We'll wrap up Mother's Day Week here on the blog with this ad for the well-remembered Hills Dept. Store that ran in the Journal on May 6, 1965. As to be expected due to the era, the family depicted in the ad are formally dressed for a visit to the store. But the times were a-changing, and by the end of the 1960s I don't think you would see an illustration quite like that.
The ad mentions several possible gifts for Mom, including "dainty lingerie, a duster [!], a lovely new appliance, a box of candy, an attractive new piece of jewelry, of one of hundreds of ideas you'll see at Hills."
I don't think local Baby Boomers (myself included) will ever stop reminiscing about Hills. Thanks to its family-friendly pricing and great selection, it was exactly the right fit for our family when my siblings and I were very young. Mom sure bought a lot of winter coats there for us.
Plus it was fun to go there. The toy department was huge, and in those days Mom could turn us loose there to look around by ourselves, knowing that we would be safe. And of course, the nicest memory was the possibility of a treat (popcorn, a frozen Coke, etc.) when we were done shopping.
By the end of the 1960s, however, we were buying much of our clothes at Sears and we weren't playing with toys as much. So we more or less graduated to Midway Mall.
Today, Hills has been gone so long that several generations have no memory of it at all. But memories of Hills will always conjure up simpler, happier times for many of us.
You forced my hand Dan.Here it is at 2:30 in the morning and I just had to crack out a giant frozen pretzel from the freezer and pop it in the microwave.And with a can of Coke I will get to relive the Hills experience once again.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a plan; however, at 0516 I had to make do with a Little Debbie Nutty Buddy and a hot cup of green tea with lemon.
DeleteAh, to be able to race my brother to the Toy Department once again...
You sparked a memory Dan! Happily let loose in the toy department at Hills, looking at Barbie dolls while my parents shopped, I heard the announcement that the store would be closing in so many minutes. Panic! Oh no! Where are mom and dad? I still remember the sick feeling I got thinking I could be left behind…
ReplyDeleteThe toy department at Hills was great! Mom would let me roam free there while she shopped. Of course, when she came to get me she knew I'd be asking for a new Hot Wheels or GI Joe figure. I still have most of my Hot Wheels to this day.Great memories.
ReplyDeleteMany of those old stores also had pet departments as well which we really enjoyed. I can't remember specifically if Hill's had one or not. I seem to remember the toy department being at the very front of the store, just to the right of the entrance. Maybe that was at Ame's Department Store after Hill's left.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time that Cleveland Indians star Ron Hassey was at the Amherst Hills.I remember he was just sitting there in a chair with an associate sitting beside him.No long lines and he didn't charge for the photo like all these sports figures do in todays greedy world.I still have the autographed black and white glossy 5×7 in one of my baseball card folders.This was in the early "80's.
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