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| A beautifully produced, luxury-class book about Minnesota's fabled department stores, from Dayton's to Young-Quinlan. |
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| Read the new History Press book about Dayton's |
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| Or, choose the well-done Arcadia Book about Dayton's |
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| The oldest portion of Dayton's enormous store, on the southwest corner of Nicollet and Seventh Street. The original Radisson hotel can be seen to the right of the store. |
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| The newer block presented an imposing face on Nicollet Avenue. |
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| "The Northwest's Great Store" |
700 Nicollet
Minneapolis, Minnesota
FEderal 2-6123
Dayton's Downstairs Store • Shoe Repair • Portrait Studio • Downstairs Lunch Counter • The Beauty Break
Main Floor
J.B. Hudson Jeweler • Fine Jewelry • Diamonds • Clocks and Watches • Costume Jewelry • Better Jewelry • Handbags • Small Leather Goods • Belts • Gloves • Umbrellas •
Cosmetics • Dress Accessories • Neckwear • Hosiery • Notions • Main Floor Blouses • Main Floor Sweaters • Main Floor Lingerie • Main Floor Foundations • Miss Dayton Shoes • Salon Shoes • Casual Shoes • Hat Bar • Out of Sight 1 • Out of Sight 2 • Stationery • Twixteens • Debster ShopLuggage • Candy Shop • Food Shops • Flower Shop • Men's Furnishings • Men's Sport Furnishings
Second Floor
Boy's Store • Men's Sportswear • Winter Vacation Shop • Twixteens • Debster ShopMen's Clothes • The Varsity Shop • Northbriar Shop • The Pro Shop • 700 Shop • Carnaby Street Shop • Twixteens • Debster Shop • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats • Sporting Goods • Fishing Shop • Ski Shop • Dayton's Golf Store • Cameras • Toys
Fashion Village Village Sportswear • Village Dresses • Village Coats • Village Shoes • Village Half-size Dresses • Hat Bar • Village Daywear • Village Foundations • Village Warmwear • Casual Corner • Focus Shop
Third Floor
Sno-Fun Shop • Beach Shop • Resort Shop • Sun Fun Shop • Hat Bar • Town and Country Separates • Town and Country Blouses • Town and Country Sweaters • Town and Country Shop • Little Couture • Classic Place • Indeed! Shop • Status Separates • Misses' Dresses • Social Shop • Misses' Coats • Misses' Suits • Everiday Dresses • Uniforms • Maternity Shop • Women's World • The Oval Room • Oval Room Country Clothes • Bride's Bureau • Bridal Salon • Fur Salon • Millinery • Living Wig Salon • The Looking Glass (Beauty Salon)
Fourth Floor
Dayton's Book Store • Stamps and Coins • Dayton's Travel Service • Shaver Shop • Hearing Aid Center • Drugs • Optical Center • Dayton's Snack Stop • Bras and Girdles • Figure Beauty • Lingerie • Sleepwear • Loungewear • Bra Bar • Young Juniors • Twixteens • Debster ShopJunior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats and Suits • Miss Dayton Shop • Junior Lingerie • Junior Shoes
Fifth Floor
Linens • Domestics • Bedding • Bath Shop • Fashion Fabrics • Art Needle • Singer Sewing Center • Glitter Shop • Felt Bar • Craft Shop • Dayton's Snack Stop
Childrensville Infants' • Infants' Toddlers • Children's Accessories • Twixteens • Debster ShopGirls 3-6x • Girls 7-14 • Junior High Shop • Twixteens • Debster Shop • Children's Shoes • Snoopy Shop
Sixth Floor
China • Gift Shop • Silverware • Mirrors • Pictures • Lamps • Home Accessories • Artificial Flowers • Carpeting • Area Rugs • Floor Floor • Draperies • Young Idea Center
Seventh Floor
Television • Radios • Records • Pet Shop • Sleep Shop • Summer Furniture • Furniture • Traditional Furniture • Contemporary Furniture • Early American Furniture
Eighth Floor
Auditorium • Housewares • Gourmet Shop • Cookware • Small Electrics • Vacuum Cleaners • Appliances • Hardware • Paint
Ninth Floor
Employment Office
Tenth Floor
Offices
Eleventh Floor
Offices
Twelfth Floor
The Sky Room • The Oak Grill • Tiffin • Gallery 12
(1,200,000 sq. ft.)
