The oldest part of Gilmore's fronted on Burdick
Street, and became part of the store's "Mall
Boutiques" after 1959
Gilmores expanded with Kalamazoo's growth by
building a large six-story building facing Farmer
Street and connected to its older space on Burdick
Five sections of the Burdick street building became
"Mall Boutiques." These facades were replaced by a
sterile, box-like modern facade in the 1980s
Gilmore Brothers
Kalamazoo Mall
143 South Burdick Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY
Basement
Gilmore's Basement Store
Main Floor
Fine Jewelry • Costume Jewelry • Handbags • Small Leather Goods • Gloves • Neckwear • Heavenly Hair Creations • Accessories • Hosiery • Cosmetics • Lingerie • Blouses • Main Floor Sportswear • Cards 'N Things • Candy • Gourmet Shop
Mall Boutiques Men's Store • Young Men's Shop • Ice Cream Parlor • Trim-the-Home Shop • Toy Store • Campus Shop
Second Floor
Dresses • Coats • Suits • Sportswear • Queen Size • Beter Dresses • Contempo • The Place • California Shop • Furs • Bridal • Millinery • Shoe Salon
A Place of Your Own Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats
Third Floor
Lingerie • Leisurewear • Foundations • Fabrics • Art Needlework • Bedding • Bath Shop • Linens • Closet Shop
Fourth Floor
China • Glassware • Silverware • Gifts • Lamps • Pictures • Draperies • Carpets • Housewares • Hostess Shop
Fifth Floor
Infants' Shop • Toddlers' Shop • Girls' Shop • Co-Ed • Boy's Shop • Children's Shoes • Gilmore's Tea Room • Executive Offices • Customer Service • Credit Office • Cashier
BRANCH STORES (Through 1980)
Portage, Michigan
The flagship store was damaged by a tornado in May of 1980, and I believe a small renovation was done as a result. The store lasted a few decades beyond most, but finally closed in either 1999 or 2000. Their building has been torn down now as well. Sad that such a great local institution couldn't survive into the 21st century. Small-town America needs these kinds of places now more than ever, and certainly more than another box like Wal-Mart and their brethren.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the store was torn down, just remodeled beyond recognition.
ReplyDeleteThe front portion of the store downtown was torn down. Developer did do a nice job recreating the original store front though when creating the new half containing the restaurants. For fun go to the back of the building and look at the floor...it is the same, and the elevators remain.
ReplyDeleteGilmore's was an anchor for Kalamazoo's unique downtown pedestrian mall. It ran the "free if you buy something" parking lot which also hosted rooftop concerts. Kalamazoo kept its downtown retail vibrant against conventional malls longer than most.
ReplyDeleteJacobson's also had a downtown store.
I worked as a window display assistant at Gilmore Brothers (est. 1888) in the late 1960s-early 70s. It was my first job in a creative field, and I loved it. All the display windows in the arcade, The Men's Store and Ice Cream Parlor, plus a Womens Store across the mall kept Clarence Engle, the display Manager and myself busy year-round. Irving Gilmore, the last of the Gilmore Brothers' second generation, was a remarkably distinguished man who kept alive the old-fashioned ideals of a traditional department store. There is a foundation in his name.
ReplyDelete