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As Big Chains Die, Some Small Department Stores Are Thriving

As Big Chains Die, Some Small Department Stores Are Thriving
As Big Chains Die, Some Small Department Stores Are Thriving

With hundreds of big-name stores closing across America, the department store as we know it is dying.

But while mega-retailers like Sears and J.C. Penney gasp for life, and other chains like Bon-Ton go out of business, shoppers keep opening their wallets and whipping out their credit cards at a few smaller department stores that are still hanging in there.

How do they stay in business as shoppers make more and more of their purchases online? Here are the secrets to these unique retail successes.

1. Gus Mayer

The original Gus Mayer building in New Orleans
Corey Holms / Flickr
The original Gus Mayer building in New Orleans

Where: Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville, Tennessee

Gus Mayer is a family-owned store that’s been a staple of the high-end Southern shopping experience since 1900. The first one opened in New Orleans, and at one point, there were 20 stores across big cities in the South.

Now there are just two locations, one each in Birmingham and Nashville — and they make it their business to stay on the cutting edge of fashion.

The Birmingham location has a dedicated shoe salon and a large jewelry department, and both stores host regular trunk shows where you can find one-of-a-kind designer pieces.

Writes one Birmingham shopper, on Yelp: "If you want something unique and of great quality, then this is your place!"

2. Dunham's

The Dunham's department store in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
Dunham's
Dunham's, an old-fashioned department store in north-central Pennsylvania.

Where: Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

Dunham's department store in north-central Pennsylvania was founded at the turn of the 20th century, and it’s still an institution today.

The family-run store is the counterbalance to retail giants like Walmart and Amazon. Dunham's sells everything from clothing to furniture and electronics, but with a smaller selection and a focus on quality products in tune with the local market.

"My customer, the little old lady, is being forgotten," Ann Dunham Rawson, one of the owner/managers told The New York Times. "Other companies don’t think that type clothing is much fun."

Times are changing, but with its community focus and unique touches (including a cafe that serves the only Starbucks coffee for miles), Dunham’s hopes to serve its area for another hundred years.

3. McCaulou's

McCaulou's at Lincoln Center, Stockton, California
Jeffy the Adventurer / YouTube
McCaulou's in Lincoln Center, Stockton, California

Where: The greater San Francisco Bay area

McCaulou's was founded by California entrepreneur David McCaulou in 1963. More than a dozen locations now operate across the middle part of the state, selling high-quality clothing, shoes and accessories to loyal customers.

Stores feature specialty brands like Stetson, Bernie Mev and Catwalk, and unique gifts and toys.

Over the years, McCaulou's has worked its way into the hearts of small communities, where the stores are appreciated for their custom-built Christmas window displays, caring and dedicated staffs, and beautifully displayed merchandise.

Customers tend to use phrases like "little gem" and "best-kept secret" to describe McCaulou's. "What a wonderful surprise! They have everything, the store is clean and organized, and have something too many others don't: CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!" says one Yelper.

4. Century 21

Century 21 department store in Manhattan
Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock
Century 21 department store in Manhattan

Where: New York and New Jersey

Century 21 is a high-fashion, low-cost department store with over a dozen locations in New York and New Jersey. Its flagship location in Manhattan now takes up space in six buildings and has been featured on TV shows like Sex and the City.

The stores keep deal-hungry celebrities, international travelers and local shoppers streaming in for discounts of up to 60% off designer wear, winter coats, sweaters, accessories and bedding.

It's the kind of place where you might seriously cut spending so you can build up your emergency savings.

C21 is committed to staying relevant, unique and far ahead of the curve. "This store is great — it's kind of like TJ Maxx on steroids," says one customer, whose Yelp review describes Century 21's prices as "super reasonable."

5. Halls

Halls is a high-fashion department store in Kansas City
Halls
Halls is a destination for high fashion in Kansas City.

Where: Kansas City, Missouri

Halls was opened in 1916 by Joyce Hall, who also founded Hallmark, the oldest greeting card company in America.

The one-of-a-kind department store sells upscale men’s and women’s fashions, Hallmark greeting cards and gifts, designer jewelry, stylish home decor and much more. The store also devotes a whopping 5,000 square feet to its beauty department.

