A different viewpoint – cords and all. We don’t stress a whole lot about cords here. I mean, I try to tuck them behind objects if I can, but let’s face it, they’re an everyday reality in our lives, so why worry about them?
A magazine doesn’t live here, we do.
I’ve been thinking about bankruptcy and Sears this week. It makes me sad. Sears was such a part of my childhood years in Dearborn, Michigan. There was a Sears in Lincoln Park, which is very close to Dearborn, and we spent a lot of time there. My parents didn’t have much money and Sears could always be counted on for affordable merchandise. We went there at least once a week. When I was a little girl, I would ask my mom to take me to the doll displays and I would stand there for quite a long time, gazing up at the dolls, telling my mom and dad what dolls I wanted. When I got a bit older, I would walk to the handbag section – or purses, as we called them then. Heck, I still call them purses. I loved purses! I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to carry one.
Dad got his lawnmower and tools and ladders there. When Mom learned to sew, we would spend hours looking through patterns and fabric.
You could get anything and everything there.
And, oh, the Christmas catalog! I spent hours pouring over all the photos of toys, turning page corners, marking what I wanted (which was always a lot!) The day that catalog arrived in the mail was magical.
Mom and Dad would order things through the catalog. When they came in, we would drive to the store to visit the catalog pick-up counter.
Sears was the be-all and end-all of shopping experiences when I was a kid. There were no local branches yet of J. L. Hudson, which was the flagship department store in Detroit – that didn’t happen until the mall craze took over. (J. L. Hudson is gone now and has become another friggin’ Macy’s. Don’t get me going on that.) Anyway, J. L. Hudson was downtown and a Christmas visit to the store was a dream come true. Magical, wondrous. The downtown branch eventually suffered due to more and more people moving to the suburbs and the ups and downs of the auto industry. It closed in the 80s. In true Detroit-at-that-time fashion, years later that glorious building with wooden escalators was demolished. No more. All trace of it gone. It broke my heart.
I moved to other cities where I saw the same thing happen eventually; Wanamaker’s became Macy’s. Jordan Marsh became Macy’s. And of course, Marshall Field’s became Macy’s as well. When everything is the same wherever you go, you’ve lost a great deal.
But back to Sears. As an adult, I rarely went there. My tastes changed. But that doesn’t diminish my sadness at what has happened to that once great store, which carried everything you might need. There are Sears catalogue homes all over our country, built from designs and kits that were sold by mail order. You could order your home! Forbes called them “the American Dream that came in a box.”
The thing about the American Dream is that it sometimes fails and fades away. And we’re just left with memories.
My thoughts today.
Did you have a Sears in your life?
Happy Sunday.
I worked in a Sears catalog store. I sorted the items that came in huge boxes. My son is dressed in Sears clothing in his elementary school photos. It’s sad to see it go.
I agree, Linda.
I am sad at the loss of Montgomery Wards and now Sears. Both of these were at the heart of childhood Christmas dreams. When raising my children, they were the most frequented stores and their catalogues were dog eared and worn by the time the next year’s catalogue appeared. Much of our early marriage furniture and many of our major appliances came from Sears. As you mentioned, there are so many beautiful Sears Homes across the country. Many older folks have told stories of using the catalogue pages as bathroom tissue. The internet has changed everything.
We had a Montgomery Wards in our town – and that is long gone, as well. Sigh.
Here in Canada, we had Sears, Eaton’s, Woodwards and Hudson’s Bay – I loved the catalogues at Christmas too. We see so many now in the Antique Mall for sale and they are snatched up so quickly! The only store left now is Hudson’s Bay, which ironically, is the first store in Canada , was created in 1670. It’s weathered the creation of Canada, wars, recessions and booms. I’m grateful we have so many choices in retail now. At this time in my life and with our venture out to the country, I am happy for online choices too. Progress is hard but has advantages too.
Hope you have a great Sunday. We’re off to watch our Oilers Hockey team play in a competition today!
X Chy
It shouldn’t have to be either/or though, should it?
