL EL CON MALL,PLEEEEASSSSSE.
ReplyDeleteI would love to if I only had them. If anyone would like to email pertinent pictures to bakgraphics@comcast.net I would be happy to show them.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 14, I had a job with the Public Defenders office in Tucson through a summer program for students (summer of 87 or 88). We were located at Stone and Pennington and out job was to pack up all the files to be moved to a new location since the building we were in was to be demolished for the new Tucson City Library. Could that have been this building? I do remember it had windows, but it was pretty old and charming and the outside was a pea-green color. That job was a lot of fun. We were all sad to know the building was going to be torn down.
ReplyDeleteI have a purse that is from Ja'come's store in Tuscon and was wondering if it would be something you would like to put on display. It is in very good condition. Mindy Mullery c/o Wright County Crisis Center, MO. 417-926-6878
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe the library is built on the site of the former Steinfeld's.
ReplyDeleteI believe my grandmother and her mother (my great grandmother) cleaned the Steinfields home, my grandma was in high school and dropped out to help out her mother and provide for the other kids.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first sport coat (a beautiful pale blue plaid) at the El Con Mall Steinfield's in the early '70's. I was just a kid, but the salesman treated me just like anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThe first job I held on a part time basis was working in the display department where the decorating of the store took place. This particular job was making cherry blossoms. The store was absolutely gorgeous when the displays were put up. I had a co-worker with the same first name, Nancy. We became long fast friends until her death a years ago. This job I believe was 1960. Also, later on I was hired full time in the 1960-61 time frame as a wrap girl in several departments. It was fun sending customer's payments up in the pneumatic tube system. I loved hearing the whoosh.
ReplyDeleteThe current main library was built on the site of Jacomés Department Store. Steinfeld's was across Pennington Street, where the Bank of America tower now stands.
ReplyDeleteI use to sell newspapers in the jacomes corner in late 60s early 70s
ReplyDeleteI recently found some old original receipts from 1925. i wonder if they are worth anything now?
ReplyDeleteI worked as a "Personal Shopper" in the downtown store around 1971. The customer would call the store and ask for something they were looking for and then I would find it and have it sent to them. It was interesting and fun to be able to shop for someone else.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the advertising department at Steinfelds in 1973. The Personal shopper was in the next room. Could that have been you?
DeleteI loved the downtown Steinfeld's and also the store at El Con! Beautiful, high-quality merchandise! It was a terrible tragedy when Mr. and Mrs. Steinfeld died in the Pioneer Hotel fire, where they lived.
ReplyDeleteMy Mother Viola used too model there ! She had very fond memories of modeling there !
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I love this site and the posts and I think we need to have a reunion party at Steinfeld's of/for anyone with memories like all the great ones posted on here--I've only been in Tucson since 1987 but I adore all of our "downtown" memories as well as our more ancient memories (like at the Mission Gardens at the base of "A" mountain-aka Sentinel Peak.) At my imaginary Steinfeld's reunion party people would come dressed in clothes and hairstyles from the period of their memories--what a fun party that would be. We could use the proceeds to benefit an historic museum of our choice!! Have fun, do good. How did I find this site you ask, well, I am doing some work for the Tucson 3rd Annual Bead Fair for my friends, Shannon and Mimi formerly of Piney Hollow (on 4th Ave) and we are using what is left of the Steinfeld's as a showcase for beautiful jewelry old and new! Much of what we have to show is handmade and local! The friendly table mavens can show people how to make their own masterpieces and help them choose all the finest jewelry "ingredients" to make a touchable memory. Bring your Mom , bring your sister(s), bring your daughter(s) and bring your(her) best friend(s). It is so fun to look and to learn from people who love what they do. 4.06.19 11am-5pm
ReplyDelete