Baby Boomers Remember: Shopping in Old La Grange
From dime stores to department stores, LaGrange had it all when it came to shopping for the whole family! Did we leave out any of your favorites?
Nancy Pipal and siblings taken sometime in the 1950's.
provided by Nancy Pipal
Photos (2)
Photos
On Easter Sunday my family gathered for brunch, and true to form, we shared some lively conversation. As usual, we talked mostly about food. Our family is known for discussions that can go on for hours simply about such things as, “The lemon squares have an unusual taste today. Did you use a new spice or something in the recipe? What is that weird flavor?” Then, after each of the 12 people at the table gave their individual opinions, the flavor was ultimately identified. It was onion. Crazy but true.
Thankfully, my brother finally changed the subject, and we began talking about fond memories of shopping in “Old La Grange.” Dime stores like Kresge’s and clothing stores like Dad and Lad came to mind, and of course, debate involving specific locations ensued. Was Jack’s in the Village Market, or further down on La Grange Road? What about Schoen McAlister’s? For sure that was on La Grange Road, probably where Palmer’s is now. No, it was where Horton’s is now and it was a two story department store, to be exact. Oh, and remember Mr. Floyd’s? It was a clothing store for men and boys, but girls liked to buy their hip-hugger bell-bottom jeans in the basement, which was called the Slack Shack.
But, whatever happened to the queen of them all: Chas. A. Stevens? Now, that was a store worth remembering.
My friends and I loved that store [so did my mother and her friends]. Seemed Steven’s always came through when I was in a pinch. A high school dance? They would inevitably have the perfect dress. A new pair of shoes for Easter? Great selection and a beautiful shoe salon. Gift for Mom’s birthday? You could find a bottle of a favorite perfume at an affordable price. It was a store beyond compare and if it were still here in La Grange today, Oakbrook would see lots less traffic, that’s for sure.
So, what happened?
According to Wikipedia, this is the story:
“Chas A. Stevens was a Chicago department store. It started in 1886 as a catalog business and eventually grew to 29 locations in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 1988, the chain filed for bankruptcy and liquidated. Its flagship State Street store was the hub of fashion in the forties, fifties and sixties in Chicago. It featured six floors of women's clothing only. The top floor housed a beauty salon called The Powder Box, which employed more than 50 operators and was famous for catering to visiting celebrities, etc. The display windows on the main floor were often chosen as the best in the city, and received many awards.”
How sad. And yet how wonderful that we had our beloved Steven’s right here in La Grange, if only for a little while.
Laurie Kapugi
9:45 am on Thursday, May 5, 2011
Do you remember Slocum's on Calendar Court Mall? Loved that store!
Sheila Szczytko
1:22 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
I do, I shopped there when I was in grade school, that is where you really got some great outfits! I miss it, I would always shop there for baby gifts.
Sheila Szczytko
1:24 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
Laurie, I remember Slocums well! I discovered it through a friend while in grade school! I miss it now too, as it was always the go to boutique for baby gifts. I also recall going to Chas. A Stevens with my mom as a young girl. And shopping at Oak Brook before the extension when you were able to park directly in front of McDonalds....
Jan Boling
5:19 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Village Market and Stevens was in La Grange Park.
Cindy Abrahamson
6:19 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
Loved Chas A.!! Ma & Pa's! Don't get me started!! We'll be here all night!
Laurie Whitman
9:01 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
I worked at Chas A Stevens at Randhurst when it opened in 1971. I got 20% discount and since the Randhurst store did not carry shoes and the La Grange Park store did, my friends and I drove to La Grange Park to buy shoes at 20% off - ! (gas was about 79 cents a gallon then, clearly the 20% savings was worth the drive)! And I loved shopping at State St Stevens too - little did I know in 1971 that in only 7 years, I would be living within walking distance of the Stevens at Village Market - I was in heaven! Slocums, Katie's Fabrics, Hong Kong Village....
Jamie Purcell Colwell
11:23 am on Friday, May 6, 2011
A flash from the past. I loved Chas. A Stevens. They had such cute clothes. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy Pipal
5:08 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Hey Jamie...Was there a Steven's store in Oak Park? A friend swears that there was, but I cannot remember. Help!
Jean Eldridge
5:33 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Wow Nancy....that brings back so many memories....I used to work at the bank by Steven's and I loved their shoes too! Do you remember Renee and I working at Kirschbaum's bakery in Western Springs. Love it, Love it, Love it.....thanks for the step back in time.
Nancy Pipal
11:17 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
And thank you, Jean, for the fun comments and memories as well. I remember meeting friends at Kirschbaum's on my lunch break from Odegaard's Cleaners . . . a job I promptly quit after just two weeks. I had to sort "bachelor bundles" for laundering. Yuck!
Mary Jo
8:41 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Nancy, Chas A Stevens is where the bus dropped me and Jan off in the AM and then we'd walk to Naz from there. School bus got us to school much too late for AM meetings. Too bad I didn't get to shop there :( What store would you compare it with today?
Nancy Pipal
6:11 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
In terms of price point, I would say Ann Taylor, but when it comes to selection and one stop shopping exclusively for women? No store today can compare. It was truly fabulous.
Ellie Carroll
7:44 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
Will never forget the old LaGrange Hardware on Calendar which eventually morphed into a kids clothing store (Slocum's?). The lst floor was a household shopping botique, but the basement! Ahh, that great bunch of geezers (like me now) who knew how to fix anything, find you that perfect sized nut, bolt, or washer, and "ring it up" for you for a nickel or dime. Blister packs ...... grrrrrr
Tom Carroll (Westhester now)
Nancy Pipal
11:20 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
Thanks for your classic comments, Tom. Other than prices, of course, La Grange Hardware sounds a lot like the way Horton's operates today!
Ellie Carroll
8:39 pm on Saturday, May 7, 2011
True, Nancy, only sans the 'geezers'
Tom Carroll
Marcia E. Keller
9:25 pm on Monday, May 9, 2011
What about Jo-Be Juniors or Kay Howards? Geische shoes,Sears,Purdom's(the 45 record store of the years!!), the bakery, the Swollen Head(for the hippies who are still around), Jerry,the old hippie from the jean store(I can't recall the name, but remember the Trou House in Hinsdale?) There are so many memories, I have lived nearby my whole life(of La Grange). My first job was at Kentucky Fried Chicken on LaGrange Rd. just North of Ogden Ave.!(1969) Too much to list, no time left tonight. Marcia E. Keller
Nancy Pipal
7:15 am on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Hi Marcia,
Wow. What a memory you have! Thanks so much for sharing these great store names...I loved Jo-Be but could not fit into their clothes. [I was a Chubette at the time!] And I know a number of people who should remember the Swollen Head, but cannot, due to their continued patronage of such stores! Hah!
George Mendlik
9:36 am on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Shoen-Mcallisters was where we could get Boy Scout uniforms