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| Rochester South Broadway at 2nd St. 1954 |
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Southdale
Edina October 8, 1956
238,000 s.f.
The Valley View Room |
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| St. Paul 6th St. at Wabasha 1963 383,000 s.f. The River Room The Iron The Cup and Saucer |
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Brookdale
Brooklyn Center
1966
195,000 s.f.
Brookdale Inn
Bandstand
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Rosedale
Roseville
1969
173,000 s.f.
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Apache Mall
Rochester
1972
155,000 s.f.
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Fargo, ND
West Acres Shopping Center
1973
115,000 s.f.
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Ridgedale
Minnetonka
1974
202,000 s.f.
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St. Cloud
Crosroads Mall
1976
Burnsville Center
Burnsville
1977
Sioux Falls, SD
Empire Mall
1971
Grand Forks, ND
Columbia Mall
1978
From 1985-2005 there was an 80,000 sq ft store at Kirkwood mall in Bismarck, ND.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we can discuss Dayton's without a mention of Dayton's Downstairs, which of course became Target and completely changed the game and quite possibly accelerated the demise of the great local department store. I like Target, but I miss the big stores too. Oh well, progress I suppose.
ReplyDeleteThat was called 'The Budget Store'. The 'Target' idea sprang from the 'Target Bargain' sign toppers where a three-ringed illustrated target bulls-eye was being pierced by an arrow. It was a great place for a bag of popcorn or a hotdog.
DeleteDoes anyone have a list of the Dayton's 8th floor auditorium's Christmas shows down through the years?
ReplyDeletei dont know if you will see this since you commented in 2012 but i will try. you were looking for a list of daytons christmas shows. i dont have a list but i have two posters of santa bear show and the velveteen rabbit for sale. lanieaway@aol.com
DeleteI remember Dayton's flagship store in downtown Minneapolis as a kid. They actually had a day-care center where suburban moms could drop the rug-rats off while they went shopping. I seem to recall they actually had an elephant you could climb into and then slide down the trunk. It was a great way to spend a day.
ReplyDeleteI also recall going to "Breakfast With Santa" in the Sky Room. As I recall, Santa arrived by helicopter, climbed down a rope ladder and crawled through a window - much to my delight.
I remember the day care; I loved it when my mom will drop us off there. If I remember correctly, the interior was yellow and orange rooms that you could run in and out of.
DeleteI remember playing in the elephant slide as a child. I loved going downtown shopping with my Mom because I would get to play in the child care center. I wonder what happened to that elephant slide?
DeleteYES!!!! The elephant slide! The ladies who worked in the Kids Kare were so nice. My mom brought me there often just so I could have the opportunity to play with other children. I think those fond memories may have fueled my destiny as an adult to work in early childhood education. I often wonder what they ever did with the elephant slide . . . is it still hidden in storage somewhere on site?
DeleteI am so glad to hear this wasn't in my dreams. I would take the bus downtown with my Mom. She woudl drop me in the daycrae- and I remember climbing into the Elephant- cahtting with kids in the head part0 looking out from the eyes. Then YES- sliding down the trunk.
DeleteThis is a great example of pre-litigious society- leaving lots of kids semi supervised at a non- licsensed facility- and not even worried about it.
That is my exact memory too! Would love to see a picture.
DeleteOmg!!! I remember that slide!! Thought id imagined it. In the mid 60's
DeleteCan they at-least change or Flagship store back to Dayton's is that to much to ask?
ReplyDeleteThe Daytons store in Sioux Falls South Dakota was opened in August of 1978 not 1971. I was one of the first employees hired for the opening of the store.
ReplyDeleteWhere was it located? I never heard of this department store chain from Minnesota in Sioux Falls!
