First of all… happy new year, everyone! Welcome to 2009 @ Vintage Seattle. So how much time have you been spending at this building
lately, returning gifts
? This is the Frederick & Nelson building as photographed by Asahel Curtis
in 1929. These days you’ll probably recognize it as the Nordstrom flagship building in downtown Seattle’s so-called retail core. The upper floors were added in the early 50′s and, as you can see, quite a bit of architectural detail stripped away. It’s still an impressive building. Click on the thumbnail for more resolution.
 |
| The Frederick & Nelson Department Store. Established thirty odd years ago as a furniture store, it is generally conceded that there is no more modern department store in the world, although naturally there are larger ones. During the past year this establishment passed into the hands of Marshall, Field & Co. Beyond, the Medical and Dental building. A contract was recently let to double the capacity of this building. Photo by Asahel Curtis. The Argus, 1929. |
I recall there was a way between the Medical and Dental bldg and the store. A secret passageway, as it were. Or was it MacDougle’s? (Remembering 1960-ish)
I still miss Frederick & Nelson. It was the only place to see Santa, and lunch at the Tea Room was a very big deal. And I can’t even think about the doorman without getting just a touch misty…
/sigh
There was a “secret passage”. On one of the lower floors, in the NW corner. It went from one of the clothing departments into an elevator lobby of the MDB. I only went through it once or twice, and always thought it strange that it was there at all…it can’t have seen much traffic!
Those were wonderful times, when customer service meant something.
Santa was always a tradition and that set and photo company is still in business in the seattle area. The orginal look can be found at Lake Forest Park Shoppng Center during the holidays!
Соберем Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð’Ð°Ñ Ð¿Ð¾ Ñети интернет базу данных потенциальных клиентов
Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð’Ð°ÑˆÐµÐ³Ð¾ БизнеÑа (название, род деÑтельноÑти, телефон, факÑ, e-mail,www,имена,адреÑа)
Более подробно узнаете незамедлительно при ÑвÑзи Ñ Ð½Ð°Ð¼Ð¸ по контактным:
телефону +79133913837
ICQ: 6288862
Email: rassilka.agent@gmail.com
Skype: prodawez
My favorite part of the year was when our parents would take us downtown to see Santa at F&N—and those interactive window displays where you could make things happens (make the train go round, make the ferris wheel turn) just by placing your hand on the window pads….ah, the memories. I have our Santa photo from 1962. Now those were photos! You had to wait for them to come in the mail but it was worth it! Now you get your photos instantly in our hurry-up and don’t wait world but I think we’re all missing out. Next time I’m up in Seattle at Christmas time I’ll have to go check out the Lake Foresst Park shopping center as D. Hardwick mentioned.
My fondest memory of Frederick & Nelson was during the holiday season when the Frank Sugia quartet dressed up as minstrels and strolled throughout each department, performing the swingin’-est holiday tunes. They would even take requests! One year I saw the incredible, nationally renown violinist Joe Venuti performing with Sugia. When I was a child I went (with my family) to “Christmas Breakfast” at the store. Frank Sugia performed on that special day, too, year after year, for thirty years. When I had my own children I kept up the tradition and took them to Frederick & Nelson to hear the great sounds of Frank Sugia at Christmas time!
I worked at F@N as a delivery driver for 27 years and the memories I have are too many for this forum, but let me say this, thosr were the best years of my life. Fredericks was the best and I remember all the special Christmases we all had because of Frederick and Nelson
I think I miss the people that worked there. When I lived in Seattle I would go to the downtown store and walk around and after a while I got to know several of the sales girls.
I still have my F&N credit card. It even came in handy once on a cross country trip to NY. I stopped at a antique shop in a small town, I can’t remember where, and they had a box from F&N. so I showed them my credit card and they gave me the box. I still have it and have a few old watches in it.
My father Glen Hamel worked at Frederick’s for 30 years – as an upholsterer and later in customer service. I feel like I grew up in that store. Loved the annual employees Children’s Christmas party! Also the employee discount shop on the 10th or 11th floor…same floor they made the Frangos!! I still miss ‘the store’ too and pointedly have not been in it since it became Nordstrom’s – want to preserve my fond memories of F&N just as it was!! This morning I did take my 8 month old granddaughter to visit Santa in the window at 6th and Pine – carrying on tradition into the 3rd generation!