Devoted shoppers say they come to Halls for its timeless, high-quality clothes that last for years.

The helpful staff, in-store cafe and bar, and views of the Kansas City downtown skyline all create a memorable and serene shopping experience for customers.

6. Stanley Korshak

The Stanley Korshak store in Dallas looks like a castle
JoannaEdits / Wikimedia Commons
The Stanley Korshak store in Dallas is housed in a castle.

Where: Dallas

Stanley Korshak is a high-end department store that’s literally housed in a castle.

While the original luxury goods store was founded in 1909 in Chicago by Stanley Korshak, the brand was purchased by oil heiress Rose Hunt, who opened this positively regal location in Dallas in the 1980s.

At Stanley Korshak, customers enjoy browsing through a curated collection of designer clothing, wedding dresses, jewelry and cosmetics, with unique offerings for shoppers of all ages.

This award-winning store covers 75,000 square feet and was once named one of the 50 most influential men’s stores in America. "A true shopping 'experience'! Customer service beyond expectation, catering to every need or want," says one Facebook reviewer.

7. Shirokiya

Shirokiya's Japan Village food court
Daniel Ramirez / Flickr
Shirokiya's Japan Village food court

Where: Honolulu

Shirokiya is like a Japanese theme park, museum and department store rolled into one, all located within the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu.

The store’s Shirokiya Japan Village Walk is built to look like a traditional Japanese town. The village has a food court and beer garden; shopping alleys selling handmade arts and crafts from Japan; a festival and events square; a toy store and radio station; and a sanctuary filled with lucky deities.

This unique department store was originally a Japanese market that opened in what is now Tokyo in 1662. After a dramatic dive in profits and then a merger, the company’s owners opened the Honolulu location in 1959.

It has become such a legend in Hawaii that a U.S. senator got 30,000 people to sign petitions in 2002 when it seemed the store might be in danger of closing.

8. Wilson's

Wilson's department store in Greenfield, Massachusetts
Wilson's
Wilson's department store in downtown Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Where: Greenfield, Massachusetts

Wilson's Department Store has been a fixture in downtown Greenfield for 130 years.

With three floors and more than a dozen departments, Wilson's offers big-city brands in a relaxed and neat space. The store sells name-brand clothing, accessories, toys, kitchen wares and more at fair prices.

But what really keeps customers coming back is the nostalgia. From the old-school candy counter to the personal service, Wilson’s is a throwback — like your old savings account that's due for a replacement.

"I was in a state of awe when I walked into Wilson's. Definitely a blast from the past, and frankly, I wouldn't change a thing," says one Yelper. "Yes, the exterior is a little dated, but the whole store is like a time capsule."

9. Gwynn's

Gwynne's in Mount Pleasant, SC
Stephen Elliott Webb / YouTube
Gwynn's store

Where: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Gwynn's is a family-owned department store that opened in 1967. The store has always been a luxury shopping destination, and it has seen record sales numbers every year since 2011.

It was recently redecorated in high-end finishes to create a more relaxed and luxurious experience for its clients.

Southern hospitality is the cornerstone of Gwynn’s business model, and the store employs mostly full-time, experienced sales associates. Customers love the fact that clerks greet them by name — and love the quality designer clothing, shoes and cosmetics.

In a hectic fast-fashion world, Gwynn’s continues to hold itself to a higher standard. "Gwynn's is in fact the epitome of modern Southern style," one shopper writes, on Yelp.

10. Ben's

Ben's department store in Belleville, Illinois
Ben's
Ben's has been doing business in downtown Belleville for over 40 years.

Where: Belleville, Illinois

Ben's started out in 1976 as “Ben’s Crafts & Floral,” a 10,000 square-foot arts and crafts store.

It later grew to cover 35,000 square feet of retail space, selling gifts, flowers, home decor, clothing and a wide selection of toys.

The secret to Ben’s success has been its willingness to give customers what they truly want. On shopper suggestions over the years, owner John Conkright has expanded the women’s fashion department, offered more options for picture framing, and more.

At a time when big-box stores and online retailers value quantity over quality, small department stores like Ben’s stay in business by finding a niche — and always keeping a sharp eye out for new opportunities to serve their shoppers.