San Francisco's Lost Department Stores - by author Anne Evers Hitz

Our SFHS July Monthly Program presentation is "San Francisco's Lost Department Stores" by San Francisco author Anne Evers Hitz. Anne takes us on a stroll through a downtown San Francisco that existed long ago, when elegant department stores invited people of all ages to delight in the experience of shopping. She shares the history of San Francisco's most iconic department stores: City of Paris, The Emporium, The White House, I. Magnin and Joseph Magnin, and of course, the magnificent Gump's, repository of treasures from around the world.
Revisiting San Francisco's lost department stores is likely to bring a surge of nostalgia to all who remember them. For those who don't, prepare to be delighted by this glimpse into a world that has long vanished. We hope you enjoy the ride.

[@suzit5084]

I was a Christmas wrapper at the White House. Bought my first Louis Vuitton purse at I. Magnin for $199. Design hasn't changed so now handbag is $4,000. Bought my wedding dress at Joseph Magnin. Loved Emporium bargain basement and cafeteria. Christmas was special on the Emporium rooftop. Loved Woolworth's both upstairs and downstairs cafeteria. Used to eat at Blums's and Mannings too. Bought our first black and white T.V. at Hales Department Store. There was Leed's and Lerner's store and Kress store on Market Street. All gone.😭

[@ContinentsEdge]

I worked in the wonderful City of Paris department when Madame Verdier was the owner. It was a marvelous building that was razed and then replaced by the very lamentable Neumann Marcus store. designed I believe by Philip Johnson. What a treasure it was and what a desecration that it was torn down. I would stand at the edge of the round rotunda balcony and look down on the glove department staffed by ancient, but very elegant, ladies who fitted long gloves on equally elegant customers.. The world does not get better. This elegance was open to me a young girl from a working class background.

[@garyfield56]

...my mom ( Irma Field) was the LAST Miss Macy, in 1956 the year i was born....i still remember shopping at The White House & City of Paris...sidewalks sparkled, literally..now, not so much...

[@user-zr7zv6sx2y]

My brother and I, born in San Francisco, moved to San Carlos when in was 3 in 1960..but every year we went to the Emporium rooftop Christmas, and visited Santa.. and when my kids were little in the 90s we Got to bring them there once , great memories ...still have my Santa photo, my Brother and I, I was about 4, on Santa's Lap there.. one of my prized possessions

[@richardmitra9648]

My father worked at the St Francis hotel for thirty years, he use to walk Cyral Magnin dog every day when he was living in the hotel. My father also worked at the Bohemian club. Thanks for the memories.

[@lenorelong3692]

My Mom took us (5) to shop at the Big E and upon entering we 5 would find our way to the room for Lost Children with lots of toys. After Mom finished shopping she would come and collect us. S.F. had so much character in those years. Today the charm of S.F. Is gone.

[@Yahootie]

Lenore Long The Big E! Remember the roof rides and santa clause and the ice skating show you could watch while waiting to see santa? Sure was a cool place. Lots of fond memories ❤️

[@mikegalvin9801]

I got to SF in 79 and still remember The Emporium quite well as well as Macy's, I Magnum etc. I had my first real "grown up" job and wanted to get my mom something nice when I went home for Christmas. Went to Gumps and tho my budget wasn't very much the staff treated me like I was a millionaire (back when that meant something). I was from Chicago and late as the Sixties I can remember mom and her friends wearing hats and gloves to go shopping at Marshall Fields etc. Lost world.

[@mikegalvin9801]

I also remember Cyril Magnum as he was in Herb Caen's column all the time.

[@brianpan6453]

I felt lucky to visit I . Magnin in Union Square before it closed. Quite a store!

[@scottcass4243]

I worked at the Emporium in the late 70's. Stereo & Records 4th floor. I remember eating at the Dome Cafe.

[@Bingewatchingmediacontent]

I worked at the Dome Cafe as one of my first jobs, as well as the Village Cafe. My Dad worked across the street at Woolworths (he managed it)

[@larryboysen5911]

The grand old Emporium, White House, Hale's, Macy*s, City of Paris...remember them all! As a native San Franciscan...going "Downtown" was an event. I always was with Mom and Grandma...memories I treasure! We took the N Judah...I always loved the trip through the Sunset Tunnel...the motorman "floored it". Remember the soda fountain and the popcorn vendor in the Woolworth's Flood Building store. Sloan's Furniture was another store, they sold not only case good furniture, also rugs, drapes, appliances, radios, televisions, phonographs and 78 records! One of my late uncles was a 40 year employee there.

