A well-illustrated and
informative companion
to the book below
Click the picture to read
this engaging book about
Thalhimers, written by the
last owner's daughter.
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| The Fashion Stores |
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In 1955, Thalhimer's was covered with an aluminum
curtain, giving it a modern appearance on the Broad
Street Side.
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Broad Street and Sixth
Richmond, Virginia
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY
Basement
Thalhimers Basement Store • Angelo's Hot Dogs
Metropolitan Main Floor
Jewelry Store • Fashion Jewelry • Handbags • Purse Accessories • Gloves • Hosiery • Accessories • Cosmetics • Fragrances • Blouses • Sweaters • Main Floor Sportswear • Notions • Stationery • Books • Camera Shop • Fine Food Shop • Delicatessen Shop • Frozen Food Shop • Bake Shop • Sweet Shop • Soda Fountain
Mensworld Men's Accessories • Men's Furnishings • Men's Sportswear • Men's Clothing • Cavalier Shop • Men's Shoes • Young Men's Shop • Boys' Wear • Smoke Shop
Mezzanine
Men's Soup Bar • Luggage • University Shop
Homemakers' Floor, the Second
China • Silver • Gifts • Table Linens • Sheets • Blankets • Comforters • Pillows • Bath Shop • Bedroom Ensembles • Curtains • Draperies • Housewares • Small Electrics • Appliances • Televisions • Stereos • Furniture • Floor Coverings • Sleep Shop
Fashion Floor, the Third
Misses' Sportswear • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Coats • Lovely Lady Shop • Updated Sportswear • Updated Dreses • Better Sportswear • Better Dreses • Classic Collector Shop • Designer's Shop • Accent Shop • Millinery Salon • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Shoe Salon • Pappagallo Shop • Lingerie • Foundations • Sleepwear • Loungewear • Maternity Shop • The T-Cart
Young Virginian's Floor, the Fourth
The Richmond Room Restaurant • Infants' Wear • Toddlers' Wear • Girls' Wear • Subteen Shop • Teen Shop • Girls' Accessories • Tot's to Teen Shoes • Toys • Pet Shop • Sporting Goods • Beauty Salon
Young Virginian Junior Sportswear • Junior Dreses • Junior Coats
Fifth Floor
Dresseteria • Budget Lingerie • Uniforms • Budget Shoes • Budget Accessories • Sewing and Needlwork Center • Sewing Machines • Service Center • PhotoReflex Studio • Optical • Cash Office • Credit Office
Sixth Floor
Executive Offices
BRANCH STORES (Through 1980)
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Winston-Salem, NC
500 W. Fourth St.
1949
75,000 sq. ft.
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Parkway Shopping Center
Winston-Salem NC
1955
Danville
515 Main Street
1955
40,000 sq. ft.
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Greensboro, NC
203 South Elm St.
1957
78,000 sq. ft.
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Friendly Center
Greensboro, NC
1958
Circle Shopping Center
1201 Hull Street
1960
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Riverside Center
3232 Riverside Drive
1960
Danville
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Westmoreland
1960
37,000 sq. ft
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Durham, NC
Main Street
1962
67,000 sq. ft.
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Azalea Mall
1963
Richmond
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Walnut Plaza
Petersburg
1966
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Danville
Eastgate Mall (1968)
Richmond
Westchester Mall (1970)
High Point, NC
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Cloverleaf Mall
Richmond
1972
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Cameron Village (1972)
Raleigh, NC
Crabtree Valley Mall (1972)
Raleigh, NC
Northgate (1973)
Durham, NC
Hanes Mall (1975)
Winston-Salem, NC
Four Seasons Mall (1975)
Greensboro, NC
Cross Creek Mall (1975)
Fayetteville, NC
Regency Mall (1975)
Richmond
Coliseum Mall (1976)
Hampton Roads
The Sword & Kilt
Military Circle (1976)
Norfolk
The Sword & Kilt
Lynchburg (1980)
Valley View Mall
There additionally was a Thalhimer's store in Memphis, TN at the infamous and now defunct Mall of Memphis. It opened around 1982 and closed roughly ten years later, when it was converted to a Dillard's Men's Store.