Exactly!
xo
Sears. Yes we had one in Seattle where I grew up. They had the very best bathroom towels. The quality could not be found anywhere else. When we were married 46 years ago a friend bought us a set of towels that I am still using. They look and feel the same. Wonderful absorbency! I still have a set I got from my mom that were in our home when I was growing up. Of course I have a supply of towels, so they were never used exclusively, but they are still wonderful. Other towels I have bought from other sources have long gone into the rag bin.
I can’t believe you’re still using the towels! That IS quality!
Some people get jewelry from their beloved on their wedding day. I got a sewing machine-from Sears. It was what I wanted. And I still have it and still sew on it regularly. That was 1978. My husband passed away over a year ago but I can look around our home and still see many things we purchased as newlyweds. And yes, I remember the catalog as a child. What fun that was picking out what we wanted for Christmas. I am saddened, too.
My mom got her sewing machine from Sears, too! And my parents bought all their appliances there. They were excellent quality and lasted for years.
Sears was not a part of my life until I was an adult and moved to a small town in Texas with a Sears Catalog store where we bought our appliances and ordered necessities. The best thing to come out of Sears, if indirectly, would have to be the thousands of schools built for African American students in fifteen Southern states, thanks to the collaboration of Sears investor, president and chairman, Julius Rosenwald, and Booker T. Washington; 527 of these schools were built in Texas.
Thanks for sharing that, Margaret!
I’d also add Sears Kit Homes, which changed the landscape of home ownership, making it affordable for newlyweds to buy and build a home. Before that, most young marrieds lived in the same home as their parents, often an extended family in the same house.
Growing up in Seattle, two Sears stores were major players in my childhood; the small Wallingford store (now an upscale mini-mall) and the massive store south of downtown Seattle which is now corporate headquarters for Starbucks. I loved going to the Wallingford Sears with my dad anytime he need a few nails or screws or a small tool of some kind, because it surely meant a trip to the candy counter for a small bag of bridge mix. We picked up catalog orders there, too. Back to school shopping meant a trip to the BIG Sears; exciting because of the bigger selection, but tiring to little legs. In that huge store, we’d visit the boys dept. at one end, then my dad would take my younger brothers down to the opposite end where lawn and garden, and hardward/paint were located. I’d stay with my mom to visit the girls and women’s department, and maybe check home-goods and linens. Of course the arrival of the Holiday Wish Book meant mayhem as we fought over who got to dream their way through the catalog first. Winner was usually the one who finished their homework promptly. : )
So many happy memories associated with Sears…… I’ll hold on tight to those.
I remember the candy counter! The smell of candy, popcorn, and roasted nuts!
Due to nostalgia, I bought an old candy counter scale about 15 years ago. I used it as a backup scale in my tea shop during power outages.
xo
No Sears here, but ABM, EPA and Waro. Where I grew up, there was a wonderful store called Brockmann. They are gone. Have a good week!
So sad to see these stores go, Regula.
I’ve bought all my kitchen appliances and washers and dryers at Sears. The Kenmore appliances I have are so reliable. But if I had to call for repair and it was always Sears…quick and reliable. I agree that the clothing sold there is t for me, but I love the tools and appliances department.
I still have repairs done through Sears – and I don’t have Kenmore appliances! I wonder if that will fall by the wayside, too?
I worked in the Sears jewelry department , plumbing and for a few years in the furniture customer service department. I learned a lot. I am pretty sure the cottage was a Sears catalog cottage. I do know it was sold as a kit and was delivered to New Hudson. You knew you could always count on Sears.
You know, I was just wondering if the cottage was a Sears kit cottage! I saw a picture of a home today that reminded me of the cottage. Wow!
As a military brat most of our clothes were ordered via Sears and Penneys catalogues. The BX on base didn’t have much selection or variety. The catalogues were really put to use when we were stationed in France and Germany. My first Christmas away from home my Mom ordered all my presents from Sears while living in Germany and had them delivered to my aunt. It was a huge surprise to have “Santa” visit after all.
Great stories, Laura!