DeleteKirkwood Mall in Bismarck, ND had a Dayton's open in 1985
ReplyDeletealso LA CROSSE WISCONSIN , I Believed they opened the 1970's
ReplyDeleteI just purchased a wool overcoat with a beautiful reddish lining from a second hand store. It is in very good condition, minus on button, and I was wondering if it was worth anything over the $12.65 I paid for it. Does anyone have info on this?
ReplyDeleteWere there any Dayton stores in Ohio or western Penn? I seem to remember this store.
ReplyDeleteNo Dayton's stores in Ohio or PA.
ReplyDeleteAnd here are the 8th Floor Christmas themes from 1963 through 2008 (PDFs):
http://s000.tinyupload.com/download.php?file_id=00588295898743415414&t=0058829589874341541478765 (1963-89)
http://s000.tinyupload.com/download.php?file_id=06221535838832590576&t=0622153583883259057649051 (1990-2008)
No Dayton's in Ohio or Pennsylvania.
ReplyDelete*mb: here are the Dayton's downtown Minneapolis 8th floor Christmas themes from 1963 through 2008:
1963-1989
1990-2008
May's owned Dayton's, Hudson's, Marshal Fields, and Target. (I believe there may have been Hudson's in Ohio, but I don't recall PA having any stores within the chain.). I remember when Target was such a low budget embarrassment, which was terribly merchandised and extremely poorly stocked. How did it outlive Dayton's??? At TarGhetto I am treated almost as a criminal, where at Dayton's I was literally their Guest. In fact during my employment there (which was the highlight of my life) we were instructed to not just help but delight our guests. To know that it is gone forever almost makes me cry. It was truly one of the most special places to work or shop which any former shopper or employee could tell you and many of them are still there at trashy Macys. Ask them about Daytons, though, and a special pride and glowing smile will come over their face instantly.
ReplyDeleteMay's never owned Dayton's or Target
DeleteMay Co (now defunct) bought Marshall Field's from Target Corp. Marshall Field's was the consolidated name of Dayton's and Hudson's after they bought Chicago's Marshall Field's. Macy's bought May Co in 2009. The beginning of the end.
DeleteAmen! I too was an employee of Dayton's and it was a highlight. As a group manager i ALWAYS directed employees to DELIGHT vs HELP the 'Guests' vs 'customers' that last part is often said in the current retail place now adays. Enjoy the Target now!
DeleteDayton's was owned by Minnesota's Governor, Mark Dayton's Family. Target was started by the Dayton Family. Also Mr. Dayton Sr. built the first Mall in the United States, Southdale Mall in Minnesota.
Deletedelight our guests-This was truly a store headquarter in Minnesota!
DeleteThe first ENCLOSED mall in the US
DeleteYes i worked for Hudson's also. Such great memories.
DeleteI have some Dayton's ephemera I would like to donate to the museum. Who do I contact?
ReplyDeleteI used to work at Daytons. it truly was the highlight of my life :-) I will forever miss Daytons :-(
ReplyDeleteMe too!!!!
DeleteRe the earlier comment of April 19:
ReplyDeleteFor the record, Dayton's and Target were never owned by May. Dayton-Hudson became Target Corp in 2000, and Dayton stores remained Dayton's until 2001, when they were re-branded as Marshall Field's stores (DH had acquired MF a decade earlier). May then acquired the DH department stores from Target in 2004. So no Dayton's stores under the Dayton name were ever owned by May. Former Dayton stores, yes.
i have a picture of the apache mall store it may take me awhile to find it
ReplyDeleteI have had a vintage dressed young girl mannequin for 40 years that came from the old Daytons department store in down town Rochester Mn---I am wondering if anyone collects these unique display mannequins---she has a hand painted face and dressed in clothing from the 50s or earlier I think---her hair is made from twisted brown paper---does anyone collect vintage Daytons items?
ReplyDeleteI have had a young girl ( forties or fifties vintage dressed ) mannequin for forty years that came from the old downtown Dayton department store--she has a hand painted face and her hair is made from twisted brown paper--she is very unique---I am wondering if anyone collects these as Daytons collectables?