ReplyDeleteI help open that store. Move from Virginia Beach in 1983. work there until 1987, work maintain, shipping, supplies, I was the manager of them dept.
DeleteSeeing what some department stores looked like back in mid-20th Century America seem to have differences than the present day. Did they have departments according to gender or specific type of products?
ReplyDeleteThey obviously had departments for Men, women, boys, girls, etc., that were separate by gender. No such thing in fabrics, linens, furniture, etc. The big difference from today was that the stores had a wider range of merchandise, and played an almost personal role in the lives of their customers . . . "I got it at Thalhimers!"
ReplyDeleteThe thing I remember most about Thalhimer's was the delicious chocolate pecan pie they served in the Sword & Kilt. Yum!
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested in reading the story of the Thalhimer family and their store, check out "Finding Thalhimers" by Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt. Hardcovers and paperbacks are available through Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble, and the e-book is available for Kindle and other apps. Read the blog at FindingThalhimers.com!
ReplyDeleteThere were also stores in Charleston, SC and Roanoke, VA. FYI, the restaurants were called "Sword and Kilt"; the entries above for the Military Circle and Hampton stores have it backwards.
ReplyDeleteI can confirm the Charleston, West Ashley location in The Brand new Citadel Mall.
DeleteAlso there was a store in Lynchburg, VA.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth . . . I purchased your book about a month ago. I plan to put up a direct link from this page and I would trade links with you from blog-to-blog if you would like.
ReplyDeleteYour book is authoritative and tremendously enjoyable!
Bruce
Add Thalhimers SouthPark Mall Charlotte 1986. Also, nice photoshopping at the Elm Street Center Greensboro building lol
ReplyDeleteAh the memories! I remember shopping with my grand mother and mother in the 1930's at Thalhimers for clothes. I hated it - the salesman would look at me and say, "You need a husky size young man"!
ReplyDeleteIn 1962, after completing my education and serving in the Army, I was employed as an "assistant-buyer" in the silver and fine jewelry departments. I was made Buyer in 1963 for these two departments. Kim Price, my assistant Divisional Manager drove me crazy - we really were friends.
I left Thalhimers to enter Seminary in 1965. The years at the store are remembered fondly........it is sorely missed.
Bob Hawkins
My first job was in the mens department at Friendly Center.
ReplyDeleteI have a fox fur coat made exclusively for thalhimers by avanti leathers. The color is silver and is in very good condition, if anyone has any info they could share with me at lt1944@yahoo.com, I would appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteHello, my mother has two coffee mugs (used to be a set of 4, though two broke), that she bought from Thalhimer's probably 20-25 years ago. I am trying to find out more information about them. If anyone has anything to share with me please please please email me.
ReplyDeleteThe Lynchburg store was at River Ridge Mall. It also featured a Sword & Kilt Restaurant.
ReplyDeleteThe Valley View Mall store was in Roanoke and opened in 1985.
I worked in the Men's Polo Department at the Mall of Memphis Store in 1985. There was also a Sword and Kilt Restaurant at that location as well. The neighborhood became rougher and the Mall went down bad. It finally closed down and then demolished a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI just had the thought today that I could google "Thalhimers" and see some photos of the store. (I haven't lived in NC for many years.) My first job in high school (1975) was to operate the switchboard for all four Winston-Salem stores (the usual switchboard operator wanted to spend the summer with her children). I had a slight telephone phobia when I began, but after fielding over 700 calls each day, I became capable and confident. That summer job helped shape the person I became. I will be forever grateful to Dee Dennison, the Personnel Director, for hiring me at 15 years of age for the job. I also loved the interaction with the buyers who worked at the Downtown location (I only admired them from afar). The employee discount was wonderful, and I loved the family atmosphere of the store. So sad to hear of its eventual demise. Thanks for the memories, Thalhimer's! (By the way, contrary to one of the above comments, Thalhimer's did, indeed, have a linens department. I took many calls for it and was later a "floater" who worked there sometimes.)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a hoot! I worked at Thalheimers in the 1950's just out of college. Assistant Toy Buyer working for a wonderful man named John W. Christian. Did some leg work for the GMM, Bud Long, then became boyswear buyer.
