Coming in due course
The on-line museum of North America's independent department stores. The museum holds all sorts of information about classic department stores which either no longer exist, or are changed beyond recognition. A few of them are still with us, and provide an interesting connection to North America's retail past. The others are presented so that they may be properly remembered as a tangible part of the lives of their customers, shopping destinations where memories were often made.
This store was located in Springfield, IL, not Missouri. It was located at 631 E. Adams Street in downtown Springfield. When the White Oaks Mall opened in 1977, Bressmer's opened a store there as well. The mall store soon became a Stix, Baer and Fuller, which disappeared around 1980 ( I think Dillard's bought them out and closed this store). Bressmer's closed its downtown store in 1980 as well. One of the State agencies now uses the building. I remember going into the downtown store as a kid in the 1970's and riding the escalators up and down.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link of the store front: http://springfieldrewind.com/600-block-of-e-adams/
I was the Ladies Moderate and Better Sportwear Buyer for Bressmers from 1971-1973 and worked in various positions there prior to be named Buyer (Assistant Buyer for same Departments, Fine China and Housewares, Junior Department). It was a wonderful place to work, high class, high standards and an experience I will never forget! Yes, logged many a trip on the escalators as Better Sportswear was righ off the third floor escalator exit!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma said it was a wonderful place to work also.
DeleteWhen I was a senior in high school in 1970, the youth department (in the basement) sponsored a "puzzle" contest. I can't remember if I won because I was the fastest to complete the puzzle or if my name was entered in a drawing....but I won and was thrilled to go off to college with several new outfits and a "trendy" maxi-coat.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was a buyer of some sort in the early 60's. She had an office on the mezzanine level sort of between floors. I was about 10 or 11 and she would take us to lunch through the rear entrance down the alley to a cool diner. I remember the tubes going through the store for messaging and the machine that would let you see the bones in your feet in the shoe dept. Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know anything about my grandfather, George B. Doyle, who worked at Bressmer's as a carpet salesman around 1914 or later? I realize that is ancient history, but help me if you can. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteWe've got one of the bressmers boxes in our garage don't know what's in it I had relatives in West Frankfort Illinois and I still have relatives in Springfield Illinois so I thought I would look up and see what happened to the store I reside in San Diego California
ReplyDeleteWe've got one of the bressmers boxes in our garage don't know what's in it I had relatives in West Frankfort Illinois and I still have relatives in Springfield Illinois so I thought I would look up and see what happened to the store I reside in San Diego California
ReplyDeleteBressmer's had a fabulous fabric collection department.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was a model at Bressmers I would love to find a picture of her but don't know that any exist. Do they have nostalgic gifts and things you can purchase?? Anyone know??
ReplyDelete