These 5 Vintage Photos Of Pittsburgh Department Stores Will Take You Back To Another Era

Shopping certainly has evolved, especially in the last decade or so, hasn’t it? Not so long ago, we’d go to our local mall or strip mall for whatever we needed. Shops were always packed during the holiday season. We could also shop in the small shops on the Main Streets in the area. Today, however, many have turned to the internet for the convenience of shopping online. As time turns its pages, many popular stores have closed their doors. Here are just five photos of Pittsburgh department stores from the past.

Wikipedia/Steve Morgan

Can you believe that 1984 was more than 35 years ago? That’s when this photo of a streetcar passing Kaufmann’s in downtown Pittsburgh was snapped. Kaufmann’s was popular with shoppers and those who wanted a quick bite to eat at Tic Toc Restaurant. You might even remember its magical Christmas display windows.

Wikipedia/Public Domain

Gimbels was a Pittsburgh staple from the moment it opened in 1928 until it permanently closed in 1986. (The photo above is of a Gimbels in Philadelphia in the early 20th century.) As of 2020, the Pittsburgh building in which Gimbels sat for decades is known as the Heinz 57 Center.

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Flickr/Mike Kalasnik

Montgomery Ward officially shut its doors in 2000. However, before that, it was a popular department store with locations throughout the Pittsburgh area. Its first store opened in Chicago in 1926. Montgomery Ward had numerous locations in the Pittsburgh area, including at the now-closed Century III Mall.

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Wikipedia/Ichabod

Remember the big red and white sign that announced we were getting closer to Hills? If you were a kid when Hills was around, chances are your favorite part of your visits was the snack bar, known for its popcorn, soft pretzels, and slushies. Hills boasted a long and storied history that began in 1957 and ended in 1999.

Flickr/Mike Kalasnik

While Century III isn’t a department store, it was home to several of them over the years, including Kaufmann’s and Montgomery Ward. Most Pittsburghers, at one time or another, made their way to the three-story mall to go Christmas or back to school shopping.

What are some other Pittsburgh department stores you remember fondly from the past? Let us know in the comments! In the mood for another helping of nostalgia? Here are eight beloved Pittsburgh restaurants that are gone but not forgotten.