ReplyDeleteI do remember we had a store detective - a small woman who always carried a shopping back and work a frumpy outfit. We called her "Dickless Tracy"
I've come into possession of an original display case (High Point Show Case Works) and a manequin from the Thalhimers store in downtown Richmond and am wondering what to do with it. Anybody have any interest or suggestions?
ReplyDeleteYou may want to contact Elizabeth Smart, author of "Finding Thalheimers." She is a member of the family that founded the store. http://findingthalhimers.com/
ReplyDeleteMan, the things I remember about Thalheimers. So many of us downtown workers used to find ourselves in the food area getting lunch or basement shopping for those hard to resist deals. Earlier in time, we picked up Angelo's hotdogs and fries...YUMMEEEEE. The croissants stuffed for sweets or ham & cheese for lunch...and they would warm it for you. Sometimes I'd get a deli item or just a pickle and deviled crab (yes - together) :p I sold my extensive set of pots and pans several years ago (about 23 pieces including a covered french skillet)...a lady said oh, that's the xxx line from Thalheimer's -- I was shocked and proud that she remembered. I just started buying bath towel sets again. One time I had 3 shopping bags of towel sets...my grown son still digs down and pulls out the red set. Good Memories...
ReplyDeleteThere was also a stamp store (you know, for stamp collecting) at the downtown Richmond store. I'm pretty sure it was on the 5th floor.
ReplyDeleteWho knows where the barley lollipops came from that we're sold in the thalhimers in Danville va
ReplyDeleteWho knows where the barley lollipops came from that we're sold in the thalhimers in Danville va
ReplyDeleteDoes any information exists on former employees (1940s, 1950s, 1960s...etc.)?
ReplyDeleteI worked for Thalhimers from 1988-1990. I started in Charlotte, NC @ SouthPark Mall (when it first opened) -- it was a luxurious affair! Then I worked in the downtown Richmond buyer's office... I thought I had arrived. The thought of all of that being gone still brings me pain after all of these years. It was a wonderful company and I met many wonderful people, including several of the Thalhimer's who were still running the company from the Richmond office.
ReplyDeleteNo department store will ever be as good as Thalhimers was. None of them can measure up to this store, wish it was still in existence.
ReplyDeleteNo department store will ever be as good as Thalhimers was. None of them...
ReplyDeleteMy very first job was at the Downtown Richmond Store beginning in 1971. I worked there all through high school (Monday evenings, Friday evenings and Saturdays until they stopped opening on Friday nights) and every summer until college graduation (moved to Regency at some point). Great memories of a time gone by! Loved Christmas time and the warehouse sales!
ReplyDeleteIn the main store in Richmond during the 1950's and 60' at the candy counter there was a lollipop for sale that was offered wrapped in clear cellophane and displayed in black and white checkered tubs which sat on the counter. My mother would buy the 6 layered chocolate cake and always, when I was lollipop age, one of these delicious, sticky pops. They were oval shaped, white taffy like confection and tasted like vanilla to me. I adored them and even when I came back to Richmond to attend Westhampton in the sixties I would buy them for myself. Does anyone know what they were and who made them?
ReplyDeleteJust realized that the Lynnhaven (Virginia Beach, VA) is not on the list of branches - opened sometime in the early 1980's.
ReplyDeleteI used to work at Regency Square (store 20), also missing are the Charleston and Memphis stores which opened ca 1982?
ReplyDeleteI worked for Thalhimers from May 1963 to February 1968. My senior year at RPI I had to write a business paper, I was placed in the GM's office in the Basement Division, my boss was Howard Klugman, I kept all the financial record for the basement and the 13 buyers that merchandised. I was assistant buyer after graduating from RPI in the following Departments. Boys upstairs, Draperies and Curtains Basement, Mens Basement. Became Buyer upstairs for Curtains Draperies Bedspreads and Home Fabris before I left to work for New York Croscill Home Fashions. Loved those years at Thalhimers Jack Jones
ReplyDeleteI recently became in possession of the original metal RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER that was from the Thalhimers store in Richmond. He is on a pole with a seat attached. A customer I had come in recently remembered being photographed on it when she was a little girl. He is for sale in case anyone is interested.
