11 Stores That Anyone Who Grew Up In Cincinnati Will Undoubtedly Remember
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Andrea Limke
Author
Like it or not, stores tend to come and go as time passes, even the ones that are well-loved. Today, with the overwhelming popularity of online shopping, we are sure to see even more of our favorites disappear. Thankfully, a few nostalgic stores from our childhood in Cincinnati remain, but most of those on our list have gone off to beloved Cincinnati store heaven. If you grew up in Cincinnati, these 11 stores will undoubtedly stir up all kinds of fond memories.
The H & S Pogue Company, commonly called Pogue's, was long known as Cincinnati's finest department store. It was the type of place that you would dress up to visit, enjoy a special meal at one of the classy dining options and end the evening with ice cream on the famous bridge, overlooking the crowds below.
As a Cincinnati kid, birthdays were extra special thanks to this magical little key that would come in the mail, addressed to the birthday boy or girl. You would take this key to one of the two local Johnny's Toys toy stores and open the door to the magnificent castle that was filled with toys and surprises. Thankfully, this past spring the tradition was brought back to life by Tech Castle, which took over the former Latonia, Kentucky Johnny's Toys location.
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Once located on Harrison Avenue in Cheviot, this Frank's was THE westside destination for plants and craft items. If it were still open today, it would surely be a Pinterest-lover's dream, but unfortunately we will have to relive its charm only through our memories.
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David Mays
As Cincinnati's first department store, it is probably one of the most recognized and beloved names of stores from the Queen City's past. Thankfully, the name and historic building still live on today with the creation of modern lofts, but it will always be remembered for its classic department store nostalgia and, of course, it’s magic at Christmas time.
Swallen's was a chain of retail shops that originated right here in Cincinnati. The store had just about everything and was part of most Cincinnatians' weekly shopping trips for decades, until the stores all closed in 1995.
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Be honest...how many hours did you spend browsing the CD collection at Media Play? Or maybe you saved up your money to buy the latest video game. Media Play, of course, became less relevant with the rise of digital music, but we can still reminisce about the time spent wandering its music-filled aisles.
Gold Circle is one of those places that when you mention it to someone who grew up in Cincinnati, they'll respond, "Oh my, I forgot about that place!" But then you'll spend the next 30 minutes reliving memories of shopping at this beloved department store.
Whenever you walk into Aglamesis on Madison, that sweet, sugary smell takes you right back to childhood. Their delicious ice cream and candies are the stuff of dreams and generations continue to make this sweet shop a part of growing up in Cincinnati.
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When you're a kid, there's nothing better than peaking in the windows of a small toy store, trying to catch a glimpse of the treasures inside. But the inside of King Arthur's Court Toys, also on Madison, holds endless childhood memories and continues to be the source of them today.
Thankfully, you can still relive your novelty store memories at one of the few remaining Cappel's locations throughout Cincinnati. In business for over 70 years, Cappel's has long been Cincinnati's favorite costume shop and it's always been a childhood destination to check out the various masks, costumes, and accessories.
Van Leunens was yet another one of those stores that just seemed to have it all. I have fond memories of shopping at the location on the corner of West Fork and Cheviot, and was always fascinated by the escalator inside the store. If you need a taste of this 80s nostalgia, check out the video below of a Van Leunens commercial from 1989. There's even a shout out to the popular "Door Store" that came right to our front doors.
A few of these stores remain today for more generations of Cincinnati kids. Hopefully they’ll be around for decades to come. Did your favorite nostalgic Cincinnati store make our list? Which ones did we leave out? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and if you have any old photos, we’d love to see those, too!
And for more photos from Cincinnati’s history, check out our previous article here.
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