Dayton's: A Twin Cities Institution (Landmarks)

I grew up with Daytons. It was really special when mom took me to the restaurant. It was elegant shopping. You don't find that anymore. Fond memories

As a college student, I dreamed of getting a job at Dayton's over the Christmas holidays. I was transferring from one college to another and had six weeks to work. My mother said Dayton's jobs were so desirable I'd never be accepted. I went for my interview at Southdale; the woman interviewing me was tall, very slender, beautifully dressed, with dark hair smoothed into a bun. Immediately she put me at ease. She asked many questions and then closed her file and set it behind her on her desk. Well, I thought, that's it, but it was nice meeting her and trying for a plum position.Instead she looked at me and smiled and said, "I have a punkin' at home like you and nobody would give her a job this Christmas. I'm going to give you one."I received three days of paid training at the most wonderful retail store in the world. Then I was assigned to the perfume bar on the upper floor where selling my scents to desperate husbands was like taking candy from a baby. They stood in line, asked for expensive bottles, and I was busy all the time. I loved this job!This book brought back so many happy memories for me. Shopping at Dayton's was always an experience. From the beautiful, library-esque book department with its stock of new Nancy Drews, to its Jubilee sales, to its wondrous windows and eighth floor extravaganzas at Christmas, the store had it all, as does this book. I learned many new facts about my beloved store. Kristen Leebrick has given me a treasure.Of course for me, like everyone else who loved Dayton's, the loss of the experience is a shopper's tragedy. But at least the history has been preserved in this great little volume. I highly recommend it, not only to former Dayton's shoppers but to anyone interested in a golden age of retail in this country.

Wonderful gift for people who have worked in the downtown area and really miss the old Daytons, 8th Floor Auditorium, and the basement food court.

A must for our local history shelf... everyone we know had a job at one time or another at Dayton's...too bad they're not around any more...it was a lovely store

Brought back many memories of Downtown Minneapolis and growing up in Minnesota!!!

I just finished the book last evening. Previous reviews were 5 Stars. My personal opinion is that the Book is So So. Not bad, just NOT worthy of 4 or 5 stars. It is the type of book that one can easily put down & then pick up in the next few days and continue reading. I was hoping for more History of the Dayton Family Boys-It's just Not There. Would I buy it again, knowing what I know after having read it-Probably Not....

This book has fewer photos (none in color) than the book by Mary Firestone (also no color photos), but it has much more text, so I recommend getting both books together.

My favorite Minneapolis store, fond memories.