Today, many shoppers in search of a nice dress, a new book, a fun toy, or new bedding might turn to online retailers or a big box store for those items. But once upon a time in Chicago, in a luxurious store on State Street, shopping was something to savor. For many Chicagoans, the name Marshall Field’s conjures up a sense of glowing nostalgia – memories of Christmas shopping in a crowded but electric environment, hopping elevators to peruse floor upon floor of elaborate displays, or looking up in wonder at a giant stuffed animal or a sparkling glass ceiling. This bygone department store, now a National Historic Landmark, was more than just a place to buy stuff transported home in a memorable green shopping bag; it was a retail leader with... Read More
“Give the Lady What She Wants.” It was legendary Chicago retail royalty Marshall Field who coined his eponymous store’s famous slogan. For more than 150 years, that’s exactly what thousands – tens of thousands – of loyal employees of Marshall Field & Company did. Field’s redefined the shopping experience, offering incomparable service and the finest of goods, from haute couture to culinary delights, all in a stunning flagship space that encompassed an entire city block. But to millions of Chicagoans and visitors around the world, Marshall Field’s on State Street was more than a department store; it was a treasured destination where lifetime memories were made.
