NOTE: THIS PAGE IS IN PROGRESS
AND IS INCOMPLETE AT PRESENT
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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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| 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 at 7th
Minneapolis, Minnesota
FEderal 2-3113
Basement
Donaldson's Basement Budget Store
Street Floor
Fine Jewelry L024 • Costume Jewelry 240 • Handbags 250 • Leather Goods 254 • Gloves 230 • Hosiery 260, 265 • Hat Bar • Our Wonderful World of Beauty 300 • Shoe Salon 210 • Women's Shoes 211-213 • Neckwear 224 • Hankies 229 • Street Floor Sportswear 146 • 2-Gether Shop • Street Floor Sleepwear 271, 273 • Street Floor Lingerie 273 • Notions 310 • Drugs 305 • Optical • Stationery 320 • Men's Furnishings 410 • Men's Sportswear 431 • Flowers • Optical L330
Mezzanine
Men's Clothing 400 • Sporting Goods 820 • Ski Shop • AAA World Travel
Second Floor
Budget Dresses 138 • Daytime Dresses 190 • Sportswear 149-150 • Coordinates 138 • Swimwear • Career Dresses 135 • 1/2 Size Center 137 • Women's World 153 • Coats 110 • Estate Shop 148 • Contemporary Sportswear • Expression • Pacesetter Shop • Fur Salon • Junior Dresses 165-166 • Young Juniors 171 • Innovations • Millinery • Body Fashions • Lingerie 275 • Beauty Shop • Children's Shoes 220 •
Third Floor
Young World Infants' Wear • Children's Wear • Girls' Wear 170 • Boys' Wear 440 • Domestics 550 • Bedspreads 570 • Linens 570 • Fabrics • Art Needle 540 • Sewing Machines • Portrait Studio
Fourth Floor
Housewares 670, 671 • Unpainted Furniture 675 • Magicolor Paint • China 650 • Dinnerware • Luggage 815 • Fix-All Shop • Draperies 630, 631 • Curtains 635 • Slipcovers 632 • Pictures • Lamps 640 • Carpeting • North Shore Grill
Fifth Floor
Upholstered Furniture 605 • Furniture 618 • Casual Furniture 615 • Dual Sleep • Air Conditioners • Music Center 710 • Refrigerators 720 • Washers and Dryers 770 • TV • Records 779 • Garden Room • Employment Office
Sixth Floor
Seventh Floor
Training Room
Street Floor
Fine Jewelry L024 • Costume Jewelry 240 • Handbags 250 • Leather goods 254 • Gloves 230 • Hosiery 260, 265 • Hat Bar • Neckwear 224 • Hankies 229 • Our Wonderful World of Beauty 300 • Shoe Salon 210 • Women's Shoes 211-213 • Street Floor Sportswear 146 • 2-Gether Shop • Street Floor Sleepwear 273 • Street Floor Lingerie 271, 273 • Notions 310 • Drugs 300 • Stationery 320 • Fabrics • Men's Furnishings 410 • Men's Sportswear 431 • Men's Clothing • Sporting Goods • Luggage 815 • Flowers
Balcony
Fix-All Shop • TV • Music Center • Records 779 • Sporting Goods 820 •
Second Floor
Infants' Wear • Children's Wear • Girls' Wear 170 • Children's Shoes 220 • Boys' Wear 440 •
Bedspreads 570 • Linens • Art Needle 540 • Sewing Machines • Air Conditioners • Portrait Studio
Third Floor
Budget Dresses 138 • Daytime Dresses 190 • Sportswear 149-150 • Coordinates 148 • Swimwear • Moderate Dresses 135 • Estate Shop 148 • Contemporary Sportswear • Expression • Pacesetter ShopJunior Dresses 165-166 • Young Juniors 171 • Coats 110 • Millinery • Body Fashions 280 • Lingerie 275 • 1/2 Size Center 137 • Women's World 153
Fourth Floor
Casual Furniture 615 • Furniture 618 • Upholstered Furniture 605
Fifth Floor
China 650 • Dinnerware • Draperies 630, 631 • Curtains 635 • Slipcovers 632
Sixth Floor
Housewares 670, 671 • Unpainted Furniture 675 • Lamps • 640 • Pictures Fabrics Carpeting • Music Center 710 • Refrigerators 720 • Washers and Dryers 770 • Magicolor Paint
The Capitol Grill
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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. Minnesota Room |
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.
ReplyDeleteI rode it too. Thought i had dreamt it as Daytons had no info on it
DeleteYes. Me too
DeleteI thought it was a dream for many years
Hi! 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.
I was so happy to read the info on this site. My family also told me that I imagined the ceiling train! I was very young at the time, maybe 3 or 4. My siblings were older but they don't remember it! I also remember a white balloon that had another balloon inside of it and "snow." They told me that I imagined those as well! Does anyone remember those?
ReplyDeleteYou bet they had both the train and those "double balloons". I think you got the balloon after you saw Santa. Our Christmas was never complete without a visit to Donaldson's to see Santa, have our pictures taken and ride on the train. Great marketing when you think of it. That train gave those kids a birds-eye view of the entire toy dept. You could do a little last minute tuning of your Christmas list! After that you went to the Nankin for lunch, or maybe the Forum then a ride home on the street car. Everyone downtown seemed to smell like wet wool.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody remember the "Mr. Shirley" ads for Donaldson's in the early 1980s? My family LOVED those...