Sears WAS a large part of my life for about 16 years when I worked there part time after we had kids. I started in catalog and then moved into Training and Personnel. I loved my time there. My feeling is that Sears should have become “Amazon”. We sold everything!! As you said, in the past even home building kits. Somewhere we lost the roots and people who were brought in as highest of high executives didn’t see the signs. I believe in my heart that Amazon filled a gap after Sears (so stupidly) closed the catalog division. Up until that time, when you think of mail order, a large part was Sears. And certainly until Malls became the rage, and automobile travel was a part of everyone’s lives, Sears is how one purchased many things in their lives. Their newest CEO is the poorest excuse for a manager I have ever seen. He should be put in a crate and shipped somewhere. I still find it so hard to believe that Sears is where they are today. UNDER K-mart?? Wow. There are so many lessons to be learned, I think!!
I can’t believe someone with smarts couldn’t have saved Sears. It’s so sad.
Sears is an American icon for sure. people have feelings for it the same way they do nostalgic family traditions. it’s part of their lives. and it will be a loss when there are no more. it was always THERE. a solid entity that made up for many things changing so fast now it makes your head spin!
my own experiences and memories of it mirror your own! and you’re right! as soon as you mentioned the candy and roasted nuts counter I could literally smell those wonderful smells!
and I dearly love the pictures you’ve been posting of your cottage ‘rooms.’ they’re wonderful!
Thank you, Tammy. I’m all for change and innovation, but institutions such as Sears shouldn’t be part of the collateral damage.
My memories of Sears didn’t begin until I was married. My hubby was a great fan…and I was quickly smitten. Sears had everything…from home to clothes, tools and gardening supplies. Everything we needed for our home…and later for our kids. They had a great clothing rewards program for school kids…I don’t remember the details, but, we were able to cloth our boys for a reasonable amount of money, and get discounts on subsequent buys, while still abiding by a dress code. And then there was the Holiday Wish Book….I’d have to wrestle it away from my kids so I could take a peek! Those were the days. Sears was always good for Kenmore appliances…until of late, and Craftsman tools, until they sold the brand.
Some long ago memories….that’s for sure. Enjoy your day! ;)
My mom and dad bought our clothes there. Actually, they bought just about everything there.
Growing up mostly in Alaska, Sears and Montgomery Wards were very important in our lives. Our house was filled with Kenmore appliances and all the fixtures in the downstairs bathroom came from Sears. Counted on being able to shop there until the larger stores came to town. I missed both stores over the years and their demise is very sad!
Very sad indeed, Suzanne.
Sears was the ‘sensible’ department store for me – I always went there for appliances. That said, their closure here meant about 12,000 people losing their jobs and endless court proceedings with respect to the massively underfunded pension plan.
Yes, let’s not forget all those who have lost their jobs. It’s heartbreaking.
I have so many wonderful childhood memories of Sears. I even worked there part time when I was in my late twenties. I’m so sad to see it go. We have one store still open nearby, but they have little business and will be closing soon. My husband bought me a lovely Christmas present there this past holiday. A pretty pillow with a cardinal on it, my favorite bird. But even more special to me is I think of all those great memories of Sears over the years, every time I look at it.
Several commenters have said they worked there, as well. It impacted us all in many ways. Thanks, Lily.
We had Sears and Montgomery ward and probably Penney’s and a Robert Hall clothing store.
Sears was our main store-even for eye glasses! As I became a teen, I shopped in teen stores and places that sold my Weejuns and little skirts and sweater sets. I had a coat that I loved from the Robert Hall store and one of the main characters in the movie We Are Marshall is wearing that coat! Of course, we lived near the plane crash when it happened! (Marshall university football team
Crash in 1970). When my kids were little we shopped at Penney’s!
I go to Macy’s for all of my clothes-an inexpensive brand-Karen Scott! Affordable! One of the Macy’s in Indy is closing-they will go the way of Sears maybe!
I don’t miss Sears-they out priced themselves for the quality! Penney’s is doing the same unfortunately. I don’t know where we will buy clothes as I like to try them on-not order online like much else.