ReplyDeleteAll you people crying in the cups about Dayton's (I'm one of you), should be forever grateful to the Macy's corporation for hanging on in downtown Mpls while all of you stay away in droves. Do you realize that the Oak Grill Room is nearly identical to what it was 50 years ago, and their popovers are better than ever. How about giving what remains of our beloved Dayton's a little patronage before we have nothing left but our memories!
ReplyDeleteJust went to the Oak Grill today with my mom for our "last supper". The 12th floor restaurants will close permanently on Jan. 27 2017. And yes, the popover was terrific. Oak Grill will be very missed by my family.
DeleteThere was nothing better to get into the holiday spirit than to walk into Dayton's in downtown Minneapolis after Thanksgiving and see how the store had been decorated. Everything about the store was class and it would be an interesting course for college students today who are pursuing a Marketing degree to have a course studying Dayton's approach back in those days. I'm 71 and truly miss the marketing approach of those days. Sad that the new generation will never experience the days of shopping in a classy store rather than on line.
ReplyDeleteDayton's Department Store in downtown Minneapolis will ALWAYS be one of my MOST cherished memories...I have so many FAB memories of times there....going to the Skyroom....the Oak Grille...the 8th floor auditorium for all the events....Bachmann' s used to put on some spectacular holiday events there....seeing the Ukrainian Gift Shop demonstrate Ukrainian eggs in the candy department or getting a lady Baltimore cake for my Birthday from Dayton's will reighn supreme....:)
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what happened to the statue that was in the large area by the front 'air door' at Dayton's Downtown St. Paul store?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis across from the Walker Art Center.
DeleteI am now 73 years old and I remember that when my mother became ill with Arthritis she couldn't do her own Christmas shopping for several years. So at age 10, I think, I began my Dayton's annual ritual, After school a few days a week, she would give me a list of 2 or three items to purchase and send me on the bus, from Lyndale Av N, with her Dayton's card. I was dropped right at the 7th street entrance, and returned the same way. I remember feeling so important, and I would proudly take my list to the department Mom selected to a clerk who would always help me; this was in the 1950's. My Mom always liked the store because a young woman who moved from up state, named Melanie, had rented from up when she first moved to Minneapolis.
ReplyDeleteMy secret indulgence was to walk ever so slowly past every single decorated window in the store beginning at 8th, then Nicolett Ave., and completing around the corner on 7th. The memory of those windows, the santa wonderland and the Grille will always have a place deep in my heart. It's too bad it couldn't be preserved for the next generation.
The other thing from those days was my Aunt Mary who spent most of her life at Wonder Bread wrapping all the Hostess Twinkees. On her way home she would often stop at the food court in the basement of Dayton's and buy specialty foods. I especially remember wooden buckets of pickled herring. We were a big Polish family and of course herring is a staple of Northern Europeans.
Those are, of course, great memories! Of course, "śledź" was also a part of our Polish family, too, but my mom preferred creamed herring. Imagine a 10-year old being entrusted with a credit card to go downtown these days! Your comments describe a beautiful, humane, but sadly distant world of which great department stores like Dayton's were a huge part..
ReplyDeleteI remember as a teenager (and I'm 66 now)shopping often at the Rochester Dayton's. Shoes were my passion, so I always came home with at least two or three pairs!!! LOVED that store and still miss it.
ReplyDeleteHELP! I'm looking to identify a maker of some furniture that was purchased around 1975 from Dayton's in downtown Minneapolis on France Avenue. I have a dining room table, two leaves, six chairs, and a credenza, all very blocky in style, beautiful wood that is very light (weight) and has "worm-holes" throughout. Any help would be greatly appreciated. monkeykuchen@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy Dad built all of the Dayton's floats that appeared in the Minneapolis Aquatennial and St Paul Winter Carnival parades for a span of some 30 years. He also created many of the Christmas windows and auditorium displays during the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteI am currently researching/writing a book about the float business in those days. Is there anyone here who worked on those displays, or has photos of them? I have many, but all I can think on are the ones I don't have!
Being around these things (and later building them) was sure a unique way to grow up!
feel free to send info to -
stevenscreations@hotmail.com
I'm not sure how you can't have Dayton's iconic Oval Room not on the store directory??? Huge miss. Some of the most important designer names in the world were offered in The Oval Room!