ReplyDeleteDo you still have this reindeer or has is it been sold? If you still have it would you please let me know the price and where you are located. I worked at Thalhiemer's as an assistant buyer in cosmetics when I graduated college. I worked from 1969-1973 and would love from anyone who worked that at this time
DeleteI recall seeing Snow Bear at the Military Circle store in Norfolk, VA. The Military Circle Shopping Center store was a former J B. Hunter department store. Their restaurant was a cafeteria on the second floor which was renovated to a Sword & Kilt when Thalhimer's took over. The Sword and Kilt at Military also had a bar area. We never ate the J B. Hunter cafteria or the Sword & Kilt. The Sword & Kilt's in the Norfolk area seemed smaller and more expensive then Broad Street. At Military Circle we usually ate at the McCrory luncheonette which was outside Thalhimer's. At the same time however, we could afford regular lunches at the Smith & Welton tea room on Granby which sold simplier as well as more expensive fair. The Military Circle Thalhimer's also had a bakery, a book department, electronics, mattresses., and a limited selection of specialty groceries. All of these departments were on the second floor . I don't recall yard goods. Hard to believe all of those departments fit into that store.
ReplyDeleteSnow Bear made appearances at Military Circle during Christmas. Smith & Welton had a singing Santa which made a Saturday appearance at the tea room at the Granby store and then made another appearance at the Military Circle store. Hope I'm not mistaken about the Smith & Welton singing Santa. Does anyone else remember the singing Santa at Smith & Welton? Also remember the Smith & Welton Christmas jingle. It went "Have yourself a Smith & Welton Christmas" and " Have Yourself a Smith & Welton Christmas now", set to the tune of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Meet Me in St. Louis.
I read so many things about Thalhimers. My mother would take us there, and I recall the incredible Food Emporium in the front corner of the store. They had tasty bakery products; the Lemon Chess Pye was great. Later, us guys would go downtown together (we lived in the Fan), and Thalhimers was always on our shopping list, even if we bought most of our clothes at Berry Burk. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteWould have breakfast with Santa back in the day. Good times
ReplyDeleteI found this page well thinking of my Aunt , who had just recently past. I grow up with this store, from my earliest memory of greeting my dad when he got off from work, and my mother , and aunt we all worked there , this my first and every summer job , until I graduated from high school , it served as my very first credit card, my daughter saw Santa there . it was my home town store ( Richmond , VA ) Craig Boling
ReplyDeleteI have a very heavy fur coat with "Thalhimers" label. Must be from the 60's. If anyone knows how to find out about it please email me. It was my grandmothers.
ReplyDeleteThalhimers sold some nice fur coats, but many of them were dyed to look like more expensive furs. That does not mean that they have no value. Have a reputable furrier look at it for you.
ReplyDeleteJust letting you all know there was a store in The Citadel Mall in North Charleston(West Ashley)SC. It opened with the mall brand spanking new in 1981.
ReplyDeleteThalhimers did not have a store at Circle Shopping Center. That was Miller and Rhoads.
ReplyDeleteThey did however have a store at 1201 Hull. They are not the same thing
Definitely a Thalhimers store in the Circle Shopping Center. Miller and Rhoades was located nearby in the Southside Plaza parking lot.
DeleteMy mother, Ruth Strickland, worked at the Thalhimers at Military Circle when it opened in 1976 in the J.B. Hunter space. She later worked at the Lynnhaven Mall location and was such a sought after sales associate in the women's sportswear department that they developed a special position for her called, "Working Wonders". A sign with her picture on it was on display at the store's inside mall entrance. She set up appointments with women to help them coordinate their wardrobe. She just passed away February 6th, 2021 at the age of 93. Just wondering if anyone remembers her?
ReplyDeleteSorry about the loss of your mother. She must have had great customer service skills. We shopped at the downtown Thalhimers in Richmond, and at Westmoreland.
ReplyDeleteMy late older brother sold shoes at the Southside Plaza Miller & Rhodes while he was a student at RPI - now VCU.
ReplyDelete