However, going to Sears with Mother at the beginning of the school year is a wonderful memory!
I remember Robert Hall. I don’t know if we shopped there much, but I definitely remember them.
I buy at Macy’s occasionally, but I try to shop elsewhere. They are becoming a kind of monopoly.
Like you, I have to try on things.
I’m one of six and my father was a teacher. We grew up with Sears too! So many trips to the catalog pick up counter :) We loved the Christmas Wish Catalog and had to take turns looking through it making a list of our wishes. Fast forward and I’m married to a handyman/craftsman who would only buy Craftsman tools. A lot of our furniture has been made with Craftsman tools. They will leave a big hole in our mall…and in my heart!
Craftsman tools were considered the best quality and they were long lasting, as well.
Sears was a big part of my life. The Wish Book was a wonder. We couldn’t wait for it to arrive in the mail. We bought all of our appliances at sears. We have two of their air-conditioners, a sewing machine, and refrigerator. Our garage doors are from Sears,too. It is so sad to see Sears struggle. It is the same situation with bookstores. They cannot compete with on ine stores for ordering books.
Marilyn
I think of it this way: unless you know exactly what you want and have researched it, you need to go to a store in person and examine the tools or appliances or books. Online is wonderful in many ways, but it can’t take the place of being there.
It just makes me sad.
Me too.
The Sears in my life was much the same as yours-except we had a 25 minute mountain drive to get to it. It was a real adventure to go to Sears..and it had an escalator that I was scared to death to use and embarrassed my mother the first time.
All of my father’s ‘barn clothes’ came from there and so did anything we wore that was ‘store bought’. My mother made all of our school clothes-except my brother got his “toughskin” pants there with the extra reinforcement in the knees.
Getting that Sears Dream book was the highlight before Christmas. I can remember my brother and I had to take turns looking at it.
After we got rid of the wood stove in the kitchen we got Sears appliances -stove and fridge and washer and dryer. Everything was well made and lasted forever.
When my kids were babies I bought the Paddington Bear clothes for them there. They were so cute. I even passed my son’s Paddington Bear sleepers down to HIS son. Crazy!
It is sad- sad to see it go. Ours has been closed for a long time here.
Thanks for tickling my memory.
The one that is nearest to us here has been dying a slow death. I think it finally closed recently. Thanks, Diana.
Our family shopped at Sears when there were good deals [having 6 kids & 1 Dad’s income made this a requirement]. I can’t say it dominated shopping for us though. Although my Dad did get all his lawn-mowing & hardware equipment there too. The best present ever to get my Dad was a Sears gift certificate. One year for Father’s Day, he ended up getting $800 worth [needless to say, from all his adult children]. He joked that he was going into the store with them & announce to the staff that “you people work for me now…” LOL. He did love the Craftsmen tools – such high quality. My Dad was definitely the Tool Man. In our area the “legendary” old department store chain was Sibley’s, which I actually worked at part-time when I was a young teacher. Evenings & weekends in the bridal registry. Wow, most enjoyable PT job ever. Almost felt guilty taking a paycheck. Then of course, Sibley’s was bought out, by BonTon I think – which I don’t think is around anymore in this area either. We do have a Macy’s but I rarely shop brick & mortar anymore. I like online shopping & all the research one can do before making a purchase. Seems as though things have swung back around to people getting things by post again, as it was for so much of the past 150 years. People really only started shopping in brick & mortar buildings when the car became so prominent. My mom always told stories about even groceries being very commonly-delivered in her youth. She said that being either a grocery delivery person or a gas station attendant was the first job of nearly every boy she knew. Peace
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
4 kids and 1 income for us. And a mom who didn’t drive.
BonTon is dying, as well. Our store closed a few months back.
I’m not a fan of shopping because it’s tiring to me, but there is nothing that replaces examining something, holding it in your hand, discussing options with a knowledgeable salesperson. Amazon and other online retailers just can’t do that.