[@mikebattista7491]

good watch shopping habits do change, glad New York was able to hold on to some of those grand stores, if SF stores just held on, many would find themselves back in favor again. a shame.

[@davewitter6565]

I remember Union Square at Christmas time in the early '60's. Airline Ticket Offices on the ground floor with travel posters to exotic places. The Merry Go Round on the roof and hot fudge Sunday at Blum's Thanks for sharing the history and saving the memories.

[@bartonpercival2147]

I remember the airline ticket offices at Union Square. The the big neon Pan Am & TWA signs

[@whatsitlike6392]

My grandmother answered the phones at the Emporium when I was a kid. I think she did this for about 10 years in the early 70's. You are the first person to mention the rides on the roof. Someone told me I was remembering Stonestown but I kept thinking it was downtown. Wasn't there a Ferris Wheel up there? I was young so my memory may be incorrect.

[@melvabaldain1192]

Great. Know a lot of these stores. Wanted to get to the 70s 80s. So thanks leaving now.

[@MrRezillo]

I worked at Gump's for the '81 Christmas Season, and and again in '82. I lived in SF from 76 to 86 and used to shop at the Emporium, Liberty House and Macy's. I'd heard about the City of Paris, but that was before my time there. Haven't watched the vid yet, but looking forward to it.

[@jlgrey]

Great video! My mother in law worked at emporium for 25 years and I remember shopping there with my mom. My dad was friends with Charles Gassion. I remember going to visit him down in the Santa Cruz mountains where he retired after his stroke. He took up oil painting and I actually still have his paintings that hung in the house I grew up in.

[@Bingewatchingmediacontent]

We loved the roof rides with the costumed characters. I worked there (at the Dome Cafe) when it was on its way out. I used to explore the closed off upper floors with their former glory, with its beautiful ornate woodwork and marble bathrooms. My Dad was a manager at Woolworths across the street in the Flood building. I feel lucky to have been able to have been a part of that era, even if it was at the tail end

[@Yahootie]

Media Content omg, YES! the marble bathrooms! Thanks for reminding me of that!

[@sidneybristow815]

Beautiful memories and wonderful work. Well done!

[@merrywriterb7811]

My 2nd generation grandparents met and married when working in The Emporium's produce section which was supplied by AP Gianini's orchards. After the '06 quake my grandfather worked for Otis elevator but wanted a loan to buy a chicken ranch in Sonoma County. Of course Mr. Gianini gave it to him - on a handshake as the family story goes, and our family is not Italian. So there you have another 3 generations of San Franciscans afterwards thanks to The Emporium. Wish your great great grandfather knew that.

[@umbertocalvini7429]

I have fond memories working @ El Cerrito plaza Emporium Capwell in the 80's! 🤗🤩

[@jeanhansel5805]

The Emporium: Oh, my heart. ;(

[@melvabaldain1192]

I MAGNIN I BECAME ADDITICED TO.

[@wonglee2424]

Always loved the Emporium and Woolworths very lucky to have brought the family to the rides on the roof when the kids were young just before they ended it. It's not the same fun as it used to be.

[@chrisdavid9989]

Great presentation, Anne. My family shopped at Emporium in the 60s and 70s, while we lived in SF. We also shopped at JC Penney's on Market Street, with its multi-level store (still remember the escalator!). I have fond memories of watching Santa ride down Powell Street on the cable car, and then going across the street to The Emporium. We shopped there, toured the toy floor, stood in line to visit with Santa, watched the ice skaters while waiting in line... and then hit the amusement park on the roof. Great childhood memories! Thanks for sharing... I look forward to buying your book.

[@rebekahcuriel-alessi2239]

Ok, apropos of nothing, before I finish the video: the black and white coat on the left of the pictures sliding in the first beat of the show is so beautiful, I can't stand it!!!!

[@bartonpercival2147]

My mother use to work at Gumps, and my grandmother worked at H. Lebies in the 40’s. I also remember as a child, that every year we would go to Bodesta baldochis to buy Christmas ornaments for our Christmas tree. And of course always made it to the rooftop of the Emporium to ride all the fair rides, then to Blums on Geary st in Union Square for a sundae

[@redheadjp5267]

From the 70’s through early 80’s my family went to San Francisco got Christmas ornaments at Bodesta Baldochis then shopped for gifts at Emporium and upstairs to the roof to see Santa. My Mom worked at Joseph Magnin then I Magnin . Miss those stores sooo much.

[@bartonpercival2147]

@@redheadjp5267 Yup, I miss them too. Those were fun & simpler times in San Francisco

[@ernestcastro6238]

Barton Percival Yes Blums in Union Square I used to go there a lot. I also went to the one on Polk and California, I think that was the location and the one In Beverly Hills. That was on Beverly Dr. and Wilshire if I am not mistaken. Oh I can't for get the one in Town and Country Village in San Jose. i used to go there for lunch all the time.

