In an earlier post I mentioned stopping by one of our former department stores, known for their wonderful windows back in "the day." Now it is a vacant shell on the main floor, where there once used to be dazzling displays, the elaborate perfume counter and all things glorious. The building, a classic deco structure, was left empty when the department store it housed close many years ago. Since then, some offices have taken over upper floors, but no retail.
However, area merchants have taken over some of the window space, with the large curved window at the corner being a glorious centerpiece. And the result is delightful.
A handsome Santa holds center stage with all sorts of beautiful things from Bradly's home store.
Charming bottlebrush trees sit in the front.
Delicate blue ornaments sparkle on an icy-branched tree.
Other trees fill the corners of the window area.
This interesting chair is filled with oversized ornaments.
I confess this right jolly old elf won my heart!
The window took me back to the days of my childhood, when my mom and I would stop by each window at Knapp's to check out the intricate scenes. Even though this one wasn't animated, it still had the same vintage feel.
As I left, I thought it was pretty sad that we have no downtown department store anymore (we used to have three) and that most of the storefronts on the main avenue are restaurants -- largely lunch spots. None of the few retail stores had the charming windows the stores of my youth had. When I see the grand windows of Paris, London and New York on blogs, I am agog and delighted.
And more than a little nostalgic.
(A collection of all Christmas 2020 posts is here, in case you missed something during this busy season!)
Sharing with: Pink Saturday / Love Your Creativity / Let's Keep in Touch
Jeanie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful display!! And a great idea to bring back a nostalgic Christmas time! So pretty!!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment! I truly appreciate it!!Stay safe, healthy and happy!
Hugs,
Deb
I agree...the beautiful window displays were a delight in the stores. They still do that in the smaller shops on main street in some of the NC towns and I miss seeing them. I always loved the toy store! holiday hugs!
ReplyDeleteGoing downtown to see the window displays always was on our holiday must-do list. These are wonderful photos, and so nice to see.
ReplyDeleteMy father used to drive us to downtown St.Louis to look at the department store windows. We always went on Thanksgiving while my mother was cooking. The one I remember best was the electric train window. They had a huge setup with little towns, farms, crossing gates, all kinds of things. I doubt if there's anything like that in Ann Arbor, where there were only a couple of very small department stores downtown.
ReplyDeleteI'm amused that you use the term "bottle-brush tree" for a tree that's literally made from a bottle brush. There's a big family of real trees called bottle brush trees which I really love -- they grow in California and similar climates in the Pacific Rim.
be well and enjoy the holidays... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Sadly, Jeanie, so many department holiday window displays are definitely in the past. Nice that this one was rejuvenated by local businesses for the holidays. Growing up in Plainfield, NJ, we also had 3 large department stores and also many smaller retail stores, which decorated for the holidays and now all are gone. Here in Nashua, there are more restaurants than retail stores, but the city does put up holiday decos and lighting which adds a nice touc and this week I may try to take photos of some.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I loved seeing the window displays. It makes me wonder what ever happened to a big beautiful Santa that used to stand in the bank window here. I miss seeing those old pretty things about our town. Blessings, stay safe, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteI love window displays, too. I traveled to NYC in December when I was living in Charlotte. It was so fun to see all the window displays there. We are barely leaving the home so thanks for sharing what you’ve seen locally. I must admit I don’t feel in the Christmas spirit and I think part of it is not leaving the house besides for doctor appointments! But we are going to drive around and look at lights tonight after dinner so that will help increase my spirit I think!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, old-fashioned Christmas display, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHello. I am wondering if the window display is in downtown Bay City? We love the little area along the bay and visit antique and decor shops there. One of the stores had vintage wedding dresses and photos displayed one summer! Beautiful. I remember many of the old department stores and exciting Christmas window displays. So sad they have all disappeared from the downtown areas. Very nostalgic and unless you go into a high end mall (I DON'T)you just don't see that artistic touch today. So many changes that used to warm the heart, especially as I get older. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhen my girls were little, I would take them to Chicago for a few days the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve to see the stores and decorations (and to shop and eat out). It's a very happy memory. When I was little, the department stores would set up their windows and decorations so that it would be a surprise the Friday after Thanksgiving - everyone would go out to see them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful displays...
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that local businesses brought back the Christmas window. It certainly is a wonderful display Jeanie.
ReplyDeleteI want to go back into the city centre tomorrow evening to finish the Christmas lights trail in Perth.
These photos brought back memories of my mom taking me on the bus to go downtown to see the window displays at Christmas. One store had a train that ran around the ceiling on one flower that was a staple every year.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to see you're having a sparkling Christmas season despite the health issues you experienced earlier in the month. Keep the spirits up! :)
ReplyDeleteSo nice that some of the area business are doing those Christmas displays.
