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| Block & Kuhl's flagship store in downtown Peoria was widely known as "The Great White Store" |
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| The store received a modified facade with modern facing, and, as Carson Pirie Scott & Co., maintained its flagship status. |
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| The store was in fact an anchor in Peoria's downtown, and was the main store of Carson's Peoria division. |
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. (Block & Kuhl)
124 S.W. Adams
Peoria, Illinois
Basement
Basement Store • Luncheonette • Shoe Repair
Street Floor
FIne Jewelry • Jewelry • Silverware • Handbags • Gloves • Billfolds • Accessories • Scarfs • Handkerchiefs • Blouses • Sweaters • Street Floor Sportswear • Street Floor Lingerie • Bra Bar • Street Floor Shoes • Cosmetics • Drugs • Candy • Notions • Yard Goods • Linens • Domestics
Men's Shop Men's Furnishings • Smoke Shop
Balcony
White Sewing Machines • PhotoReflex Studio • Gift Wrapping • Postal Service
Second Floor
Lingerie • Robes • Corset Shop • Uniforms • Maternity Shop • House and Town Shop • Infants' Shop • Children's Shop • Girls' Shop • Teen Shop • Children's Shoes • Merry-Go-Round-Shoes
Men's Clothing • Men's Shoes
Third Floor
Dress Center • Sportshop • Coat Center • Suit Center • Pandora Shop • Better Dresses • Better Sportswear • French Room • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Millinery Salon • Shoe Salon • Beauty Salon
Young Peorian Junior Dresses • Junior Sportswear • Junior Coats
Fourth Floor
Gift Shop • Pictures and Mirrors • Picture Framing • Art Needlework • Curtains • Draperies • Rugs • Floor Coverings
Fifth Floor
Stationery • Books • Sporting Goods • Luggage • Appliances • TV Center • Radio Center • Records • Cashier Service • Credit Office • Personnel
Sixth Floor
Furniture • Interior Decorating Studio • Furniture Galleries
Seventh Floor
Housewares • China • Glassware • Lamps • Magicolor Paint Center • Seventh Floor Luncheonette • Skyline Restaurant
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Moline
1514 5th Avenue
Block & Kuhl Co. 1912
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
70,000 sq.ft.
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Ottawa (1915/1961)
112 W. Madison Street
41,000 sq. ft.
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| Decatur Block & Kuhl Co. 1925 Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961 99,000 sq. ft. |
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Joliet
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961 106 North Chicago |
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Rockford
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961 315 West State St. |
Aurora (1928/1961)
5 E. Galena Blvd.
57,000 sq. ft.
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Galesburg
Block & Kuhl Co.
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
400 E. Main Street |
Elgin
Block & Kuhl Co. 1941
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
30 DuPage Street
Kewanee (1942/1961)
17,000 sq. ft.
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Rockford East
Block & Kuhl Co. 1946
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
516 East State Street |
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Freeport
Block & Kuhl Co. 1946
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
8-12 West Stephenson St. |
Danville
Block & Kuhl Co. 1948
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
26,000 sq. ft.
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| Burlington, IA Block & Kuhl Co. 1948 Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961 |
Rock Island (1948)
1715 2nd St.
Davenport, IA
109 E. Second St.
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Winnetka
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961 14,000 sq. ft. |
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Quincy
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961 Maine Street
72,000 sq. ft.
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Kankakee
145 S. Schuyler Avenue
Block & Kuhl Co. 1960
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. 1961
Carriage Lane
Urbana
1964
11,000 sq. ft.
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Lincoln Square Mall
Urbana
1964
121,000 sq. ft.
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Northwoods Mall
Peoria
1973
Coming in due course
THANKS FOR STARTING THIS SECTION. THERE WAS A BLOCK & KUHL HOME STORE THAT OPENED IN DANVILLE IN THE 1950'S IT WAS DESIGNED BY RAYMOND LOWEY..ALSO BLOCK'S FIRST AND ONLY SHOPPING CENTER STORE WAS OPENED IN 1957 NEAR ELGIN IL IN THE MEADOWDALE SHOPPING CENTER. WHEN CARSONS CHANGED BLOCK'S CHICAGO LAND STORES TO CARSONS'S IN 1961 THAT STORE CHANGED O CARSONS.......DO YOU HAVE A DATE (year) FOR THE FLOOR DISCRIPTION YOU HAVE LISTED FOR THE PEORIA STORE? IT APPEARS TO BE POST BLOCK & KUHL. JUST WONDERING. ALSO IF YOU DO A TIME LINE FOR BLOCK'S THE ORGINAL STORE WAS OPENED IN PEKIN ILLINOIS AS SCHIPPER & BLOCK IN 1865.THE PEORIA STORE ALSO WENT BY THAT LABEL FOR IT'S FIRST 38 YEARS BEFORE BEING CHANGED IN 1914. THE PEKIN STORE REMAINED SCHIPPER & BLOCK UNTIL IT CLOSED IN THE LATE 1960'S.THE BUILDING STILL STANDS TODAY . AFTER CARSONS COMPLETED THEIR URBANA STORE IN 1964 THERE WERE PLANS FOR A BRANCH STORE IN PEKIN, THE SIGNS REMAINED UP FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL BEING TAKEN DOWN IN THE 1970'S. NO STORE WAS EVER BUILT IN PEKIN...............THANKS KENT W.