[@bartonpercival2147]

@@ernestcastro6238 Yup I also went with my grandparents to the Blums on Polk Street. We always bought that coffee crunch cake with the creamy filling, and the coffee crunch toffee nuggets on the outside. Do you remember Fosters lunch counters? My grandparents also loved taking us there to eat. Sometimes for a special treat, they would take my brother and me out to Ocean Beach to eat at The Hot House at Playland on the Great Highway. My grandparents loved the enchiladas they made there served with that spicy Mexican sauce and they always served you the food with that famous SF sourdough French bread

[@bartonpercival2147]

@@ernestcastro6238 I meant to ask you after reading your reply, In the 70’s to the 90’ we use to go down to the San Jose Flea Market, then go to Joe’s to eat. It was right near the old San Jose Civic Auditorium. And because we had 3 Joe’s in San Francisco, anytime we went to San Jose we’d stop and have a nice dinner at Joe’s of San Jose. Is that restaurant still there?

[@brentfisher6484]

What a wonderful video (and book)! Like so many of your readers and viewers I am old enough to recall with fondness the department (and specialty) stores you chronicle so lovingly. I can recall the wonderful trips we made to San Francisco from Vacaville to shop at the White House, City of Paris and Emporium. When this little farm boy walked around those huge halls of retail splendor with his mother and father he felt like he was visiting another world. When I first moved to San Francisco in the early 70's with my newly minted UC diploma in hand, I worked at WJ Sloane (there were few jobs for store designers and architects) and my best friend and roommate worked for the 'revived' City of Paris by Liberty House. We felt we were on top of the world working for true 'carriage trade' enterprises. I can recall seeing Cyril Magnin walking to work each day in the 1970's and how he would nod to anyone out walking in the morning and treated them like a dear old friend. What a complete gentleman. Sad that those days are gone forever, particularly sad is the loss of a sense of community that those owner/founders and their employees brought to the City by The Bay. PS: I hope you a future update to your book might include H. Liebes, and O'Connor & Moffat (now Macy's) and maybe include the story of how the annual flower show at Macy's while largely 'imported' from the NY flagship, was an attempt to bring San Franciscans into O&M now that it was owned by Macy's. Locals hated that the Costellos had sold out to Macy's, and refused to shop there. For a few months the sales floors were bare of customers. Flower Show helped break the ice and for many decades Macy's California (specifically Macy's San Francisco) led the way for the entire company.

[@louisgonzalez8846]

Brent Fisher: How lucky of you to work at Sloane's, since I think was the Tiffany of furniture stores. I bought a living room set there in '68. And the cushions on the couches are just as flat as the day I bought them. They did not turn into soup spoons. Which just goes to say, that they did not skimp on materials when they made them. As a matter fact, I turned the cushions into my personal mattress. Since all the mattresses I have had, have gone soggy on my spine. Glad we lived Thru S.F.'s golden era.

[@akamano5]

..yes, the tree at City of Paris..was great..!!!

[@douglasdeitch3335]

My Mother, Eleanor Green Deitch (d 1975) @ facebook.com/Dr-Benjamin-Deitch-and-Eleanor-Green-178125305558276/ , was essentially Joseph Magnin's, Cyril's, and "JM"'s "in house" and nationally known dress designer and manufacturer, "Eleanor Green of California", who occupied and operated in the entire fourth floor of the flagship store's Stockton and O'Farrell location from well before my birth in 1948 until sometime in the early 1960's(?), eventually finally locating to a building she purchased at 55 Grant Avenue, now known as the "Eleanor Green Building". I spent a good part of my youth in both the JM store and at the Magnin (and Roos's, too) residences, who were our close friends and neighbors in Hillsborough. To still see Eleanor Green's dresses and designs, one can still simply go to google and google "Eleanor Green dress", which are valued collectibles by many.

[@AliceLiddell-xb1ob]

Thank you for this.

[@missourigal]

yes yes yes I. Magnin bathroom...and as a child roof rides at Emporium at Stonestown.

[@rebekahcuriel-alessi2239]

Oh! Thank you so much, this was wonderful!!!🎁💝🎁💝🎁💝

[@Yahootie]

Thank you, this brought back a lot of memories

[@chrishintz1077]

After watching vertigo numerous times,I finally learned how to pronounce Podesta Baldocchi. Thanks. ;)

[@margarettaft7362]

I worked podesta Baldochi one Christmas

[@countykerry6953]

@@margarettaft7362 And weren't the Easter displays at Macy's simply beautiful. I believe they were produced by PD. Just entering the store from Stockton Street immediately the fragrance...it was Easter !

