For many families, department stores were part of everyday life. Kids spent time at the mall with friends, parents picked up school clothes and household supplies, and holiday shopping often meant visiting the same familiar stores year after year.

Some were grand downtown stores with beautiful buildings and elaborate window displays. Others were neighborhood favorites where families knew what to expect and could find just about anything they needed.

Over time, many of these retailers closed because of financial troubles, mergers, changing shopping habits, and competition from online shopping. Some locations were taken over by other brands, while others became empty storefronts.

Still, people remember these stores fondly. The memories often have less to do with what they bought and more to do with family trips, holiday traditions, and the little moments along the way.

Here are 14 department stores that many shoppers still wish were around.

Lord & Taylor

For generations, Lord & Taylor was known for its traditional department store experience. Its Fifth Avenue flagship in New York drew crowds with its holiday window displays, elegant interiors, and the Bird Cage restaurant, where shoppers could take a break during a busy day.

The company had been around for nearly 200 years before its retail presence ended. For longtime customers, losing Lord & Taylor meant saying goodbye to a familiar part of New York’s shopping history.

Woolworth’s

Woolworth’s five-and-dime stores were a regular stop for generations of shoppers. Families could pick up toys, school supplies, household goods, small gifts, and inexpensive everyday items without spending much.

The lunch counter was another big part of the experience, especially for children. A grilled cheese sandwich, fries, or a milkshake could make an ordinary shopping trip feel like a treat.

Sears

Sears was a household name long before online shopping became common. Families relied on its catalogs to order everything from clothing to appliances, and many children eagerly flipped through the Christmas Wish Book to mark the gifts they wanted.

The stores also became known for Craftsman tools and Kenmore appliances. For people who grew up visiting Sears with their parents, watching its locations close across the country ended a familiar family tradition.

Bon-Ton

Bon-Ton served smaller cities and suburban communities where shoppers didn’t always have access to larger department store chains. Its stores carried clothing, cosmetics, gifts, home goods, and everyday items that families could shop for in one trip.

Customers often remember the friendly service and relaxed atmosphere. After Bon-Ton closed, some communities lost one of their last traditional department stores.

Marshall Field’s

In Chicago, Marshall Field’s was much more than a place to buy clothes or household items. Its State Street store was famous for its grand architecture, Tiffany glass ceiling, holiday displays, and the popular Walnut Room.

For many families, visiting the Walnut Room to see its giant Christmas tree was an annual holiday tradition. The building stayed open after the name changed to Macy’s, but longtime Chicago shoppers still miss seeing Marshall Field’s above the entrance.

Hecht’s

Hecht’s was a familiar department store name throughout the Mid-Atlantic, with locations in cities such as Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Families shopped there for school clothes, wedding gifts, cosmetics, holiday presents, and everyday purchases.

It offered a comfortable middle ground between discount retailers and more expensive department stores. When its locations became Macy’s stores, longtime customers had to get used to losing a name they had known for years.

Montgomery Ward

Montgomery Ward was an early leader in American mail-order shopping. Long before online ordering existed, families could browse its catalogs at home and have merchandise delivered.

The company later opened department stores in shopping centers across the country. Its retail operations ended in 2001, leaving behind memories of thick catalogs that many people once looked forward to receiving in the mail.

Kmart

Kmart was a regular shopping stop for families looking for affordable clothing, toys, school supplies, groceries, and household basics. It may not have been a luxury retailer, but many shoppers had their favorite aisles and knew exactly what they went there to buy.

Then there were the Blue Light Specials, which sent shoppers looking for the flashing blue light whenever an announcement came over the speakers. As more locations closed, people who grew up shopping at Kmart were left with memories of ordinary errands and family shopping trips.

Ames

Ames was a familiar discount department store in parts of the Northeast and Midwest, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. Its shelves carried clothing, toys, household supplies, seasonal decorations, and plenty of everyday necessities.

For families in smaller towns, an Ames store could save them a long drive to a larger shopping center. The chain closed its remaining stores in the early 2000s, leaving some communities with vacant retail spaces that were difficult to fill.

Barneys New York

Barneys offered a very different shopping experience from the average department store. It became known for designer clothing, luxury labels, fashion-forward displays, and customers who followed high-end fashion.

Its name was closely tied to New York’s fashion scene, and even people who rarely shopped there recognized it. When Barneys closed in 2019, the city lost one of its best-known luxury retailers.

Hills

Hills was a favorite discount store for families across parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Shoppers could find affordable clothes, toys, household items, and seasonal merchandise without spending too much.

For many children, the snack bar was just as memorable as the shopping trip itself. Popcorn, pretzels, and ICEEs gave kids something to look forward to while their parents picked up what they needed.

Mervyn’s

Mervyn’s was a familiar stop for suburban families looking for reasonably priced clothing and home merchandise. Its “Open, open, open” advertising campaign became especially memorable during the 1980s and 1990s.

The stores offered clothing for the whole family, household goods, and seasonal items at prices that felt manageable. After Mervyn’s closed, longtime customers missed having a familiar place to shop for so many everyday needs.