Revisiting Connecticut’s iconic department store; G. Fox

With the holidays right around the corner, our thoughts often turn to Christmases gone by. For many of us in Connecticut, it reminds us of spending time at the iconic G. Fox and Company department store in Hartford.

[@TT-fl8jt]

G.Fox at Christmastime was spectacular!!! Beautiful memories of all the lights on the building, with Christmas trees and wreaths. I remember meeting Santa with my brother. We sat on his lap. I forgot what I asked for though! 🤣😂🤣

[@cissyfoster3417]

Memories of visiting this store in the 1960's, especially at Christmas when I was young, with my parents and siblings....now both parents are deceased....Loved that time of my life!

[@lorrainelegg-coleman811]

Some of my most favorite memories. Thanks for posting

[@gladyssaez4978]

I got my wedding dress from GFOX in Hartford in 1974

[@harrydoherty8299]

i would go there with my mother and my aunt in the early 50s . the glass wire elevators doors would scare me because you could look up or down thru the glass wire elevator doors and see the cables moving sanding the elevator up and down . i don’t remember much more than that as i was only about 5 years old.

[@enragedplasma2374]

my great great grandmother owned this store

[@michaelpatgraham7537]

when I was a kid we rode the escalotors all the up to the eleventh floor where Santa's Village was .......so much fun !! Vivid memories !!!!

[@Dave-zl2ky]

I loved to go to G Fox in the last 1950's.

[@takebackamerica.8720]

My first experience on an elevator with an operator.

[@lesliespann6420]

I remember my Mom taking my sister and me to Fox’s, having lunch in the Connecticut room, seeing the latest ladies’ fashions modeled by beauties who seemed to float through the dining room. I always got the Chef’s Salad with their awesome house-made French Dressing. At Christmas time, we went to see Santa, and got to go to the fabulous toy department, which I believe occupied an entire floor. There was also a bakery, and I LOVED the Poppy Seed pastry on offer. Such wonderful memories of going to Fox’s in the 60’s!

[@JERios-wv8lx]

When i was 15 lived for a season with my aunt, who lived in Hartford, and i remember this huge building! (Since then, i've thought of visiting Hartford again but never have.)

[@scotts9760]

Trust me, don’t go back to visit Hartford. You’ll cry. Just enjoy the memories from your childhood visit.

[@elijaheelhajjbey7844]

G Fox brings back so many memories, my mother first job was at the bakery there. The x-mas display was the best on the 11th floor, used to love the watch and antique coins, where we got collection pieces from. But Sage Allen had the best food counter in the world.,

[@davidmorin6667]

At Christmas time me my brother and a friend at 12,13,14 years of age would take a bus for .25 from EH would spend the day a G.Fox,EJ Korvet,Brown Thomason,Sage Alain. Constitution Plaza was brand new

[@jenhaley]

The closest real-time memory to this is the Nordstrom Flagship store in downtown Seattle. Architecture and all.

[@MrCraigblaze]

The one at the enfield square is still there..XD

[@nyconnjersey]

How about a special on Read's Department store?

[@serialwriteher2467]

Yes, Read's was far more iconic. I just read that Read's opened in 1857 and was once the largest department store in all of New England. Cannot believe there have been no documentaries on it.

[@MrCraigblaze]

@@serialwriteher2467 New heard of that one ??

[@serialwriteher2467]

@@MrCraigblaze Sorry, in advance for the pleas for donations (feel free to scroll by it) but there is a description in Wikipedia en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read's_Department_Stores

[@MrCraigblaze]

@@serialwriteher2467 Maybe You don't hear about this department store chain as much is because it merged with Jordan Marsh In easter Ma. Read's I mean . And that one was out of Bridgeport CT.. XD

[@serialwriteher2467]

@@MrCraigblaze Maybe because I grew up there, I am a bit biased but I always heard more about Read's than Jordan Marsh as a child. Read's had the storied history. Also a giant etching of the Read's name could still be be seen on the side of the building for almost two decades after it dissolved, even during the Jordan Marsh years. Jordan Marsh was around a relatively brief time, I grew up seeing Jordan Marsh, yet barely remember it. I think it might have moved to the mall in an adjacent town, or something. Read's was known as the far more upscale store.

[@thewhale9527]

Its a shame it can be resurected at a smaller scale in that area. Like, tear down that dead parking garage next door and build it on that spot. They can call it...the Gfox collection heritage..or something like that.

[@cjny84]

The reason the highways have choked this city