What is the fundamental definition of a department store?

A department store is a retail establishment that offers a wide variety of consumer goods, organized into distinct areas or 'departments' under one roof, with each department specializing in a particular product category.

When and where did modern department stores primarily emerge, and what was their initial impact?

Modern department stores emerged in major cities during the mid-19th century, notably in London with Whiteleys, Paris with Le Bon Marché, and New York City with Stewart's. Their emergence significantly reshaped shopping habits and redefined the concepts of service and luxury.

What are some common product categories typically found in modern department stores?

Modern department stores commonly feature departments for clothing, cosmetics, do-it-yourself items, furniture, gardening supplies, hardware, home appliances, houseware, paint, sporting goods, toiletries, and toys. Additionally, they sometimes include product lines such as food, books, jewelry, electronics, stationery, photographic equipment, baby products, and pet products.

How do checkout procedures differ between discount department stores and high-end traditional department stores?

In discount department stores, customers generally complete their purchases near the front of the store. In contrast, high-end traditional department stores typically include individual sales counters located within each specific department for customer checkout.

What significant challenges have department stores encountered since the 1980s?

Since the 1980s, department stores have faced increasing competition, initially from discount retailers and later from the rapid growth of e-commerce businesses in the 2000s.

How are department stores generally classified based on their product offerings and pricing strategy?

Department stores are primarily classified into mainline department stores, which offer mid- to high-end goods often at full retail price, and discount department stores, which sell apparel and home furnishings at reduced prices, either from overstock or merchandise specifically produced for the discount market.

What is a 'junior department store,' and what were its typical characteristics in the 20th century?

A junior department store, a term principally used in the second part of the 20th century, was a smaller version of a mainline department store. These were usually either independent stores or chains that specialized in cosmetics, wearing apparel, and accessories, with a limited selection of home goods.

What types of retail establishments are sometimes mistakenly referred to as department stores?

Some sources may refer to hypermarkets, which are discount superstores with full grocery offerings (such as Target, Walmart, and Carrefour), and variety stores (also known as five and dimes or dollar stores), as department stores, even though they are not generally considered as such.

Which English establishment is considered one of the first department stores, and what is its historical significance?

Bennett's in Derby, first established as an ironmonger in 1734, may have been one of the earliest department stores, operating in the same building until 2019. However, Harding, Howell & Co., which opened in 1796 on Pall Mall, London, is reliably dated as the first department store.

What were the key features of Harding, Howell & Co. as described in Ackermann's Repository in 1809?

Ackermann's Repository described Harding, Howell & Co. as a 150-foot-long establishment divided by glazed partitions into four departments: furs and fans; haberdashery, silks, muslins, lace, and gloves; jewelry, ornamental ormolu articles, and French clocks; and millinery and dresses, offering a comprehensive range of female attire and decoration in the first style of elegance and fashion.

How did Harding, Howell & Co. cater to its primary clientele and what broader societal changes influenced its emergence?

Harding, Howell & Co. was primarily focused on the needs and desires of fashionable, newly affluent middle-class women, providing a safe and decorous environment for them to browse and shop away from home and from the company of men. Its emergence was nurtured and shaped by the Industrial Revolution, which transformed life in London and Britain through energetic free trade, invention, steam, sail, and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of cheap labor.

Which British retailer holds the distinction of being the longest-trading defunct department store chain?

Debenhams, which was established in 1778 and closed in 2021, is recognized as the longest-trading defunct British retailer.

What is the historical significance of Kendals in Manchester?

Kendals (formerly Kendal Milne & Faulkner) in Manchester, dating back to 1836 and trading as Watts Bazaar since 1796, lays claim to being one of the first department stores. It was known for its emphasis on quality and style, earning the nickname 'the Harrods of the North,' and featured buildings linked by a subterranean passage and an art nouveau tiled food hall.

Which department store is credited with opening the world's first Christmas grotto?

Lewis's of Liverpool, which operated from 1856 to 2010, is credited with opening the world's first Christmas grotto in 1879, entitled 'Christmas Fairyland.'

What was Liberty & Co. in London known for in the 1870s, and what did Oscar Wilde say about it?

Liberty & Co. in London's West End gained popularity in the 1870s for selling Oriental goods. In 1889, Oscar Wilde famously wrote that 'Liberty's is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper.'

What were the 'magasins de nouveautés' in Paris, and when did the first one appear?

The 'magasins de nouveautés,' or novelty stores, were the predecessors of Parisian department stores, with the first, the Tapis Rouge, being created in 1784.

How did Parisian novelty shops evolve in the 1840s with the advent of railroads?

In the 1840s, with the arrival of railroads in Paris and the increased number of shoppers they brought, Parisian novelty shops grew in size and began to feature large plate glass display windows, fixed prices with price tags, and advertising in newspapers.

Describe the growth and marketing innovations of Au Bon Marché in Paris.

Au Bon Marché, founded in Paris in 1838, grew from 300 square meters with 12 employees to 50,000 square meters with 1,788 employees by 1879. Its marketing innovations included a reading room for husbands while their wives shopped, extensive newspaper advertising, entertainment for children, sending out six million catalogs, and providing dormitories on the upper floors for its unmarried female employees.

Which novel by Émile Zola symbolizes the department store as a new technology?

Émile Zola's novel Au Bonheur des Dames (1882–83) is set in a typical department store, making it a symbol of the new technology that was both improving society and devouring it.

Which Australian department store holds the record for being the longest continuously operating department franchise in the world?

David Jones, opened on May 24, 1838, in Sydney by Welsh immigrant David Jones, is the longest continuously operating department franchise in the world.

Who founded the first American department store, and what was its early history?

Arnold Constable founded the first American department store in 1825 as a small dry goods store on Pine Street in New York City. It later moved into the 'Marble House' in 1857, was one of the first to issue monthly charge bills of credit during the Civil War, and expanded into a cast-iron building in 1869, eventually facing bankruptcy in 1975.

What innovations did Alexander Turney Stewart introduce with his 'Marble Palace' in New York City?

Alexander Turney Stewart established the 'Marble Palace' in 1846, offering European retail merchandise at fixed prices, a policy of 'free entrance' to all customers, and utilizing cast iron construction for large plate glass windows for major seasonal displays. His innovations included buying from manufacturers for cash in large quantities, keeping markups small and prices low, truthful presentation of merchandise, a one-price policy (eliminating haggling), simple merchandise returns and cash refund policies, selling for cash and not credit, employing buyers who searched worldwide for quality merchandise, departmentalization, vertical and horizontal integration, volume sales, and free services for customers such such as waiting rooms and free delivery of purchases.

When was Macy's founded and what was its initial focus?

Macy's was founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy as a dry goods store.

What made Marshall Field & Company in Chicago a model for other department stores?

Marshall Field & Company, originating in 1852 on State Street in Chicago, was often cited as a model for its exceptional customer service. It pioneered the first European buying office in Manchester, England, introduced the first bridal registry, offered the concept of a personal shopper without charge, was the first to use revolving credit and escalators, and was known for its legendary book department which pioneered the 'book signing.'

What were some of Marshall Field's notable Christmas traditions?

Marshall Field's downtown store was famous for its annual Christmas traditions, including animated window displays that became renowned for their ingenuity and beauty, and visiting the Walnut Room with its equally famous Christmas tree or meeting 'under the clock' on State Street.

What innovations did John Wanamaker introduce to the department store business in Philadelphia?

John Wanamaker, who opened what some claim was the United States' first 'modern' department store in Philadelphia in 1877, introduced fixed prices marked on every article, electrical illumination in 1878, the telephone in 1879, and the use of pneumatic tubes to transport cash and documents in 1880.

How did Selfridges in London revolutionize the concept of department store shopping?

Selfridges, established in London in 1909 by American-born Harry Gordon Selfridge, revolutionized shopping by promoting it as a pleasure rather than a necessity. It encouraged 'just looking' with dramatic window displays, extensively advertised, and structured its shop floors to make goods more accessible. The store also offered elegant restaurants, a library, reading and writing rooms, special reception rooms for various international customers, a First Aid Room, and a Silence Room, all designed to encourage customers to stay longer.

What notable public demonstrations and exhibits did Selfridges host?

Selfridges hosted significant public demonstrations and exhibits, including Louis Blériot's monoplane in 1909 (Blériot was the first to fly over the English Channel) and the first public demonstration of television by John Logie Baird in 1925.

What are the historical roots of modern-style department stores in Japan?

In Japan, the first 'modern-style' department store was Mitsukoshi, founded in 1904, which originated from a kimono store called Echigoya established in 1673. Matsuzakaya, with an even longer history dating from 1611, also transitioned from a kimono store to a department store in 1910.

What innovative policy did Matsuzakaya in Ginza introduce in 1924?

In 1924, the Matsuzakaya store in Ginza introduced the innovative policy of allowing street shoes to be worn indoors, which was a novel concept at the time.

How did Japanese railway companies contribute to the development of department stores?

From the 1920s, many private railway operators in Japan began building department stores directly linked to their lines' termini, with Seibu and Hankyu being typical examples of this development, integrating retail with transportation hubs.

What was the first suburban department store, and where was it located?

The first suburban department store, not including hotel or resort stores, was I. Magnin in Hollywood, Los Angeles, which opened in 1923.

Which department store branch was the first to anchor a suburban shopping center, and where was it located?

The Strawbridge and Clothier store at Suburban Square in Philadelphia was the first department store branch to anchor a suburban shopping center, opening in 1930.

How did the U.S. Baby Boom influence the expansion of department stores into suburban areas?

The U.S. Baby Boom led to the development of suburban neighborhoods and commercial developments, including shopping malls. Department stores joined these ventures to cater to the growing market of baby boomer spending.

What was considered the largest suburban department store in the world in 1952?

In 1952, May Company California opened a four-level, 346,700-square-foot store in Lakewood Center near Los Angeles, which was, at the time, the largest suburban department store in the world.

What is the 'retail apocalypse,' and when did analysts begin referring to it?

Starting in 2010, many analysts began referring to a 'retail apocalypse,' particularly in the United States and some other markets, which describes the widespread closing of brick-and-mortar retail stores, especially those belonging to large chains.

What were the primary causes of the 'retail apocalypse' in the U.S. by 2017?

By 2017, over 12,000 U.S. stores closed due to factors such as over-expansion of malls, rising rents, bankruptcies, leveraged buyouts, low quarterly profits outside of holiday peak periods, delayed effects of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, shifts in consumer spending towards experiences rather than material goods, relaxed dress codes in workplaces, and the significant shift to e-commerce, where Amazon.com and Walmart dominated over traditional retailers' online offerings.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic further impact department stores and retail trends?

The COVID-19 pandemic increased permanent store closings through mandatory temporary closures, especially in March and April 2020, with customers largely staying away from stores for non-essential purchases for many more months. It also stimulated e-commerce further due to a shift to working from home, which reduced demand for business apparel.

What are 'click-and-collect' services, and how did they evolve in department stores?

Click-and-collect services, which allow customers to order online and pick up in-store, had been increasing during the 2010s. Many department stores created larger, distinctly signed, designated areas for these services, sometimes including features like reception and seating areas with coffee, computers with large screens for online shopping, and dressing rooms.

How did department stores adapt their pickup services during the COVID-19 pandemic?

With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, most U.S. retailers, including department stores, began offering a curbside pickup service as an option on their websites, with a dedicated area at one of the store entrances accessible by car.

Explain the 'store-within-a-store' concept as implemented by department stores.

The 'store-within-a-store' concept involves mainline department stores and discount stores implementing smaller, often luxury brand boutiques, physically inside their larger buildings. These boutiques typically hire their own employees, merchandise their own selling space, and process transactions at their own cash registers, sometimes with walls or windows separating them from the main store space.

Which department store is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest in the world?

Shinsegae Centum City in Busan, South Korea, with a sales area of 293,905 square meters (3,163,567 square feet), is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest department store in the world.

What is the largest department store in the Americas, and when was it opened?

Macy's Herald Square in New York City, United States, with a sales area of 232,258 square meters (2,500,000 square feet), is the largest department store in the Americas and opened in 1902.

Which Australian department store was once considered the largest in the world?

Anthony Hordern & Sons in Sydney, Australia, which operated from 1823 to 1973, had a sales area of 210,437 square meters (2,265,120 square feet) and was once considered the largest department store in the world.

What was notable about Gimbels Center City in Philadelphia upon its 1927 addition?

Upon the opening of its 12-story addition at 9th & Chestnut in 1927, Gimbels Center City in Philadelphia, with 50 acres of space, was considered the largest department store in the world at that time.

Which department store was the tallest in the world at the time of its operation?

Hudson's Downtown Detroit, United States, which operated from 1891 to 1983, was 410 feet (125 meters) high with 25 floors, 2 half-floors, 1 mezzanine, and 4 basements, making it the tallest department store in the world at the time.

Which department store was considered the largest in the world in 1912?

Marshall Field's State Street store in Chicago, United States, with a sales area of 185,806 square meters (2,000,000 square feet) in 1912, was considered the largest in the world at that time.

What is the largest department store complex in Japan, and what is its historical significance?

Hankyu Umeda in Osaka, Japan, including its Main Store and adjacent Men's Store, is the largest department store complex in Japan. It also holds the distinction of being Japan's first railway station department store, with its original store opening in 1929.

Which department store is the largest in Europe?

Le Bon Marché in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, with a sales area of 102,360 square meters (1,101,794 square feet), is the largest department store in Europe. Harrods in London, U.K., with 102,193 square meters (1,100,000 square feet), is also noted as one of the largest in Europe.

What was unique about Karstadt Hermannplatz in Berlin when it opened in 1929?

Karstadt Hermannplatz in Berlin, opened in 1929, was considered 'the most advanced in Europe' at the time, featuring 9 stories (including 2 underground), 8 freight elevators, 13 dumbwaiters, and 24 passenger elevators. It was also the first in Europe with direct access from a subway station, and one freight elevator could transport loaded trucks to the 5th-floor food area.

Department Store Wiki: Retail Realms: A Scholarly Exploration of Department Stores

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Defining the Department Store

A Comprehensive Retail Model

A department store represents a distinct retail establishment characterized by its extensive offering of consumer goods, meticulously organized into specialized sections or "departments" under a singular roof. Each department is dedicated to a specific product category, providing a curated shopping experience. This model emerged in major urban centers during the mid-19th century, fundamentally transforming consumer behavior and redefining the paradigms of service and luxury in commerce.^[1]

Diverse Product Assortments

Contemporary department stores typically feature a broad array of departments, encompassing categories such as apparel, cosmetics, home furnishings, hardware, domestic appliances, housewares, gardening supplies, sporting goods, and toiletries. Beyond these core offerings, some establishments may further diversify their inventory to include food items, books, jewelry, electronics, stationery, photographic equipment, baby products, and pet supplies. The checkout process varies, with discount department stores often consolidating transactions at the front, while high-end traditional stores maintain individual sales counters within each department.^[1]

Evolving Market Dynamics

Since the 1980s, the department store sector has navigated an increasingly competitive landscape. Initial challenges arose from the proliferation of discount retailers, which offered similar goods at lower price points. This competitive pressure intensified significantly in the 2000s with the advent and rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms, necessitating a strategic re-evaluation of traditional retail models and consumer engagement strategies.^[1]

Typologies of Department Stores

Mainline & Junior Stores

Department stores can be broadly categorized based on their market positioning and scale:

Mainline Department Store: These are traditional establishments offering mid- to high-end merchandise, primarily at full retail price. Prominent examples include Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Sears, and Belk.^[2]
Junior Department Store: A term prevalent in the latter half of the 20th century, referring to smaller versions of mainline stores. These often operated as independent entities or chains, specializing in cosmetics, apparel, and accessories, with a limited selection of home goods. Examples include Boston Store and Harris & Frank.^[3]^[4]

Discount Department Stores

This category encompasses large retail outlets that offer apparel and home furnishings at reduced prices. Their merchandise typically consists of overstock from mainline department stores or goods specifically manufactured for the discount market. Notable examples include Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, and Kohl's.^[5] These stores cater to a consumer segment seeking value and affordability without compromising on variety.

Distinguishing Other Retail Formats

It is important to differentiate true department stores from other large-format retailers that are sometimes mistakenly grouped with them. These include:

Hypermarkets: Large discount superstores that integrate a full grocery offering, such as Target, Walmart, and Carrefour.^[6]
Variety Stores: Also known as "five and dimes" or dollar stores in the U.S., these typically offer a wide range of inexpensive household and general merchandise.

While these formats offer diverse products, their operational model and market positioning differ significantly from the traditional department store concept.

Historical Foundations

English Origins: 18th-19th Century

The genesis of the department store can be traced to 18th-century England. Bennett's in Derby, initially an ironmonger in 1734, is considered one of the earliest precursors, operating continuously until 2019.^[7]^[8] However, Harding, Howell & Co., established in 1796 on Pall Mall, London, is reliably identified as the first true department store.^[9] An 1809 account in Ackermann's Repository detailed its four distinct departments: furs and fans, haberdashery, jewelry and ornamental items, and millinery and dresses, highlighting its comprehensive offering for "female attire or decoration."^[10] This establishment provided a novel, safe, and decorous environment for newly affluent middle-class women to browse and shop, a phenomenon shaped by the Industrial Revolution.^[11]

Debenhams: Established in 1778, it was the longest-trading defunct British retailer, closing in 2021.^[9]
Kendals (Manchester): Dating back to 1836 (as Watts Bazaar since 1796), known for quality and style, earning it the moniker "the Harrods of the North."^[13]
Harrods (London): Tracing its origins to 1834, with its iconic current store built between 1894 and 1905.^[63]
Austins (Derry): Opened in 1830, it was the world's oldest independent department store until its closure in 2016.^[14]^[15]
Lewis's (Liverpool): Operated from 1856 to 2010, notable for opening the world's first Christmas grotto in 1879.^[16]
Liberty & Co. (London): Gained popularity in the 1870s for its exotic Oriental goods, attracting "artistic shoppers."^[17]^[18]

Parisian Magasins de Nouveautés

In Paris, department stores evolved from the magasin de nouveautés (novelty store), with the Tapis Rouge opening in 1784.^[19] These stores expanded significantly in the 1840s, driven by increased railway traffic, featuring large plate glass windows, fixed prices, and newspaper advertising.^[20]

A pivotal example is Au Bon Marché, founded in 1838. It dramatically expanded from 300 m² with 12 employees to 50,000 m² with 1,788 employees by 1879. Its proprietor, Aristide Boucicaut, pioneered marketing innovations such as reading rooms for husbands, children's entertainment, extensive advertising, and millions of catalogs. By 1880, half of its employees were women, many residing in dormitories on the upper floors.^[21] This success inspired competitors like Printemps (1865), La Samaritaine (1869), Bazar de Hotel de Ville (BHV), and Galeries Lafayette (1895).^[20]^[22] Émile Zola's novel Au Bonheur des Dames (1882–83) immortalized the department store as a symbol of societal advancement and commercial transformation.^[24]

Australian & American Beginnings

Australia boasts David Jones, the longest continuously operating department store, founded on May 24, 1838, in Sydney.^[25]^[26] Other Australian pioneers include Grace Bros (1885) and Myer (1900).^[27]

In the United States, Arnold Constable, established in 1825 as a dry goods store in New York City, is recognized as the first American department store. It innovated by issuing monthly charge bills during the Civil War and expanded into grand "Palaces of Trade."^[28] Alexander Turney Stewart's "Marble Palace," opened in 1846 on Broadway, further revolutionized retail with fixed prices, "free entrance" policies, and large plate glass windows for seasonal displays. Stewart's innovations included cash purchases from manufacturers, low markups, truthful merchandise presentation, a one-price policy, easy returns, and free customer services like waiting rooms and delivery.^[29] Rowland Hussey Macy founded Macy's as a dry goods store in 1858.^[29]

Evolution & Innovation

Pioneering Retail Practices (1850–1917)

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a surge of innovations that cemented the department store's role in modern commerce:

Marshall Field & Company (Chicago, 1852): Renowned for exceptional customer service, it introduced the first European buying office (Manchester, England), the first bridal registry, and the concept of the personal shopper. It also pioneered revolving credit and was among the first to install escalators. Its legendary book department hosted the first "book signings," and its elaborate Christmas window displays became a cherished tradition.^[30]^[31]
John Wanamaker (Philadelphia, 1877): Credited with opening the first "modern" department store in the U.S., Wanamaker's introduced fixed prices on all articles, electrical illumination (1878), telephones (1879), and pneumatic tubes for cash and document transport (1880).^[32]
Selfridges (London, 1909): Founded by American Harry Gordon Selfridge, this store revolutionized shopping by promoting it as a pleasurable activity rather than a necessity. It featured dramatic window displays, extensive advertising, accessible goods, elegant restaurants, a library, reading rooms, and specialized reception areas for international customers. Selfridge also hosted educational and scientific exhibits, including Louis Blériot's monoplane (1909) and the first public demonstration of television by John Logie Baird (1925).^[33]^[34]

Japanese Department Store Model

Japan's department store history is rich, with Mitsukoshi, founded in 1904, being the first "modern-style" store, evolving from a 1673 kimono shop called Echigoya. Matsuzakaya, dating back to 1611, also transitioned from a kimono store to a department store by 1910, notably allowing street shoes indoors in its Ginza store by 1924.^[35] These early stores emphasized luxurious products and sophisticated atmospheres.

A unique development in Japan was the emergence of department stores directly linked to railway termini, pioneered by private railway companies in the 1920s. Seibu and Hankyu are prime examples of this model, integrating retail with transportation hubs to maximize customer traffic.

Global Expansion & Management (1917–1945)

The mid-1920s witnessed the global dissemination of American management theories, notably Frederick Winslow Taylor's scientific management principles. To foster discussion and adaptation of these ideas within the retail sector, the International Management Institute (I.M.I.) was established in Geneva in 1927. This led to the formation of the International Association of Department Stores in Paris in 1928, providing a dedicated forum for industry leaders to collaborate on retail format innovations and best practices.

This period also saw early suburban expansion in the U.S., with stores like I. Magnin Hollywood (1923) being among the first suburban department stores. Suburban Square (1930) near Philadelphia pioneered the concept of a department store anchoring a suburban shopping center.^[36]^[37]

Modern Retail Landscape

The Retail Apocalypse & E-commerce

Beginning around 2010, many markets, particularly in the United States, experienced a "retail apocalypse," marked by widespread closures of brick-and-mortar stores, especially those of large chains.^[40] This phenomenon was attributed to several factors:

Over-expansion of shopping malls.
Rising operational costs, including rents.
Increased bankruptcies and leveraged buyouts.
Pressure from low quarterly profits outside of peak holiday seasons.
Lingering effects of the 2008-2009 Great Recession.^[41]
A societal shift in consumer spending towards experiences rather than material goods.
Relaxed workplace dress codes reducing demand for business apparel.
The monumental shift to e-commerce, dominated by giants like Amazon.com and Walmart, which outpaced the online offerings of traditional retailers.^[42]

The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated these trends, leading to mandatory temporary store closures and a sustained shift to remote work, which amplified e-commerce growth and diminished demand for traditional business attire.

Adapting to New Consumer Behaviors

In response to evolving consumer preferences and the rise of digital commerce, department stores have adopted innovative strategies:

Click-and-Collect & Curbside Pickup: Services allowing customers to order online and pick up in-store gained significant traction throughout the 2010s. Many stores developed dedicated, well-signed areas for these services, some even offering amenities like seating, coffee, and large-screen computers for online browsing.^[43] The onset of COVID-19 in 2020 made curbside pickup a ubiquitous offering, with designated car-accessible areas at store entrances.
Store-within-a-Store Concept: Mainline department stores, particularly those catering to luxury markets, increasingly implemented "stores-within-a-store." These are often branded boutiques resembling independent shops, complete with their own employees, merchandising, and cash registers, yet physically located within the larger department store building. This strategy allows luxury brands to maintain their distinct identity while benefiting from the department store's foot traffic and infrastructure.

These adaptations reflect a dynamic response to a changing retail environment, aiming to integrate online and offline shopping experiences seamlessly.

Global Flagship Stores

A comparative analysis of the world's largest department store flagship or branch stores by sales area. This list focuses on individual department store buildings or complexes, excluding shopping centers where most space is leased to other retailers, big-box stores, hypermarkets, discount stores, markets, or souqs.

Table of Department Store Flagship or Branch Stores by Sales Area
Company	Branch	City	Country	Sq m	Sq ft	Opened**	Closed
closed	open
Shinsegae	Centum City	Busan	S. Korea	293,905^[44]	3,163,567	Jun 26, 2009	open
Largest in the world according to Guinness
Macy's	Herald Square	New York	U.S.	232,258	2,500,000^[45]	1902	open
Largest in the Americas
Anthony Hordern & Sons		Sydney	Australia	210,437	2,265,120	1823	1973
Gimbels	Center City	Philadelphia	U.S.	202,343	2,178,000^[46]	1894	1993
Upon opening its 12-story addition at 9th & Chestnut in 1927, it was, at 50 acres, the largest department store in the world.^[46]
Hudson's	Downtown Detroit	Detroit	U.S.	197,355 (1983)	2,124,316 (1983)^[47]	1891^[47]	Jan 17, 1983^[47]
25 floors, 2 half-floors, 1 mezzanine, 4 basements. 410 ft (125 m) high, tallest department store in the world at the time.
Marshall Field's, now Macy's	State Street store	Chicago	U.S.	185,806 (1912)	2,000,000 (1912)^[48]	1902	open
Largest in the world in 1912^[48]
Wanamaker's, now Macy's	1300 Market St., Center City	Philadelphia	U.S.	176,516 (1995)	1,900,000 (1995)^[49]	1876	March 23, 2025^[50]
Shinsegae	Uijeongbu (의정부점)	Uijeongbu	S. Korea	145,000^[51]	1,560,000		open
As of 2020, retail space has been reduced to 435,000 sq ft (40,413 m²).^[52]
Rich's	Downtown	Atlanta	U.S.	115,886	1,247,382	1924	1994
Kaufmann's	400 5th Ave., Downtown	Pittsburgh	U.S.	111,484^[53]	1,200,000	1887^[54]	Sep 20, 2015^[55]
from 2005 to 2015 operated as Macy's
Wertheim	Leipziger Straße	Berlin	Germany	106,000^[56]	1,140,975	Dec 1897^[56]	Nov 1943^[57]
May Co.	Public Square−	Cleveland	U.S.	104,144	1,121,000^[58]	1915	1993
Hankyu	Umeda	Osaka	Japan	102,758^[59]	1,106,078	Apr 15, 1929^[60]	open
Includes Main Store and adjacent Men's Store (16,000,²) - by which measure, the largest department store complex in Japan. Japan's first railway station department store. Original store opened 1929, was dismantled and new store opened (part of it on the old site) in 2005.
Le Bon Marché	7th arrondissement	Paris	France	102,360	1,101,794	Apr 2, 1872^[61]	open
Largest in Europe
Hamburger's/ May Company	Broadway, Downtown	Los Angeles	U.S.	102,193	1,100,000^[62]	1906	1986
Harrods	Knightsbridge	London	U.K.	102,193	1,100,000^[63]	1849	open
Largest in Europe
Kintetsu	Abeno Harukas	Osaka	Japan	100,000^[64]^[65]	1,076,391	Mar 2014^[64]	open
Largest in Japan in a single building
Intime	Ningbo General	Ningbo	China	96,000	1,003,335^[66]		open
Gimbels	Herald Square	New York	U.S.	92,903	1,000,000^[67]	Sep 29, 1910	Sep 27, 1986^[68]
Shinsegae	Daejeon (대전신세계 Art & Science) Shinsegae Art & Science	Daejeon	S. Korea	88,572 dept. store area	953,380	2021	open
Carson Pirie Scott	State Street	Chicago	U.S.	87,695	943,944^[69]	1872/1898	Feb 21, 2007^[70]^[71]
Mandel Bros./ Wieboldt's	State Street	Chicago	U.S.	81,848	881,000^[72]	1875	Jul 18, 1987^[73]
Takashimaya	Minami (Namba-Shinsaibashi)	Osaka	Japan	78,000^[65]	839,585		open
Daimaru	Shinsaibashi	Osaka	Japan	77,000	828,821	1922	open
Eaton's/ Sears Canada	Eaton Centre	Toronto	Canada	76,809	816,000^[74]	Feb 10, 1977^[75]^[76]
9-story Eaton's flagship. Converted to Sears 2002, closed 2014. Space divided, converted to Nordstrom (2016-2023), Simons, Eataly and Nike (2025–present) and offices.^[74]
Bullock's	Broadway, Downtown	Los Angeles	U.S.	75,809	806,000^[77]	1907	1983
The Bon Marché	Downtown	Seattle	U.S.	74,322	800,000^[78]	1929	2020
Karstadt now Galeria	Hermannplatz	Berlin	Germany	72,000	775,002	1929	open
"The most advanced in Europe" in 1929; 9 stories incl. 2 underground; 8 freight elevators, 13 dumbwaiters, 24 passenger elevators.^[79]^[80] One freight elevator transported loaded trucks to the 5th floor food area. First in Europe with direct access from a subway station.^[81] Destroyed by bombing and fire in 1945 except for a small portion, which reopened in June 1945 and was later expanded.
The Emporium	Market Street	San Francisco	U.S.	72,000	775,000^[82]	1908	1996
El Corte Inglés	Torre Titania, Paseo de la Castellana, Castellana	Madrid	Spain	70,000^[83]	753,474	2011^[84]	open
Galeries Lafayette	Boulevard Haussmann	Paris	France	70,000^[85]	753,474	1912^[85]	open
Lazarus	141 S. High St.	Columbus, Ohio	U.S.	65,000	700,000^[86]	1909^[86]	2004^[86]
Isetan	Shinjuku	Tokyo	Japan	64,296^[87]	692,080	Sep 28, 1933^[87]	open
Daimaru	Umeda	Osaka	Japan	64,000^[65]	688,890		open
El Palacio de Hierro/ Casa Palacio	Centro Santa Fe	Santa Fe, Mexico City	Mexico	61,987^[88]	667,223	1993^[89]	open
Saks Fifth Avenue	Midtown	New York	U.S.	60,387	650,000^[90]	1924	open
KaDeWe	Tauentzienstraße	Berlin	Germany	60,000^[91]	645,835	Mar 27, 1907	open
J. W. Robinson's	7th St. Downtown	Los Angeles	U.S.	57,940	623,700^[92]	Sep 7, 1915^[93]	Feb 1993
Shinsegae	Myeongdong Main Store (본점 본관, 신관)	Seoul	S. Korea	56,528^[94]	608,460		open
Halle's	Halle Building, 1228 Euclid Ave., Downtown	Cleveland, Ohio	U.S.	56,300	606,000^[95]	1910^[96]	1982^[96]
Selfridges	Oxford Street	London	U.K.	55,742	600,000^[97]	Mar 15, 1909^[98]	open
El Palacio de Hierro	Polanco	Mexico City	Mexico	55,200^[99]	594,168	2016	open
Largest in Latin America^[99]
The Broadway	Broadway, Downtown	Los Angeles	U.S.	53,600^[100]	577,000	Feb 24, 1896^[101]	Nov 16, 1973^[102]
Hanshin	Umeda	Osaka	Japan	54,000^[65]	581,251		open
Isetan	JR West Ōsaka Station	Osaka	Japan	50,000	538,196	May 4, 2011	Jul 28, 2014^[103]
Store name: JR Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan. Was operated by a joint venture between Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and West Japan Railway Company. 28 July 2014 all floors except grocery and restaurant areas closed.