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the Personal Shopper Service offered at the Oval Room?
DeleteThe reasin it is not included (and I thought it would be obvious) is that the exhibit is not complete. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune was available online briefly and will be back soon. The work to develop and maintain this site is very intensive, and I only have myself to rely upon, so be patient.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
Does anyone recall when Dayton's first opened on Sundays?
ReplyDeleteNot exactly.. it was open on Sunday's and 2 evenings a week downtown during the Christmas season as far back as 1975, but sometime in the 80's they stayed open every weekday evening until 8 and had permanent Sat/Sunday hours. Was ALWAYS closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day.
DeleteDoes anyone know anything about the private apartment above the Skyroom?
ReplyDeleteThe building stops at the 12th floor.
DeleteThere are actually 14 floors. The elevators only go to floor 12; floors 13 and 14 can be accessed by a stairwell behind the small museum near the Skyroom. I've been up there! There were replacement pieces of the marble facade, empty office space, elevator parts, and a giant papier mache Santa Bear. It's not at all handicapped accessible, and I assume that's why the floors were closed. With only one exit route, the floors probably fail to meet safety standards as well...
DeleteI worked in the building for over 20 years.. the unofficial rumor was that the 13th and 14th floors used to be an onsite apartment for the Dayton family to stay when the weather was bad, or working long hours, etc. It was storage back in the 80's. there is also a sub -basement (loading dock and receiving ) and a sub-sub basement which is mostly building mechanical equipment.. generators, water heaters, etc. The 10th floor was the computer and IT staff.
DeleteIt is extremely sad that this most auspicious store in a once-great shopping district won't serve any longer. I am waiting for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune to return to my newspaper archives so that I can do a complete exhibit on the Minneapolis stores. Dayton's was surely the greatest of them! Somewhere there is a detailed cut-away view of the original building with its basements and all.
Delete- Bruce
I had heard many rumors too about the building when I worked in the buying offices on the 6th floor. One of the rumors was that there was pool in the building somewhere in the old days that the Dayton's used. Someone on this board mentioned about a children's train tracks still there...I never heard or saw that. I wonder where it is?? I was there yesterday for one last visit and lunch at the Oak Grill. I had to check out the original entry, the JB Hudson iron doors, the ladies art deco bathroom on the 4th floor and so many other little things. I always loved too all the hidden (being off in the corners on 1st floor) staircases that they had. So sad to see it go. Note if you do visit, the restaurants (12th floor and basement are all closed on Jan.27th). After that time, I would imagine the 4th to 12th floors will be closed. Yesterday floors 5-11 were closed off. Floor 4 was almost 1/2 gone (they moved kids to the basement), so when they close the restaurants I bet they will just move what's left on 4 down and close 4 and up. Leaving only 1-3 and possibly the basement open. The final closing date is early March, but I would suspect if they can, they would shut down sooner.) I do not believe it is completely folks shopping online that killed this location. Having to pay plenty for parking when you can shop for free in the burbs is another reason. However the biggest reason was that Macy's killed the store. The subpar brands, poor construction of its products...but still hefty prices, no staff, never gave me a reason to shop there. AND....they never took care of that store. There are hunks out of walls, ripped carpeting, chipped/broken tiles, jewelry displays for higher end jewelry that has broken glass, chipped laminate on displays etc., not to mention those displays were easily there for decades and not taken care of. I am saddened that it has become as run down as it has. I honestly do not know how corporate Macy's ever could walk in the building and not see it falling apart...it is evident they never chose to or cared about it.
DeleteThe photographs do not show one of the great contributions to Minneapolis life: the skyway system which initially linked Daytons to a parking garage, and to Donaldson's kitty corner across Nicollet, and from Donaldson's to its parking garage on Marquette. From that sprang the entire skyway system.
ReplyDeleteMacy's just announced plans to close the downtown store (original Dayton's). I am hoping that preservations can be made for some of the original features that still exist, such as that deco ladies bathroom, and a partial train track in the floor that was once used for a children's train ride.
ReplyDeletewhere is this train track in floor?