Ours was at the Macomb Mall in Roseville, MI. My dad swore by Craftman tools. My husband and I bought our appliances there when we were first married and the best lawnmower we ever owned came from there. They had quality items at good prices.
Kenmore appliances were so dependable and trustworthy!
I spent hours poring over the Sears catalog making my Christmas list.
I still buy all my appliances there but I guess maybe no longer.
Maybe they’ll still be available?
I bet we poured through it together, Kay!
I’ve shopped at the same Sears my whole life — as a child, a teenager, a young adult, a newlywed, a young parent, a middle-aged woman. I bought a dishwasher there just a year ago.
And now it’s gone.
Heartbreaking. Such a loss!
The memories you stirred up! As a child, I paged through those Christmas catalogs selecting the items (dolls and doll stuff) I wished for if I could have everything I wanted. It’s funny, I was just thinking about the downtown Detroit J. L. Hudson store the other day. I grew up in Saginaw, and it was a major treat to visit the store at Christmas. The lovely merchandise, the way they clustered the ornaments on their beautiful trees, the Christmas Village. Maurice Salad for lunch. I’m happy to see the Detroit area coming back to life.
The Christmas Village was incredible and I loved the Maurice Salad. Didn’t they have some sort of ice cream dessert that looked like Mickey Mouse? I remember it. The ears were made of chocolate cookies.
I’m very happy about Detroit but can’t help thinking how cool it would have been if they hadn’t imploded Hudson’s and repurposed the original building.
My brother owned several funeral homes. His first was in a Sear kit home.
So interesting, Linda!
I’ll miss Sears if it goes. It’s only a mile walk away and the anchor for Frandor, one of our shopping centers… and it has Land’s End. To be honest, I often ORDER Land’s End from the catalogue but it’s so easy to return it at Sears — and nab the sales. And Sears is great for tools, Rick says, and appliances — they’re competitive. But the rest? Not so much. Still… as you said, memories. I remember Sears from its earliest days here and just thinking about it all makes me sad.
Don’t start me on Hudson’s.
I bet we could write a treatise on Hudson’s, Jeanie.
Amen to that…
xo
Oh my, Sears, Wards, Federals, JL Hudson, and Robert Hall! All places my family shopped from the 50’s on. Sears carried everything…..the paint department was very popular and my husband and I continued getting our paint there for years. There is no personal attention in stores these days like you got then. No employee in sight it seems to help you. Growing up in Detroit places were also accessible by buses and my girlfriends and I could hop a bus in Warren and get Downtown to enjoy the “big city”. Lunch at the Cunningham counter, shopping at Winklemans, Alberts, so many options, then head to one of the wonderful old movie theaters, The Grand Circus, Fox Theater (still beautiful and in operation). The Christmas displays, especially in Hudson’s windows! Right out of “A Christmas Story” with kids pushed against the glass to see all that magic! On antique jaunts around Michigan, my husband and I have been treated to some old stores in small towns, not many, even a few old “5 and dime” stores with the original candy counter! So many wonderful memories, fading into the past. I refer to our retail buying population as totally being “disposable”. New trends and styles seem to dictate purchases, making it too easy to discard something “out of style and trendy”, just like those wonderful old stores. Sad.
Yes – we could catch a bus and end up in Downtown Detroit. My parents were born and raised in Detroit, so trips to J. L. Hudson were an everyday occurrence. I remember all the stores you mention. I also remember Sanders, where you stood behind someone who was sitting at the counter in order to secure that seat! I miss all those places with lunch counters. Also Kresge’s – such a part of my youth! 5 and Dimes were my favorites. Thanks, Penny!
I love this post!! What a tribute to the place Sears has held in our lives. Sensible, reliable, good value, a catalog featuring everything a family would need. I always loved looking at the vintage catalogs from the early 1900s. Somehow my home has come to include many of those pieces, golden oak patina more polished with age.
Our Sears included the Singer sewing department with Saturday instructional classes. I remember giggling with a girlfriend over sleeves inserted upside down. We learned to sew enough that we made quite a few of our dance dresses throughout high school.