ReplyDeleteThose ads w
Deleteere for Dayton's Warehouse sales
Anyone know of the Donaldson delivery stables on University Ave. in St. Paul?
ReplyDeletethere was not a donaldsons at apache mall there was montgomery ward jcpenney and daytons
ReplyDeletethere was not a donaldsons at apache mall there was montgomery ward jcpenney and daytons
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm doing some research into Donaldson's in the 1940s. Does anyone know of any staff still living from that period with memories of the store? thanks Antonio
ReplyDeleteMy family also has told me I clearly imagined the train. I was approximately 3-4 years old in 1946-7 when my family travel up from Lacrosse to see the Xmas windows and the Ice Follies. I remember the train circled the entire ceiling. There was a ticket booth in the center of the room, not sure if you paid or just took a number. Then my brother and I walked up a ramp in the far end of the room to board the train. Fantastic. One of my greatest, most enduring childhood memories, and my mother, who photographed everything, apparently didn't have her camera. Has anyone been able to find any photos of the train online, or does anyone have any personal photos they'd be willing to share. Maybe 15-20 years ago, someone asked the Mr. Fixit column in the Star and Tribune what dept.store had the Xmas train, so i had a head start on my vindication.
ReplyDeleteI am the great grandson of William Donaldson who founded Donaldson's Department stire with his brother Lawrence. When William died I was told that Lawrence cheated William's children out of their share of the busihess .. my Grandmother, daughter of William, wanted nothing more to do with that sude of the family and, as a result, I know very little about them. Can anyone point me to links that could help me learn more? - George Donaldson Fisher
ReplyDeleteHello. Have you considered contacting the current owners of the L.S. Donaldson home? I read that they carefully restored the home to its original condition so surely research was involved. They may have access to documents or information that would be beneficial to you. I have come across very little information online. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteAlso, please check theMinnesota Historical Society Library in St. Paul. They have Donaldson company records from 1882-1980 (11 boxes) and also have two books on the L.S. Donaldson home (authored by the current owners).
ReplyDeleteI have so many memories of Donaldson's. Working at the Southdale store was my first job ever and I floated a lot and was able to work in many different departments. Spent most time in hats and men's furnishings. I was on the Teen Board for Richfield High School and remember one Saturday, many of the Teen Board representatives were in the Nicollet Aveue window styling the new dynel wigs for each other! It was so much fun! I worked a few years into college and then left, but memories of Donaldson's are still strong. I don't remember a ceiling train in the downtown store, but when mom took us downtown to shop, I think we spent more time in Daytons, John W. Thomas and Rothchild's. Remember those?
ReplyDeleteThis is first time I've ever 'blogged'. Hope it works!.... When cleaning my 94 year old mom's house, I found a wooden "Donaldsons Men's Shop" wooden hanger. Does anyone know of any one/place interested in receiving it?
ReplyDeleteI have a wooden hanger "Donaldsons Mens Shop". Does anyone know who might like to have this. I hate to discard it.
ReplyDeleteI would take this hangar please visit my blog and read at the donations page for further details retailofyesteryear.blogspot.com
DeleteThanks LENO
Seems to me there was a Donaldsons at the Knollwood Plaza Mall ? Anyone know more about it?
ReplyDeleteThat would likely be after they acquired some of Powers stores in the later 1980s or so. It didn't work out for them very well, and this period is really out of the scope of this Museum-site.
DeleteI was an Investigator working in Loss Prevention for the Rochester store in 1986. I'm trying to find the name of the xmas brown bear( complete with red corduroy Santa suit)that I bought there in 1986. Mine's in perfect condition and it's really a reminder of a simplier time.
ReplyDeleteDayton's had their 1986 Santa bear, which has been quite a collectible.
Does anyone know of a department store that had a full size indoor carousel in 1936? My mother-in-law recalls one. They also had a Shirley Temple room.
ReplyDeleteI loved working there in the 80's with Nancy Ondler as store manager. Great work environment and a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the toy dept. in 1970. under the dept. manager ms durham.
ReplyDeleteFond memories of Donaldson's ... I sold China, Crystal, and Silver at the Minneapolis store on Nicollet Mall as a Christmas-season associate in 1979. I loved creating displays and even received a compliment from the store manager during one of his morning walk-throughs. There was nothing as magical as a old-style department store at Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI found a framed picture of a little girl staring up at bluebird with 2 red donaldsons stickers on back.looks older.lower front of pic says John Dresher co. N.Y. can't find anything on them.anyone else have art from there or think it's worth anything
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember what store had a slide for the children to slide while our patents walked the steps? I remember the train. Many memories of Mpls.
ReplyDeleteThe slide was an orange elephant slide on the 4th floor of Dayton's downtown.
DeleteDoes anyone remember the blueberry muffins? They were awesome. I used to work in the commissary office in the early 1970's and sure wish I could find the recipe for them. I had one every day for break and never got sick of them!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Maple Frango was the best ever - recipe was published in one of the first 'Taste' cookbooks from the Star & Tribune. It was served in a silver ice cream dish.
ReplyDeleteYes! Their Franco was truly a tast treat. If I had lunch or dinner there that was always my dessert.
DeleteI have a 1928 spring catalog called "Fashion Dial", L.S. Donaldson Company, Minneapolis Minnesota. Also labelled "The New Modes of Modern Chic". If anyone is interested then please email me at sueellenborn@yahoo.com NOT the gmail account.
ReplyDeleteI would just like it to have a good home...Sue
ReplyDelete