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.
Spent many Saturdays in downtown New Haven, including the Chapel Square Mall. Parents used to park in the Malley's parking garage and walk through the tunnel. Malley's had a great bargain basement. Sad when it was torn down. Gateway Community College recently relocated to the former Macy's/Chapel Square Mall.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not remember the original store on Chapel Street, I do have fond memories of the newer store on Church Street which was connected to Macy's via skybridge. One of my most fondest memories was the rice pudding in the restaurant and the giant bird cage in the children's shoe department. The had a wonderful candy counter and toy department. I got my first 2-wheel bicycle there that my grandmother purchased for me.
ReplyDeleteDuring my short employment at the Macy's in 1986 they had a fixture sale in Malley's. I spent my lunch hour walking through the old store picking up various items, boxes, bags, stationery etc and sneaking them out without paying. To this day, I still have these items on display in my home.
I remember Malley's very well, it was my Aunts favorite next to Macy's but somehow Malley's was much nicer in so many ways..it had a huge bird cage near the upstairs entrance filled with beautiful Parakeets and further down all the cases with Delicious Chocolates ..i Loved going in there..now New Haven is a vast Wasteland of nothing and looks more and more like a Ghetto..so sad.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the name of the long chocolate candies that were wrapped in foil that was sold at the candy counter in the Malley store...whatever they were, they were delicious
ReplyDeleteI shopped with my grandmother and mother there as a child (in the 1950's) and then later as a young adult. And then it was gone so shopped at the Macy's next door . Oh, those were great department stores. Shartenbergs down the street on Chapel St and the wonderful restaurant Hasselbachs, also on Chapel St. Would go there before going to Schuberts Theatre on College St. These were magical places. Classy , elegant. So very different from today!
ReplyDeleteI remember the older Malley's store on Chapel and the new one when it opened on Church Street; the older store a classy old style department store, the new store at 12 Church Street very modern and elegant---the restaurant, those chocolates, how bright and airy moving from floor to the other. Now gone as are most of the retail names of New England and everywhere else. New Haven had some classy retail businesses in the early sixties; some very comfortable old style restaurants....how I remember the Old Heidelberg on Chapel Street.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the Fair Haven section of town and lived below my grandmother and aunt. After we moved to the suburbs (as people did back then) but we would go and visit, or my parents would drop me off and my grandmother and I would hop on the bus (25cent fare) and head shopping downtown. My grandmother worked for A.C. Gilbert Company and painted the sides of the American Flyer trains. We would see the trains on display in the toy department at Malley's and she would mention to me that those trains may have been made by her. It felt wonderful knowing she did that and I still have those trains to this day.
ReplyDeleteAnother memory about that store that just came to mind were the 2 blue elevators in the garage entrances. They had these square buttons that lit up at the slightest touch, almost as if they were heat sesitive. I recall "testing" them to see how lightly I could touch them to make them light up.
I also fondly remember the huge birdcage in the children's shoe department and remember just sitting there watching them while my Grandmother shopped nearby.
Poor great grandad!!☘️
ReplyDeleteMy mom worked at Malley's in the early 1940s and told great stories about the people she met. To see an interesting newspaper clipping included with a letter my mom wrote to my grandmother about Malley's, use the link: http://annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/02/april-22-1943-war-bonds-malleys-butter.html Thank YOU for your awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteMalley's was my very first job; worked there in 1970. It was still a great department store. It was during Christmas time; and I so remember the hustle and bustle. The bargain basement, the area upstairs where fabric and patterns could be purchased; and the restaurant on the 2nd floor.Lucky to be able to see items come in, and to put them on layaway. We used to have a newsletter, which I have some of. I also have a hat box from there. Unfortunately, I was also there when the Malley family was no longer in charge. That was the beginning of the end. In my mind, I will keep the memories of the store as it looked. I could never go in there when it was turned into a thrift store.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the sale of the Edw. Malley Co. to The Outlet Company was a huge mistake! Everything went downhill after that. I used to work at Malley's as well, working in an array of departments: luggage, liquor, books, package pickup, and worked in the shipping department!
DeleteAll of the above (or below) comments are so interesting and for me true. In my early yrs..I would hop on a bus with my mom and downtown we would go..at least once a wk..Hasselbach's the old soda fountain and selection of their own candies in the big glass case was incredible. I believe that whole soda fountain became a bar and may still be located on Chapel St. That was a real throwback to the 1890's era even in the 60's. Although I shopped more in the last Malley's location my favorite one was by far the Original on Chapel & Temple. It was no secret that putting Malley's on the end of that entire doomed shopping site was going to be the end for them. It was always windy..unappealing and way out. Location location location..and they did not have it. I did buy all of my boys's first clothing at Malley's in 1970 and they just had the nicest selection for children also. I was sad to hear the family was selling out to the Outlet..a disaster for many beloved dept stores..liked Federated Stores became for others also. Again..Malley's was just the best..and only going to Gamble Desmond would equal them. To those sad over the Malley family selling it off..I think they were having financial issues with this store that was probably doomed more by Mayor Lee's redevelopment disaster than by anything they maybe have thought up. Well most cities in this country can tell the same exact story as what happened to once fun shopping in New Haven..in the 50's and before.
ReplyDeleteLooking for information about a radio program called Sunup Roundup which was advertised by Malley's. Does anyone remember a sunrise radio program with this name broadcast from New Haven, CT? The host/singer was Clive Dill? There is no radio station given, nor do I have any dates. Any help would be terrific.
ReplyDelete