In high school, I became a Sears Teen Board representative. This meant seasonal fashion shows in the mall and working part-time in the store. The worst was working the hardware department or trying to sell appliances as a clueless teen. The best was being the Kenner Toy Demonstrator during the holidays, paid to play with kids and toys, ask me anything about The Easybake Oven!
Sadly, Amazon and online shopping will not leave such warm memories. Thank you for giving us space to say a fond farewell.
I love hearing about your personal experiences with Sears, Deb. Thank you so much.
We had both a Sears and a Montgomery Wards downtown when I was growing up. Like you, I loved the catalogs and the visits to the stores. My grandmother worked at Montgomery Wards and I worked at our Sears catalog department when I came home from college for Christmas break…they were so busy they always hired college students! My first job was at the downtown Woolworths store, next to Sears and across the street from Montgomery Wards. Gosh, I miss those days and how you would see everyone out shopping. Now that we shop mostly online, shopping has become a lonely activity.
I miss those days, too. Shopping has lost its excitement and the sense of a shared experience that we had when we were young. Thanks, Debbie.
Yes, I grew up on Sears! You brought back a lot of memories for me. I remember shopping there with my parents, too – tools and appliances. That’s where my mom bought all mine and my sister’s clothes – from The Lemon Frog Shop! Do you remember that? Oh yes, that Christmas catalog was the be all and end all. Me and my best friend across the street spent many hours pouring over that catalog and marking what toys we wanted.
As a teen, I worked for Marshall Field’s. I loved that store and I think it was because it was my grandma’s favorite store and I always shopped there with her. It was classy and the customer service couldn’t be beat. “Give the lady what she wants” was their motto. Once Macy’s bought them out, I never shopped there. To this day, I have never stepped foot in a Macy’s.
I’m not sure if I remember the Lemon Frog shop, but I’m that much older than you that I might have missed out on that one!
I used to take the train to Chicago when I was young and Marshall Field’s was EVERYTHING. It’s just not the same anymore and it makes me very sad, indeed.
When every store becomes a Macy’s, we’ve managed to transform shopping in different parts of the country into the exact same boring experience.
Sears was a huge part of my childhood. I always look through the catalogs and choose my school dresses. So exciting when they arrived. The Christmas catalog was the best dream away experience. My brother and I would look and mark and make lists when we got old enough. Also going to Sears was something we did. The candy counter was a treat and I always got orange slices. I miss those experiences now. Stores are so impersonal and HUGE. I must admit to shopping online more these days, the catalogs are the websites I guess. Not quite the same. My age is showing as I mourn the loss of a more personal world.
I mourn it daily. So does Don. I understand! xo
Seems to be the same the world over.We in Britain are experiencing the same with our much-loved shops . It started ten years ago when Woolworths closed. Woolworths! I have enjoyed reading the memories of people who have commented,it’s like a shopping community with common experiences,but what common experiences will this generation have to share I wonder?
We lost Woolworth’s here as well. So sad! I think you had Woolworth’s even longer than we did, Megan.
I don’t know what the current generation will have? Online shopping? Hardly communal, right?
Who could ever forget the Seats Christmas catalog…it was like a book of dreams for children!
It sure was, Nancy!
Just catching up on your blog…..ah the demise of Sears hit hard. It was my first real job. I started at $3.60 an hour and thought I was rich!
My Mom worked part-time in the cash office and my Dad was commissioned sales in plumbing, heating and building supplies. He made more $ than the manager. He was sweet and smart.
Before work, he went to the candy counter and bought bags of chocolates for the girls who worked at the surrounding cash desks. He also dropped off some invoices with his information on it. So when a customer picked up something small in the dept while Dad was busy, the girls at the cash desks rang it up through his invoices. It took a few minutes more but it meant he got paid commission on all those small sales that would have slipped through the cracks. I knew because I was one of those girls, ha. We all loved him.
I hate driving by our abandoned and shuttered Sears store now. I wish something else would go in there.
You have a real history with Sears, Julie! It must break your heart. I’m so sorry.