DeleteDoes anyone recall the mezzanine overlooking the first floor. It was there when I moved to Minneapolis in 1857. Also, was there a tram type train at a Christmas show?
ReplyDeleteHi - There was a mezzanine in the JB Hudson jeweler on one corner of the store, but I don't recall one in the main store. However, *Powers* - a department store a few blocks north of Dayton's in downtown Minneapolis, very much did have a mezzanine. I remember that one quite well, as it was where I learned what a mezzanine was (and I was fascinated as a child by this odd floor that wasn't given a number).
DeleteI believe the mezzanine was closed to the public and converted to office space sometime in the 70's or 80's. Whenever we had fire drills and had to exit via the star well on the 8th street side, there was a door for the 2nd and half floor and it was locked so you couldn't enter from the stairwell but people exited from there. I worked in the store from mid-70's until 1999.
Deleteoutside the Main entrance of Daytons at Southdale 2nd floor, there was a bronze statue of a donkey the year would be late 60s early 70s. Does anyone remember this statue and know what happened to it.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone confirm that Mary Tyler Moore's cap toss was shown in front of Dayton's, not Donaldson's? The orange blur in the frozen image is an "Open Tonight" neon sign which was at Dayton's (from the days when it was open two nights a week in the 70s), right?
ReplyDeleteThey show Donaldson's on Season 1 opening credits, but her hat toss is definitely in front of Dayton's!
DeleteI hope this response goes under the correct post, that of Anonymous on 28 January 2017 01:15...
ReplyDeleteThe hat toss shows Donaldson's in the background. The mailboxes were in front of Donaldson's for years and the neon sign was at Donaldson's. That the iconic shot shows Dayton's in the rear is a fairly common belief, but it is incorrect.
Does anyone have a Dayton's Microwave Cookbook? They hosted a cook off to promote microwave recipes in the 8th floor auditorium. This was in the early to mid 70s when microwaves were becoming popular. I was a participant in the cook off, but no longer have my cookbook. I would love to find one and have not had any luck searching old bookstores and some internet sites. I hope this blog is still active. Thanks - Carol
ReplyDeleteMy cousin was Mary (DeClerk) McCoy. She was one of the long time buyer's of dresses for the store in Minn. She went and purchased the dresses from manufactures to sell in the stores. She passed in 2001 in Florida. It was really cool to see this. If you have anything with her name on it i would really love to see it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThere was a hippie shop in the front of the store (1960"s) called "NOW AND THEN". It sold pipes, incense, records, bongs.posters etc. We went in there all the time.
ReplyDeleteThat's where I bought my first copy of Rolling Stone Magazine. One time a friend & I were sitting on a bench in the hallway when we saw a cart with guitar cases being pushed out into the Radisson entry. We knew CSN&Y played the night before and sure enough, moments later Neil Young walked into Now And Then and asked for rolling papers!
DeleteI have seen conflicting information as to what the "Little Boy Blue" on the Oak Grill children's menu was. I remember it as a Hamburger with Mashed Potatoes with Gravy and Peas. Does anyone else remember it served that way versus what some have claimed as Hamburger with Fries.
ReplyDeleteThe New York Public Library's Menu Collection has a Sky Room Menu from 1949, which indicates that the "Little Boy Blue" was as you describe, with mashed potatoes and peas. Other references say fries, but do not have a menu to back it up - but, remember that these things change over time. Thanks for the interesting question!
Delete- Bruce
Can you tell me about the "Enchanted Forest"? I believe it was on the 8th floor, as I have been reading about the wonderful Christmas displays back then. I just recall that my mom and I had a great time somewhere...and there was a magical display that had a special entry and ended with my getting a wrapped little Christmas gift...a tea set. I still remember feeling so wonderful and full of wonder...I believe it was 1962. Could that have been the year for the "Enchanted Forest"?
