The Ghost of Department Stores Past: A Son, a Stroll, and a Vanishing World My son, Simon, a newly minted walker, possesses an unwavering determination that often leaves me breathless. His current obsession? Exploring. Not just any exploring, mind you, but the kind that involves determined, albeit wobbly, locomotion towards specific, often unexpected, targets. Last…

The Ghost of Department Stores Past: A Son, a Stroll, and a Vanishing World My son, Simon, a newly minted toddler navigating the world on two unsteady legs, was on a mission. His small, determined face, usually alight with the innocent curiosity of his age, held a focused intensity that only a toddler possessed. He’d…

A Child’s Wonder, a City’s Memory: Exploring the Echoes of a Lost Department Store The hushed reverence of a nearly empty department store. It’s not a scene you’d typically associate with childhood glee, but for my son, Simon, it was pure magic. He’d recently mastered walking, that incredible first step towards independence, and his newfound…

The Ghost of Department Stores Past: A Child’s Eye View of Vanishing Grandeur My son, Simon, a newly minted toddler with a determined waddle, recently experienced something I hadn’t anticipated: the poignant beauty of a dying department store. He wasn’t interested in the sales, the discounts, or the carefully curated displays. He saw something far…

The Ghost of Department Stores Past: A Son, a Stroll, and a Vanishing Retail Icon My son, Simon, a newly minted walker, possesses a singular focus. His determination, usually directed at mastering the art of upright locomotion, was today fixated on something far more compelling: a seemingly deserted clothing rack in a once-grand department store.…

The Ghost of Gimbels: A Philadelphia Farewell My son, Simon, a newly minted walker, possessed a singular focus that day. He wasn’t interested in the usual toddler distractions – brightly colored toys, flashing lights, or even the dubious charms of a dropped cookie. No, Simon had his sights set on something far more captivating: the…

The Ghost of Department Stores Past: A Son, a City, and an Empty Shell My son, Simon, is a walking marvel. He’s only recently mastered the art of locomotion, a development that fills our days with equal parts pride and terror. His newfound mobility has transformed our family outings into thrilling explorations of the unknown,…

A Department Store Requiem: A Child’s Perspective on Loss and Memory My son, Simon, a newly minted walker, possesses an unwavering determination that often leaves me breathless. One recent afternoon, that determination led us on a pilgrimage, a last visit to a place that held a special kind of magic, at least for me: a…