The Banter Cafe

[argentus]

OK so talking about supermarkets in Britain has led me to wonder about department stores. Are they all dying like in the States too?

I really miss the old experience like when I was a kid of the multiple floors, and the cafe/restaurant, and the luxury of it; the mystery of not knowing what you would find. . . Just the calm, civilised, and fancy atmosphere.

We are big fans of the show Are You Being Served? :)

Last department store I was in was probably in Portugal. It was nice, but a bit dead.  They operated in a lot of spots more like a mall, with vendors, rather than one large company holding it all together.  Also department stores used to have manageable prices, not all luxury high end pricing.

My Darlin' and me are big fans of 'Are You Being Served', and have them on DVD.    Last department store I was in was 35 years ago in San Francisco -- Macy's.   Macys has since pulled out of S.F., following on the footsteps of Norstroms and Whole Foods.   Downtown S.F. appears a boarded up ghost town now.  

[sprocketuk]

OK so talking about supermarkets in Britain has led me to wonder about department stores. Are they all dying like in the States too?

I really miss the old experience like when I was a kid of the multiple floors, and the cafe/restaurant, and the luxury of it; the mystery of not knowing what you would find. . . Just the calm, civilised, and fancy atmosphere.

We are big fans of the show Are You Being Served? :)

Last department store I was in was probably in Portugal. It was nice, but a bit dead.  They operated in a lot of spots more like a mall, with vendors, rather than one large company holding it all together.  Also department stores used to have manageable prices, not all luxury high end pricing.

They pretty much are.
Debenhams, probably the biggest one went under a couple of years ago, House of Frasier another gigantic one is in trouble and shutting lots of their shops down.
Looks like the internet has properly killed off the Dep stores here at last.
Where will we go to sniff at the newest colognes etc now all these are shut?

[quintessentone]

They pretty much are.
Debenhams, probably the biggest one went under a couple of years ago, House of Frasier another gigantic one is in trouble and shutting lots of their shops down.
Looks like the internet has properly killed off the Dep stores here at last.
Where will we go to sniff at the newest colognes etc now all these are shut?

They could offer small samplers of perfume or cologne that we could order via the internet. They have to start making those adaptations for online customers.

[sahgwa]

The other nice thing of department stores and clothing stores in general is trying things out in front of the mirror after the changing rooms and making sure they properly fit and you can feel the material.  
Getting stuff online that is not the right feel, quality, or size is the worst .  
Marks and Spencers was neat when I went in there in the 90s