The best history of the idea and origin of Department stores I have ever locared is "The Department Store Story" , by St. Louisan Frank Mayfield who was CEO of our legendary silk stocking chain here, Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney until 1968 when it was bought out by NYC interests and slowly shut down . It is a private printing but often available on the internet. I keep two copies and am in process of writing the history of this store .
We were lucky in St. Louis to have had three fine department stores , all owned by St. Louis interests - Scruggs, Famour-Barr&Co,(May Stores), and Stix Baer & Fuller . Only the Famous-Barr store still functions downtown now as Macy's . In my study so far , it appears the habits of shopping downtown are nursed by some competition and if we gain another anchor store shopping may be broadened and the smaller storefronts which gave a rich fabric to the experience can start filling empty spaces. those of us living our workdays in the 19th Century fabric of America's great downtowns need some civilized amenities. Suburbanites are not the only people who should have daytime access to qualitypurchase opportunities, dry Clnrs, drug stores etc. Who would think we'd be pining away just for a Woolworth outlet with birds in one corner and a lunch counter in another? That could return, too !Bravo for Downtowns !! Malls aren't the same as Downtowns nor as authentic or architecturally rich.
Merry Christmas.
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