ReplyDeleteI remember the wonderful customer service one could find at Dayton's. One time I wanted to purchase tickets to a Bob Dylan concert. The line stretched around the block and people camped out. I waited until 4:00 a.m and then I rang the department stores ticket office. I just let it ring until they opened at 9:00 a.m. I had my Dayton's charge and I got the tickets! It was better than camping outside all night. Downtown was such a fun place when I was a teen. Dayton's had dances on the 8th floor for kids. They had wonderful Xmas windows and of course the winter themed auditorium and the spring flower show. No one does that now. I was 11 when I started going to Dayton's with friends. We never had lunch there (too rich for us) so we'd go to the Nan Kin across the street. But, Dayton's had something for everyone. If you asked you could get a free make up or perfume samples and they had great sales. The "in" guys all wore Gant shirts and everyone had a navy blue, or maroon sweater in those days. The designer Mary Quant was big in those days and the model Twiggy. The quality of the clothing was so much better than today. Some parts of the old days really were good and Daytons, along with the other downtown stores, were much a part of that.
ReplyDeleteToday, stores don't give any reason to visit them. THey had a "vibe" that made people want to make them a big part of their lives, and shopping was enjoyable. No one enjoys it now, no matter how many TV screens you put in a big box. The things you describe are priceless.
Delete-Bruce
Loved everything British and I saw Twiggy when she came to Dayton's!
DeleteDoes anyone remember the elegant woman's restroom on what must have been the floor woman's clothes were on? I remember going in there as a teen and thinking wow this is fancy!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the children's play area on the 5th floor - there was an elephant slide?
ReplyDeleteIs there any place that would have information about the 8th floor auditorium Christmas exhibits? I have 10 hand drawn, framed and signed drawings that were done for "The Velveteen Rabbit" one in 1985. I am trying to see if there were more or there were only 10.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to date some yarn I won at an auction. I'm not sure how to post a picture of the label.
ReplyDeleteBut the label says:
LADYFAIR knitting worsted
made especially for Dayton’s
all virgin
a Bear Brand Bucilla product
weight 4 ounces
approx. 270 yards
Permanently mothproofed
Bernard Ulmann Co. Inc.
color 360
dye lot 2102
article 25
Today I purchased a beautiful oil painted landscape 31" X 43" in wonderful condition at a thrift shop which is Signed A.Rivera. I was surprised to find the original Dayton's price tag for $39.99 still on it.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was in Senior High I often took the bus to Dayton's and Montgomery Wards with my friends. In 1966 I purchased 2 pictures half this ones size but each costing about $39.99 and they were cardboard backed reproductions as was more common during that time.
Anyone familiar with Dayton's selling original paintings/art work? It has a lovely carved wooden frame, black and gold gilding, back incised with the AncoBuilt logo, and the canvas back marked with a hand printed control number and Rivera's name.
Love the Museum and blog Bruce you've done a great job!
I just found a picture at a thrift store, it is framed and looks like a pen and ink draft of a poster. It is an eagle with what looks like ribbon flowing out of his beak. It says Our Spirits are Soaring and then underneath that there is the official Daytons logo. It is beautiful, I bought it thinking it probably has some value. It looks very old and I am afraid to take it out of the frame, it is on very thin light brown paper, it is signed but I cant read it, there is for sure one A maybe two and a for sure K and maybe an r or an upside down i. I would be happy to find out more about it.
ReplyDeleteI am looking to purchase a large B & W photo of a Daytons building or something with the wording to enlarge to at least 16x20 or greater -- where would you recommend that I look to purchase? thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe Minnesota Historical Society - mnhs.org - has a selection of photos of the Dayton building that can be purchased - in various sizes or in a high-resolution scan that can be printed professionally.
Delete-Bruce
There are 4 Dayton’s stores st the following locations missing from your stores list.
ReplyDeleteLa Crosse, WI at the Valley View Mall, 1980
Bismarck, ND at Kirkwood Mall, 1985, I think
Appleton, WI at Fox Valley Mall, 1991
Eau Claire, WI at Oakwood Mall, 1991
I was a Regional Director Of Visual Merchandising for Dayton’s, Hudson’s, and Marshall Field’s for many years and have worked in, visited, or managed a team in every store for all 3 brands
HI anonymous, I work for Bernstein Display, and as a regional, am sure you would have hear of them, even that far back. I am doing a Look back at old department stores and am looking for info and pics of the holiday displays. Even m ore, I cant find any pics of Andy or his work there. Any info or leads for me to find anything I can use?
