Department Stores Archives : The Retro Network

Remembering Hills Department Store

Hills wasn’t just a department store. It was toys, popcorn, Christmas magic, and family tradition. This deep dive explores its rise, its fall, and why generations still feel a powerful nostalgia for the place where memories were made.

The Fall of Hills Department Store

Kevin Decent

Or, Hills is where the toys were. Recently on the Retro Network podcast, Jason and Mickey talked about stores from their childhoods. Take a listen to Episode 10 if you haven’t already. I was

When Toys ‘R’ Us Came To Spartanburg, SC for Christmas 1985

Jason Gross

If you were a kid in 1985 and lived near Spartanburg, SC, the excitement of the holiday season had to be intense! While flipping through Google’s Newspaper Archive recently, I happened to notice that “The

MediaPlay Memories

Karen Flieger

Listening to Chris on the latest Rental Return podcast episode reminded me of my own days working at my local Media Play. I was hired for the book department during a time where it

Our Favorite Stores at the Mall

Mickey Yarber

Hey retro lovers, welcome to our first TRN Round Table. The Round Table is where several creators from the TRN Bullpen get together and share their thoughts on a common theme. In this first edition,

The Golden Age of Department Stores at Christmas

Mickey Yarber

In today’s world of specialty shops, discount superstores, and all the choices we have online, it’s hard to imagine the role the department store once played in American life. Each town had one of these