ReplyDeleteWish you had some internal photos of the Peoria store. I was last there in 1971 or so, when I was about 5. I remembered thinking the store was huge--and that there was a huge, sweeping staircase inside. Does that sound right to anyone? I also have a vague memory of a candy store being outside the building; almost across an alley. Is that possible? What a magical time to be a small child in northern Illinois!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI'm here because yesterday I found a beautiful pair of black velvet vintage heels. They are in such great condition that I wondered for a second if they were really vintage but the labels give that away. on one heel is printed "BLOCK AND KUHL CO. PEORIA, ILL." On the other hill it says "MILLER beautiful shoes" and around the heel of that same shoe says "RHUMBA LAST"
I bought them at Salvation Army for 69 cents. I wonder how much they cost when they were bought brand new?
love,
Sarah
sfischer@methodistcol.edu
I vaguely remember going into the store in downtown Aurora as a child. One question, did Block & Kuhl start these stores as their own or did buy existing stores?
ReplyDeletethe Block & Kuhl store in Aurora was built in the late 1920's for Block & Kuhl.. The Peoria store was also started by the company. Some of their locations were purchased from other firms but many were original Block & Kuhl stores. At the time of their merger with Carsons there were 20 locations . quite an accomplishment for a chain in central Illinois......
ReplyDeleteMy father, Russel Holcomb worked for Block Kuhl in the forties. He was manager at the Galsburg in 1949 when he became sick, dying in 1950. I have many pictures and newsletters that may be of interest. Is there a place where they could be displayed? Email me at oregon179@roadrunner.com. Please put store name in subject line so I don't delete it. My name is Ruby, Russell daughter. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Connie Dunn. My mother bought wat looks to by a crystal necklace and earrings..maybe diamonds I don't know but th y cut glass. Need to find out what door to door sales company she bought them fombshe said she paid over 500. For them back in the 60's..conniemurphy4ever@ gmail.com if anyone can help me
ReplyDeleteI have a large pamphlet called Supplement to Spring Edition of Pattern Book "C" Fall 1904 put out by the Carson Pirie Scott & Co Chicago. It looks to be a salesman's copy of rug patterns with color pictures. I work for a non profit that gets books to sell at our huge sale and I thought to look this one up because of the early color pictures. I can email photos to anyone if interested. Please contact me at betsy@wfwalc.org.
ReplyDeleteMy first important retail job was at Lincoln Square. I quickly became the men's furnishings, sportswear, accessories, boys and luggage buyer. Retail became my lifelong work. It was great store and Mall. Urbana actually closed streets for it, and the hotel remained at the center of the Mall. It was wonderful as I could buy for our community with a major influence from the U of I. I used to buy shorts for August delivery for the incoming students, and remember the day it rained one September and returning students needed an umbrella...we sold every umbrella in the store. I still remember the successes, special items, promotions, wonderful store folks and great mall people. It was a great time when retail was run for the sake of the customer and not the sake of a promo. I recall the customers, my staff and vendors. Wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteI am working on a project to remodel the Carson, Pirie, Scott building in Ottawa, IL on LaSalle St. It was built in 1961. I am looking for information on who the architect was for this building. Does anyone know the answer?
ReplyDeleteI have a dining room set, table + five chairs + buffet that I'm trying to determine age. Under the table is a tag that says (first line) Carson Pirie Scott & Co, (second line) Furniture Section, (third line) Chicago. Does anyone have information that could help identify the period manufactured?
ReplyDeleteCarsons was wonderful to work for....I started as the Manager of the mens and boys clothing and also the Scout uniforms in the Winnetka store and then was promoted to the manager of the toys, books, luggage and sporting goods at the Edens Plaza store in Wilmette....
ReplyDelete**** COMING IN LATE 2020 **** COMING IN LATE 2020 ****
ReplyDelete�� " HALLELUJAH! " The future ' OSF Healthcare Ministry Headquarters ' rehab will be a $127 million dollar project for 700 plus OSF employees aka ' mission partners ' soon-to-be relocated into this civic landmark restored with (see below photo rendering link) the classic ' big white store ' exterior.
https://www.peoriamagazines.com/sites/default/files/ibi/articles/lead_images2/a9ru7t5bi_4154qg_2is.jpg