DeleteThanks,
Glenn
1958
ReplyDeleteI’d better write these words down now lest life becomes too late,
Do you remember when we were kids in 1958?
I saw you riding your bike no handed around Harriet Lake,
And in your yard when oaks dropped leaves, your folks would make you rake.
I remember the time you drove me home, a line drive between second and third,
And Mom cut hair tangled in my catcher’s mask so my sightline wasn’t blurred.
You never wore shoes in summer, your soles alluvial baked,
Ooching and ouching ‘cross blacktop before running toward the lake.
You bought cold pavilion ice cream, a treat after an hour's swim,
Licking and slurping ‘till all was gone then diving right back in.
When at first snow your dreams grew large with thoughts of forts and sleds,
Single leather strapped skis across your boots you skied treed hills of dread.
I saw you waiting for the bus downtown, clinking in your fare of a dime,
You were off to view Dayton’s moving window displays put up at Christmas time.
In spring you sat on your front steps watching newborn baby birds,
Your red transistor sang Everly Brothers and you knew every word.
You may deem my lyrics old school what with every line a rhyme,
But that’s the way all the songs were in 1959.
Yes, kissing was fun e’en with peashooters’ aim when mid sixties called your name,
We danced and sang to Motown; today’s music’s not the same.
But just this once put yourself back to jacks and saucers and skates,
To when we were just little kids in 1958.
Does anyone know what company supplied Dayton's with the sponge candy at Christmas time?
ReplyDeletemy father worked in the display dept and did many fine show cards for the windows and for the newspaper ads he also designed several christmas boxes and he won for best design in the early 50s im trying to find out if designed more than one box do you know if they have a list of people who won the contests ....can yolu help me out his box had a red background with bells and the daytons logo he also did alot of cartoons for the Daytons news can you help me out ?
ReplyDeletethank you
ReplyDeleteWho painted the windows back in 1940s or so, my grandmother worked there and had a painting by F Stengel, dated 1947
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to add La Crosse , Eau Claire and Appleton Wisconsin these 3 stores were in the state of Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteI remember working at the store in 1973 as a maintenance man in the evenings. I saw a lot of crazy things go on for the year I worked there. Most memorable was when they caught an employee red handed stealing cash bags. He apparently noticed that after the bags were dropped into a drop tube that went to the main cashier's collection office in the sub basement, sometimes the would get hung up. He simply grabbed the bag, stuffed it in his pants and walk out the front door to "move" his car. Dayton's began to investigate the missing bags and eventually discovered what was happening. They set a trap and put an extra amount of cash in the bag to really make the charges stick. That day the employee started to do his routine to go out the front door only to be stopped by security. I remember seeing the guard tapping the employee's belly and saying he looked like he was gaining weight. Then the security guard asked the employee what was under his shirt. The employee started to sweat and get nervous. The police walked in and he was arrested on the spot. I never heard what happened to the young man, but I imagine he did some time for his crime. I later heard others commenting that this same employee would often park his car directly below a bathroom window in the parking garage. He would then place clothing and items in a garbage bag and drop the bag between the wall and his car. Apparently he had really deserved the time he served. For the nine months I worked there, I have a lot of personal memories and recollections of stories I heard.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone collect vintage display items from Dayton's downtown Rochester Mn store? I have a young girl mannequin that should be in a collector's or museum's possession because of how unique she is dressed in her vintage clothing. she has hand painted face and hair made of twisted brown paper. I have never seen another like her, someone must have an interest in preserving her. I can email pictures if interested.--we have had her for about 45 years.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where to find the recipe for the soft gingerbread men that were sold at Mrs Clause’s Bakery at the downtown Minneapolis on the 8th floor auditorium Christmas display??
ReplyDeleteI would love to know this as well, I just got a craving for them today for some reason. I have been searching and searching and have found nothing
DeleteIt was a shame when you were able to buy some of the exact same items at TARGET that you could at DAYTONS flagship store.
ReplyDelete