ReplyDeleteThese are so nice to see, really brings back memories. I haven't thought about those department store window displays in years. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteHow delightful to see these festive seasonal displays :)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely Christmas window displays, I like the cute Santa elf. It is sad to see all the department stores closing down. Our downtown area is like a ghost town, we also had three big department stores. I used to enjoy the decorated window displays. Take care, have a happy day!
That was fun, we do not have a single Christmas anything in the town this year. Remembering Christmases in London, best ever! Someday we will be able to do that again, if we live that long.
ReplyDeleteImpressive windows!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the heart lifting photos! What memories they raise.
ReplyDeleteIn my hometown, Grover Cronins was the big holiday window highlight. Sometimes we went into Town/Boston to see the lights, but Cronins had the magic.
What a beautiful, gorgeous window display. There are still some department stores and shopping malls here in Hawaii. But, I usually shop on Amazon and Target these days.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty display! I've seen the window displays in NYC and experienced the magic of your memories too ~ Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful display. We have a fairly large co-op store in town, they do fabulous window displays - spring, Easter, summer, halloween and Christmas. I took some photos but they had too many reflections in them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! What a nostalgic post. I used to work in downtown Richmond years ago. The department store windows were enchanting. So many of our malls will be shadows of their former selves soon. So many stores are closing. This pandemic has really done a number on retail and restaurants and wholesale places that provide the food for restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI, too, remember the days of beautiful window displays. It was a feast for the eyes. I do like the vintage aspect of this display. Window shopping used to be a treasured past time when I had no money to actually buy anything. I could at least dream.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have many vacant store fronts in our downtown core anymore. They are being renovated by a local company and attracting trendy eateries and boutiques. Most of the store fronts are nicely decorated this year! Most of the vacant spaces have either displays or the windows painted.
ReplyDeleteI remember the department store windows also. Very nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I love this post. Back in the day, we had a department store called Leask's in Santa Cruz. I was too little to shop there but I think it was expensive because it looked like it. The manager was a dapper little man with a pencil mustache and he walked around all day in a fancy suit and tie. At Christmas there was a covering of brown paper over the 5 or 6 windows that were decorated each Christmas. Every time we walked by we hoped that that was the day the paper came down. It was all animated and so pretty and fun. What a shame that all went by the wayside. The downtown was ruined in the 1989 earthquake, but the store was gone before that. The kids today would probably yawn at it all, not enough technology, but good memories and I think we are all the better for it..Stay well and Merry Christmas my friend..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the small shops in our town with their Christmas displays. The old windows set up just like in Christmas of past. So nostalgic! Janice
ReplyDeleteSeems I keep playing catch-up. I was in Newton, KS last year and the downtown stores were all decorated. I had forgotten how nice that looked because even the malls in Wichita are only about half full these days, The strip malls don't decorate their windows, so seeing all those store after store in Newton reminded me of days gone by. It was good to read your nostalgic post, too. Lovely photos of a well designed storefront. So glad you shared these photos and your memories with us.
ReplyDeleteOh I miss the magical storefronts. We had a department store (Milliken’s) and it was the only one in Traverse City. I could always count on them for a special dress or gift. Some things have not changed for the better. I guess we’ll have to flood ourselves with memories!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely that they decided to utilize that display space. Those big old department stores have so much to compete with now that so many people are shopping from their living rooms. I wouldn't want those pastel shades of pinks and blues in my own home, but they are pretty and magical in that display. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI love seeing pretty Christmas decorations in stores and in malls. I'm in Arizona and I haven't had a chance to go into town (Prescott) yet because I've been too busy but it's always decorated beautifully for Christmas. It's known as Arizona's Christmas City.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to see these window displays. I feel like this year there's been so little of the usually holiday activities-get togethers, shopping, etc. Its fun to see. I still want to get out and do a light drive around. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks for sharing. Hug-Erika
ReplyDeleteLove these windows. I live in NYC and sadly, there are fewer department stores than there were when I moved here in 1975, But still some great ones and some fabulous displays. I still need to get to Macy's and Saks to see their windows.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing these window displays. It is so sad that most downtown areas are no longer thriving and department stores have closed.I have enjoyed the windows of NYC on many December trips. Lord and Taylor’s were always my favorites! Thanks for sharing, Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteSo many changes . ..
ReplyDeleteI remember fondly Hardy Herpolsheimer's . . .
and other stores in the Muskegon downtown mall!
The decorations and the music . . .
It brought happy . ..
Love seeing store windows. This reminds me I haven't seen any because of staying home. This week I might need to go in search.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful photographs, so pleased you shared them here.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan