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30 Things Every 1960s Department Store Had That You Never See Anymore

Lost American Stores & Shopping

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Relive vintage department stores, forgotten five-and-dime shops, and classic retail history—subscribe now to Lost American Stores & Shopping! 🛍️🏬🪙
@lostamericanstoresandshopping

This video was produced exclusively for Lost American Stores & Shopping. We created this nostalgic retail documentary to explore classic department stores, forgotten five-and-dimes, and the vanished shopping services that once defined American community life.

Creative Process Disclosure:

Scripting: Each episode is based on detailed research into commercial retail archives, historical store directories, and mid-century consumer logs, structured into engaging, educational narratives.

Editing: High-effort creative transformation: We curate, restore, and layout archival retail photography, vintage advertisement print graphics, and motion overlays using professional software for maximum narrative clarity.

Voiceover: Every video features original human narration provided by the channel owner, delivering a warm, respectful voice to preserve and share America's retail history.

Copyright & Licensing:
© 2026 Lost American Stores & Shopping. All rights reserved. The specific narrative structure, visual synthesis, and historical analysis in this video are legally protected. No part of this content may be re-uploaded, mirrored, or repurposed without express written permission.

Sources:
1. [https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-...](https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-...)
2. [https://americanhistory.si.edu/explor...](https://americanhistory.si.edu/explor...)
3. [https://guides.loc.gov/trade-catalogs...](https://guides.loc.gov/trade-catalogs...)
4. [https://americanhistory.si.edu/explor...](https://americanhistory.si.edu/explor...)
5. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/...](https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/...)

20 Comments

@JodineBearshield 7 days ago

We didn’t realize that we had it so good. That was real service. ❤ And a treat on the weekends. I miss it all.

@Suzanne-f4x 9 days ago

I loved department stores. Everyone was civil and well-dressed. Loved the nice make-up and perfume counters where the clerk would give you a little sample to try out before buying. When salesclerks were TRAINED in their jobs, especially fitters.

@rosepelzel4244 9 days ago

Man! I miss those days! Downtown was a happening place!

@marylizak3097 9 days ago

I miss the layaway department probably the most at Christmas, I think our economy and the customers would benefit to have that brought back.

@marylizak3097 9 days ago

I wish we had some of these simple & kind gesture now, our world would be better for it.

@vikkiscarangella 8 days ago

I just loved woolworths when I was a kid. They had everything you wanted, even lunch. I saved my money just to buy something in those cases so neatly organized.

@JameyTaylor-r3m 9 days ago

I remember the lunch counter.

@marylizak3097 9 days ago

We have lost the simplicity of life

@JameyTaylor-r3m 9 days ago

I remember green stamps.

@donnaallen9863 9 days ago

This reminds me of the more dignified and civil world I grew up in. Things have gone downhill ever since.

@carlsenlifeafter60carlsen11 9 days ago (edited)

I’m 70 years old and this video is making me almost feel depressed. I missed the days that these stores existed. The life we have now is not the life I like . I don’t care if I have a phone in my purse. I miss everything about this time in life.😢

@linnpierce 9 days ago (edited)

Notions...that was the place! Pattern books were awesome. Anyone remember wallpaper catalogs??

@is9828 8 days ago (edited)

I am 86 and I remember and miss all this. Macy’s in NYC was my favorite. The sign said it was the word’s largest department store. The fabric department was my favorite. It occupied a whole floor. You could have a salesperson cut your fabric to the pattern you bought at no extra charge. You could find anything related to needlework and crafts.
There was also a stamp collecting department. You could find all kinds of services such as shoe repair, jewelry appraisal and repair, watch repair, tailoring and a post office. Shopping there made you feel good.

@SherryHill-k5y 9 days ago

When my grandmother and I went shopping, we always went to the biggest store first. Inside, she insisted we sit at the glove counter. Yes, there were chairs. I loved the notion section-- it had all kinds of things. I miss all of these.

@MarySmith-u4w 8 days ago

Our downtown department store had a teen area. This was in the late 60's-70's. So great, they played music, had nice chairs, dressing rms and soda pops!
How great was that!

@helengardner2714 10 days ago

I told my daughter I thought Amazon was a step backwards and I was right.

@dll-mj1mp 5 days ago

I agree. Shopping back then was basically a luxury. You felt so important. I miss so many things Life now is not the same. I'm 71 years old, and would go back to that time in a heartbeat!

@margaretpaynekulp3383 7 days ago

I remember when I was a wee girl, late 50's early 60s. my dad and mom would take my siblings and I for a ride down Wisconsin Ave in Milwaukee to see all the stores and their Christmas window displays. All the bright lights - what a great memory to have!