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SWPenn t1_itdjdqs wrote

The "Big Three," Kaufmanns, Gimbels, and Horne's, were massive downtown department stores. There were others like Frank & Seder, McCreery's, Spear & Co., Boggs & Buhl, Rosenbaum's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Lord & Taylor was also here for a few years. Kaufmanns and Gimbels were each bigger than 1 million square feet and carried everything from clothing to garden supplies and appliances. Back before more women entered the workforce, they would spend the entire day in these stores shopping, having lunch, and going to fashion shows. Kaufmann's alone had 11 restaurants. Also, Wednesdays was "Ladies Day," downtown, when the movie theaters had special matinees beginning at 10 am.

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lefindecheri t1_itdvi0o wrote

35 years ago, I worked at Mellon Bank and would pop over to Kaufmann's on my lunch hour. In the winter, I wouldn't wear a coat or take my purse, only my credit card in my pocket. So customers thought I worked there and would ask me for directions. Where's the fur storage? Where's the hair salon? Where's gift wrap? I always knew the answers. I should have gotten Kaufmann's to pay me for my services! Or at least given me a nice discount.

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SWPenn t1_ite175b wrote

I remember they had a huge pantyhose department on the street floor near the Smithfield Street doors so women who worked downtown and "had a run" could get new ones quickly during their lunch hour.

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WoodpeckerFar9804 t1_ite4sf2 wrote

I don’t even think women wear pantyhose anymore, do they? I haven’t worn a pair in years!

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chartreuse6 t1_itewt78 wrote

Some of us do lol

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antalog t1_itj351x wrote

What do you do that requires pantyhose??

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chartreuse6 t1_itj37w6 wrote

I wore them to a wedding with a dressier dress. I’ve worn them at Christmas

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idkbruhwild t1_itetdqz wrote

I wish places like this were still around, it seems like such a nice way to spend an afternoon (and all of my money)

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whenwillthisend19 t1_ite6d9x wrote

Forgot Eiben &Errs on 10th? Where the bus bought it. Bought my first set of golf clubs there. 1969 maybe.

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SultanOfSwat0123 t1_itew72n wrote

So funny Eiben story. He owned C. Mel Eiben’s Jewelry shop downtown too. I was like 14 years old golfing at Frosty Valley and I get paired with C. Mel Eiben and his grandson. Now old man Eiben was VERY old at the time and the grandson was probably old enough to be my father. Had no business being anywhere within 1000 miles of a golf course as he could barely move. But I was a polite kid and listened to his stories the entire round with great fervor. Nearing the end of the round he tells me he wrote an autobiography and basically demands that I give him my address to send it to me. I complied thinking I was appeasing him and that it would be free and about a month or two later it comes packaged (autographed and all) in a large manilla envelope in the mail with a mailing address to send like $25 back for the book. I was a kid but I will never forget thinking, “Holy shit I got hustled by a 90 year old man.” It was hysterical. My next thought was, “How the Hell am I going to explain to Mom that I need $25 to send to this old guy for a book I didn’t want?”

The next time I go to my mom’s I’m going to have to do some digging around as I’m sure it’s still there hidden away somewhere.

https://obituaries.post-gazette.com/obituary/casper-melvin-eiben-1081516808

His obituary even mentions the book, Forks in the Road. Based on my math he would have been about 84 so not quite as old as I thought but holy cow what a character.

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