Those were the days, my friend--We thought they'd never end...

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

Videos | Comments | October 4, 2026

This video brought tears, and I miss all of the things highlighted. As a country we have gone from dressing, speaking, acting, and looking dignified to mostly the unspeakable opposite. We have gone from marvelous, lovely and kindly customer service to no customer service at all, and human contact and service has been replaced with do-it-yourself-and-don’t-bother-me faux “service”, or the revolting app and QR code (whatever THAT is — and please don’t tell me because I really don’t care about it!) If “anyone" speaks to a customer, it is usually a stone cold robotic voice coming from cyberspace and created in the nether world.

Personally, I mostly miss the Notions Department, and of course the Book Department, the Christmas Store Santa (my mother’s favorite was the Bullock’s Downtown L.A. Santa), the bargain basement, the elevator ladies and gentlemen, Woolworth’s lunch counter — and oh those green stamps! All clerks and service ladies were always helpful and polite, and knew what they were doing in their own department.

I am sure no customer had to stand in shock and awe when asking for a specific DVD whose leading star was Cary Grant, and have the clerk try to look for it on a computer, but needed to know how Cary spelled HER name (because, of course, she had never heard of Cary Grant and had no idea that Cary was a man!) That actually happened to me quite a few years ago, and I am still STUNNED.

I would with great glee and happiness go back to those days in a New York minute!

Oh yes, those were the days.

Renee Hadar is a longtime reader and friend of Canada Free Press, who resides in Los Angeles.

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