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| Like many North American department stores, Donaldson's evolved over time; its modern, art-deco front covered an ancient, 1884 fragment, while the large neo-classical block was a vestige of an abortive expansion plan of the 1920s. |
L.S. Donaldson Co.
Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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| Saint Paul Seventh and Robert Streets 1961 |
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| Rapid City, SD Saint Joseph St. at 7th 1947 |
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| Rochester Miracle Mile Shopping Center 1954 |
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| Southdale Edina 1956 179,000 s.f. |
Brookdale
Brooklyn Center
1966
140,000 s.f.
Rosedale
Roseville
August, 1969
160,000 s.f.
Apache Mall
Rochester
1972
Ridgedale
Minnetonka
August,1974
124,000 s.f.
I completely forgot Donaldson's forgettable Rochester Apache Mall store. The Miracle Mile store had wonderfully quirky architecture. I shopped there. Donaldson's really didn't get malls, so Dayton's killed them, I think. Never shopped it in the 'Cities because of that when I got up there.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if anyone has information about the train that ran on the ceiling of the Downtown Minneapolis store in the late 40s and early 50s. I remember riding on it and looking down at the shoppers. How long was it in service? Does anyone have pictures of it.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for the incredible work you've done on this site. I have several charge cards from several department stores to share; additionally, I have a 1940s matchbook with the original Donaldson's left=italic logo to share. That one was always my favorite. --David in Chicago
ReplyDeleteI remember the train as well, but my family thinks I'm nuts and there was no such thing. :(
ReplyDeleteJohn in MG
Just saw this Blog while searching around. Over Xmas 2012 I was visiting my Dad. He showed me some letters from his Dad. Here's a letter of recommendation from Donaldson's from pre-1919.
ReplyDeletehttp://penvelo.org/travel/?attachment_id=26
I see W.D.Desmond is verified out here,
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/6642c01.html
Neat stuff.
Dayton's Department store in Minneapolis, MN had the following animated Christmas holiday displays in their 8th floor auditorium:
ReplyDeleteDayton’s mechanical displays in the 8th floor auditorium
1966 Dickens London Towne,
1967 Dickens Village ’67,
1968 Under the Christmas Tree
1969 Peter Pan
1970 Santa’s Toy Workshop
1971 Santa’s TV Studio
1972 Joy to the World (Joan Walsh Anglund)
1973 The Nutcracker Fantasy
1974 Grandma Moses’ Christmas in the Country
1975 Twas The Night Before Christmas
1976 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
1977 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1978 Once Upon a Christmastime
1979 Babes in Toyland
1980 Alice’s Wonderland Christmas
1981 Hansel and Grettle
1982 Pippi Longstocking
1983 Babar and Father Christmas
1984 Animalen, The Peaceable Kingdom
1985 The Velveteen Rabbit
1986 Santa Bear’s First Christmas
1987 Santa Bear’s High Flying Adventure
1988 The Polar Express
1989 Cinderella
1990 Peter Pan
1991 Pinocchio
1992 Puss in Boots
1993 Beauty and the Beast
1994 The Wizard of OZ
1995 The Wind in the Willows
1996 A Christmas Carol
1997 The Nutcracker (Maurice Sendak)
1998 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1999 The Twelve Days of Christmas
2000 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
I grew up in the Mpls. suburbs in the 50's and 60's. I rode the ceiling train several times as a child. Also, there were mechanical displays before 1966 I believe. Also when we went to visit Santa Claus at Christmas time there were probably 7 or 8 of them. There would be walled off corridors to each of them so the kids thought there was only the one real Santa. I also went to a Saturday AM event for several weeks called Glamorama for teen and tween girls. I am not sure if this was at Donaldsons or Daytons but we got a bright pink foil covered round hat box and a few accessories and spent our Sat. AM's learning proper manners, how to walk graciously, make up tips, etc.
ReplyDeleteI worked for Eddie in the Cafe and he was known as "I am the Boss"
ReplyDeleteand why Eddie did not have a club years later is be-on me.
Eddie could of had been famous enough. such as Eddie@I.am.the.Boss.Comedy.Club.org
and toll free number 1-855-I-Am-Boss.
and locally, 1-612-I-am-Boss.
and website www. I_am_the_Boss_Comedy Club.org
So, if anyone whom once worked for Donaldsons and knew Eddie, how about playing a Pre-April Fools Joke on him?
As fair as Daytons. Relax, the Gov sold out.and it was the Ecomony in the late 70's and early 80's.
Does anyone remember the Donaldson's jingle? I still hear it in my head. It goes something like this, unless I have the wrong store:
ReplyDeleteExciting things are happening at Donaldson's
'Cause Donaldson's a most exciting store
The friendly people there
Will show you that they care
With values that will always save you more
'Cause Donaldson's a most inviting
Donaldson's a most ...
Donaldson's a most exciting store!
I cannot find it on the Internet.