[@missourigal]

I remember the City of Paris and Ransohoff and the White House. My father was the head a advertising at Weinsteins in 60s?

[@gypsysoultoo]

My mother worked at the White house when she came to SF from Texas

[@Ladyhawk1623]

I was born in San Francisco and my mother shopped at all of the stores you mention. I still have an off-white plastic printed on face with I. Magnin & Co. It is a soap box that contains a bar of pink soap. The bar of soap is embossed with ‘Lanolin Soap’ in script and beneath that is ‘I. Magnin & Co. Thought you’d get a kick out of it! Thanks for your work on a part of my childhood! 💜

[@rosemarywaldie4958]

Do you remember Milen’s store in San Francisco on Market ? I also just got your book today !!

[@MmmmTwoTacos]

Hello! I can't begin to thank you enough. I'm writing my own book (fictional) Ive often wondered where the citizens purchased candy from. Thanks!

[@claudiasiefer8495]

I STILL miss The BIG E ! (and now Nordstrom is leaving us!) There is no longer a desire to visit Downtown. I am a native daughter and miss the wonderful shopping and people-watching of Department stores. Yep the Woolworth's lunch counter. Thx for mentioning Podesta Baldocchi and Blum's.

[@akamano5]

..who remembers Abercrombie & Fitch..???.. as a kid I loved to go in that store. Also, check out Mans greatest sport..Rock Hudson worked there..great flick...

[@ernestcastro6238]

art n Where was Abercrombie & Fitch located? I don't remember, thank you.

[@akamano5]

@@ernestcastro6238 ..Grant or Kearney..I was in it..as a kid I loved it ..lots of neat stuff..

[@Yahootie]

Ernest Castro did u and your bro use to live/hang out in noe valley in the 60’s when you were kids? Alvarado school?

[@ernestcastro6238]

@@Yahootie No I never lived in the City.

[@davidshamiri1448]

Finding out that there used to be the amusement part and sutro baths that used to be there, SF needs more sights. Wharf and embarcadero and bridge is about all there is for the most part .. SF needs more fun

[@donnachaban2068]

Lovely slide show, but I am wondering why Anne's history omits these family founded department stores and pioneers in women's couture - Benioff's, Ransohoff's, Liebes, and one other 3 or 4 storey department store whose name I can't recall at this moment, northwest corner of Sutter and Stockton, where my mother bought my first semi-formal dress for a junior high school dance in 1953. All of those began in the late 19th century.

[@spankyharland9845]

I remember the Sears Roebuck store that was located at Geary & Masonic- the ladies department had a mural on the wall that depicted early California, the Barbary Coast and the Native Americans being whipped into submission.... since then I looked everywhere to see if anyone saved or had historical pictures of this mural but due to it's insensitivity to Native Americans, it has not been saved. It was very big mural too.

[@wag0nette]

I was the designer for Mervyn's at this site and we had Cissie Swig come in to inspect the mural to advise if it could be saved. Unfortunately, it could not be separated from the wall. I remember feeling so bad that it was not going to be saved. Thanks for remembering it.

[@spankyharland9845]

@@wag0nette thanks for that info, I combed over many SF mural books looking for that particular mural - I had to study that thing because the womens section was the first department my mother would hit before any other department- so while she shopped, I sat their taking it all in. Too bad no one even took a panoramic picture of it.

[@mm5478]

Does anyone remember a dept store on Ocean decades ago? Think it was called Get or Goetz. We used to buy all of our Catholic school uniforms at that store. At the western end of the store on the second floor was the toy department. Does anyone recall the store?

[@marylissner685]

I thank you for your knowledge but feel that Livingston Bros on Grant Ave should have been mentioned.

[@JordansChronicles]

Gumps is still open

[@donnachaban2068]

Closed in 2020, sadly.

[@andrewsteger9449]

Does anyone know the years of business for The Hastings Clothing Co.? I think final location was on Post and Grant?

[@chrishintz1077]

The two story fao schwarz. ;)

[@MrSwedjen]

Emporium, City of Paris, Macy's and Gumps. The women always wore hi heels, white gloves and hats. Most everyone dressed up in Sunday best when visiting S.F. and on their best behavior. The down and out alkies were only down 6th off Market. Bohemians and other lunatics hung out in North Beach. The cretins, fools, moroons and lunatics began to take over in the late 60's.

[@optitom9033]

Does anyone remember which department store had a downstairs restaurant that offered up the most delicious french onion soup