manager_1 The staple of the shopping industry has been department stores. These stores are the landmarks of downtown shopping areas, the axis from which one plans their day on the town. Even with the decline of many departmental stores in the Covid-19 crisis and the rise of online shopping, certain giants are still considered to be iconic fashion hubs.
Stokemont, property experts, has compiled a list of the most famous department stores using an algorithm of Instagram hashtags and TikTok views. They also used average global search trends data to rank them. These are the ten most famous department stores around the globe, according to the data.
#1 Macy’s New York, USA
New York’s Macy’s store is a landmark in one the most important fashion capitals in the world. This store is not only iconic in the city but also to a wider audience. According to On Location Tours, the store occupying almost one million square feet has been featured in more than 50 movies and TV shows.
#2 Nordstrom, Seattle (USA)
Nordstrom’s Seattle flagship store is its original. It is home to over 300 brands and is a major presence in downtown Seattle. After moving in 1992, the store now occupies a former Frederick and Nelson building. The reteiler had to close a number of shops in 2020 due to the pandemic but the flagship store survived.
#3 Selfridges London, England
The Selfridges flagship store, located on Oxford Street, is listed as a protected heritage structure. It is both a historic landmark and an architectural landmark. The building was utilized during World War Two as a shelter from bombings and the secret location of a phone scrambling machine called Sigsaly, helping keeping D-Day a secret.
#4 Harrods London, UK
This 1,000,000 square foot department store is another landmark in London. It has a rich and extensive history. The store was first opened in 1824 as a small shop. It then moved to Knightsbridge and became one of the most prominent retailers in the city. It has been a rival to Selfridges for decades. In 1917 Harrods entered into a wager with Harry Selfridge, the founder of Selfridges. The contest was over which store would be most profitable by the end. Harrods won and Selfridge given a way a replica of his store in silver.
#5 Bloomingdales, New York, US
Bloomingdale’s was founded in 1860 as a retail store selling European fashions. The Bloomingdale brothers quickly moved their expanding store to Lexington Avenue, at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 59th Street. They were able to specialize in multiple garments, which was a rare practice back then. The department store is well-known for its designer Brown Bags and Christmas window displays.
#6 Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, US
Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship store is in Midtown Manhattan, Herald Square. It has been there since its opening in the early 1900s. The department store is known for its high-end shopping and elegant design. The Cut reported that Tommy Goodman displayed a window in the store during the New York pandemic. Its striking architecture is evident, as the building was placed on the Manhattan Landmarks list in 1984.
#7 Galeries Lafayette, Paris, France
Galeries Lafayette is a shopping destination that offers a wide range of food, design, and architectural delights. The store contains a new-Byzantine dome that was designed by artists in early 20th century. It is also the second most visited Paris monument after the Eiffel Tower.
#8 David Jones Melbourne, Australia
Only fifty years after colonization, the oldest department store in Australia was opened in 1838. It has been responsible in Australia’s fashion development. David Jones purchased Dior’s New Look collection in 1947. It was the first time Dior had ever exhibited outside of Paris.
#9 El Corte Ingles Barcelona, Madrid, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal
El Corte Ingles’ flagship store is located in Madrid and its largest branch in Lisbon. It is the only Spanish department store group. It was founded in 1890 as a tailor’s shop. It currently has 82 stores in Spain, Portugal and more than 630 million visits a year.
#10 Beymen, Istanbul, Turkey
This department store was founded in 1971 as a menswear retailer. It grew to be Turkey’s first luxury retailer. The store now carries more than 900 designer brands and sells womenswear in 18 locations.
The top 10 most visited department stores were ranked in the USA and UK. Two were in the US and two in the UK. Five were located in Europe.
Many department stores are famous for their architecture and historical importance. These iconic landmarks have stood the test of time, despite the slowing tide of brick and mortar stores being swept up at an alarming rate.