**Opened at this location (may have expanded significantly in the years after initial opening)

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References

Gunther Barth, "The Department Store," in City People: The Rise of Modern City Culture in Nineteenth-Century America. (Oxford University Press, 1980) pp 110â47,

"Hypermarket", Investopedia

Alison Adburgham, Shops and Shopping, 1880â1914: Where and in What Matter the Well-Dressed Englishwoman Bought Her Clothes (2nd ed. 1981)

Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan, Give the Lady What She Wants: The Story of Marshall Field & Company (1952)

Wendt and Kogan, Give the Lady What She Wants: The Story of Marshall Field & Company (1952)

Robert Sobel, The Entrepreneurs: Explorations Within the American Business Tradition (1974), chapter 3, "John Wanamaker: The Triumph of Content Over Form"

Matsuzakaya corporate history

"May Co. Cleveland Ohio", Department Store Museum

"Intime Department Stores", China Yintai, retrieved 26 November 2023

"Wieboldt's", Department Store Museum

"Eaton Centre Sears closes its doors", Toronto Star, February 24, 2014

"Bullock's Department Store #1, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA (1906-1907)", PCAD

"Department Store Addition Now Rising Into Space", Los Angeles Times, 11 January 1923

"El Palacio de Hierro strengthens Mexico City standing, revamps flagship", NPR; November 3, 2015

A full list of references for this article are available at the Department store Wikipedia page

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Defining the Department Store ℹ️

🏢 A Comprehensive Retail Model

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📉 Evolving Market Dynamics

Typologies of Department Stores 🏷️

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🏷️ Discount Department Stores

🚫 Distinguishing Other Retail Formats

Historical Foundations 📜

🇬🇧 English Origins: 18th-19th Century

🇫🇷 Parisian Magasins de Nouveautés

🇦🇺 Australian & American Beginnings

Evolution & Innovation ✨

💡 Pioneering Retail Practices (1850–1917)

🇯🇵 Japanese Department Store Model

📈 Global Expansion & Management (1917–1945)

Modern Retail Landscape 🌐

📉 The Retail Apocalypse & E-commerce

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Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Defining the Department Store

A Comprehensive Retail Model

Diverse Product Assortments

Evolving Market Dynamics

Typologies of Department Stores

Mainline & Junior Stores

Discount Department Stores

Distinguishing Other Retail Formats

Historical Foundations

English Origins: 18th-19th Century

Parisian Magasins de Nouveautés

Australian & American Beginnings

Evolution & Innovation

Pioneering Retail Practices (1850–1917)

Japanese Department Store Model

Global Expansion & Management (1917–1945)

Modern Retail Landscape

The Retail Apocalypse & E-commerce

Adapting to New Consumer Behaviors

Global Flagship Stores

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice