tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post8938732354216565308..comments2024-03-21T01:17:34.038-05:00Comments on Pleasant Family Shopping: Randhurst is 50!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-55755273963435837172013-12-18T23:12:43.945-06:002013-12-18T23:12:43.945-06:00I have a bad connection tonight, so I apologize if...I have a bad connection tonight, so I apologize if this posts twice. <br /><br />I was walking in Skokie one day and saw this very familiar walrus sculpture:<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/randoymwords/5006298300/<br />I couldn't place where I had seen "him" before, but after looking at the first photo in the set above, I can place it as part of the group of seal sculptures that were in Randhurst! I remember my grandparents used to allow me to sit on them...<br />thanks!<br />ray.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17365079152801464108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-34809022062836989612013-03-22T07:26:12.451-05:002013-03-22T07:26:12.451-05:00That is absolutely great, Heather! I'm happy f...That is absolutely great, Heather! I'm happy for you that you discovered your family in the pic, and happy for the rest of us that we now know more about this iconic photo! If you'd like to contact me (email is in the "profile" section of the page), I can get you a larger version of the photo. <br /><br />And thanks for your very kind words about my site!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-30930062136803858272013-03-20T17:56:42.647-05:002013-03-20T17:56:42.647-05:00So I've been coming to your blog for awhile, a...So I've been coming to your blog for awhile, and when my mother wanted to see pictures of old Randhurst this was my go-to site. <br />What she was flabbergasted to see, however, was herself! <br />In the third picture down, the woman in the middle is my grandmother! The two girls on the penguins (mom says there were penguins) are my mom (far right) and my aunt (far left). We don't know who the man is. <br />I'm so excited to have seen my family on one of my favorite blogs! And I never noticed it was them! Crazy!Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-33380220108816845222012-11-21T20:57:30.948-06:002012-11-21T20:57:30.948-06:00Just discovered your blog; nice work and a special...Just discovered your blog; nice work and a special thanks for the photos! I had no idea that indoor malls went back 50 years. My hometown of Saginaw, MI got it's first almost 10 years later. I love the indoor malls and can't figure out why anyone would rather walk and drive from store to store, instead of having 100 stores all in one building.Roadtrip62 - Don Milnehttp://www.roadtrip62.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-25797563858067713132012-08-24T18:15:14.551-05:002012-08-24T18:15:14.551-05:00I was glad to see another post from you. I love re...I was glad to see another post from you. I love retail history and I'd love a copy of the book. Ask for Slytheringrrl in the drawing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-47909105362923286142012-08-24T12:21:28.961-05:002012-08-24T12:21:28.961-05:00I miss it! They tear down all the good stuff and t...I miss it! They tear down all the good stuff and think they have made an improvement~NOT!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-24591807793234310872012-08-24T03:28:48.620-05:002012-08-24T03:28:48.620-05:00I really would have loved to have grown up with a ...I really would have loved to have grown up with a Randhurst in my city. It is such a shame now that the average mall is so cookie cutter predictable. I long for the good old days...and this site never fails to take me back to them!Shanon Edwardsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-66252121539667630702012-08-24T01:16:39.502-05:002012-08-24T01:16:39.502-05:00As far as I'm concerned, there's never eno...As far as I'm concerned, there's never enough books about old shopping malls.<br /><br />Just sayin'<br />Don FieldsDon Fieldshttp://donosdump.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-17952411435053876372012-08-23T22:48:33.487-05:002012-08-23T22:48:33.487-05:00Another winning post as usual. Good job.Another winning post as usual. Good job.Tim from Signs of the Times blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-47827031516233098552012-08-23T22:12:46.209-05:002012-08-23T22:12:46.209-05:00Dave, do you know that I actually called Randhurst...Dave, do you know that I actually called Randhurst and asked them if they have ever come across any of those "seals" that you featured in one of your other Randhurst posts? I don't think the younger-than-I salesperson with whom I spoke had ANY idea what I was talking about. :D Anyhoo, I'm glad I found your giveaway! How great! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07178918768247140912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-82492802524009562302012-08-23T19:59:05.081-05:002012-08-23T19:59:05.081-05:0050 cheers for 50 years, Randhurst! We're seein...50 cheers for 50 years, Randhurst! We're seeing yet another reno of the venerable Southdale in Edina, MN, I expect it will strip away even more what little original glory is left. Thanks for such an informative, and often bittersweet, blog.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07299448285924497877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-48993955870512358002012-08-23T18:55:08.006-05:002012-08-23T18:55:08.006-05:00I've never been to the Chicago area, so it'...I've never been to the Chicago area, so it's kind of odd that I'm so captivated by the "long lost" malls of that area - maybe I lived there in another life. :) Thanks for uncovering these amazing images of Randhurst, looking back at them is fascinating, yet also depressing because I never had the opportunity to experience a place like this. Malls, and dare I say, life in the 21st century, often seems so drab by comparison. <br /><br />Happy 50th Randhurst - and happy 5th Pleasant Family Shopping!Rebecca O.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-32851109641028966682012-08-23T18:21:26.776-05:002012-08-23T18:21:26.776-05:00I would have loved to see the animals at Randhurst...I would have loved to see the animals at Randhurst!<br />Tracy Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543926435613537097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-54778802940465650222012-08-23T17:15:24.318-05:002012-08-23T17:15:24.318-05:00The new Randhurst Village is just so, so awful. WO...The new Randhurst Village is just so, so awful. WORLD'S WORST PARKING LOT! It's seriously terrifying trying to negotiates it. I have to go there because our veterinarian is in the Petsmart that moved from Arlington Heights. Other than that (ok, and perhaps the AMC theater that sells alcohol) I avoid it. Bummer, because I liked it some 13 years ago when I first moved to this area.amiehartnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01316145958603288496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-18063212870465624692012-08-23T12:56:44.802-05:002012-08-23T12:56:44.802-05:00I loved going to randhurst while growing up (in ro...I loved going to randhurst while growing up (in rolling meadows). Those animals were FUN to climb on.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903566928776353781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-66676433475187343142012-08-22T18:12:30.775-05:002012-08-22T18:12:30.775-05:00I've never been to Randhurst, but those animal...I've never been to Randhurst, but those animals...As a kid in the '80s I was brought to the Lebanon (PA) Mall, and loved it-because it had giant cement animals to climb on! I'm pretty sure there was a camel, for one. The mall appears to be the Lebanon Valley Mall today; I think the critters are long-gone.Tara from MDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-81147352373498906502012-08-21T13:44:11.839-05:002012-08-21T13:44:11.839-05:00Love your blog and always enjoy the "blast fr...<br /><br />Love your blog and always enjoy the "blast from the past" with the old photos. I remember going to similar malls in the Springfield, Missouri area with my Dad when I was a kid... now I live in California where, sadly, most malls are outdoors and lack all this charm :-)<br /><br />best<br />Eric<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-78244976883882521602012-08-20T18:33:23.986-05:002012-08-20T18:33:23.986-05:00Another great post on your very enjoyable blog!Another great post on your very enjoyable blog!David Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15682346428845792409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-33413983937603297992012-08-20T12:06:04.228-05:002012-08-20T12:06:04.228-05:00Great blog! These pictures are great. I'm from...Great blog! These pictures are great. I'm from Long Island, so I really enjoyed your posts about Roosevelt Field and Hills/Korvette. My Dad worked at Hill's back in the day and it was great to find out more information. Keep posting!Brian Giwojnahttp://briangiwojna.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-61593430694078115462012-08-20T08:11:02.113-05:002012-08-20T08:11:02.113-05:00Just yesterday I was talking with a friend's s...Just yesterday I was talking with a friend's son, then repeated the gist of it when chatting with my mother. She told he that my sister (currently residing in Africa) considered Chicago her favorite city, after our home of Boston. So did the son. Perhaps this means it's fate that I could win one of these books...especially since you did the forward, Dave.<br /><br /><br />As for the rise of the "lifestyle center", I wounder if that's so its patrons can be seen leaving the status symbol store laden with bags, walking to their envy of the cul-de-sac vehicle, basking in their "American exceptionalism".Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-31346622782343525442012-08-20T07:59:06.704-05:002012-08-20T07:59:06.704-05:00Long-time reader, but I think this is my first com...Long-time reader, but I think this is my first comment. I missed most of what might be termed the "golden age" of retail (I was born in 1986) but my family regularly shopped at our local Montgomery Ward, Hudsons, and A&P - all of which have vanished from my suburban Detroit hometown. Reading these posts it's been fascinating to learn about the history of these places and it makes me think about stores we have today that might not be around much longer (i.e. Best Buy) and what people who remember them in, say, 2050 will have to say about them.<br /><br />Also, I'm getting married on August 25th. I think the Randhurst book would be a FANTASTIC wedding present. Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14790581079702348943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-89058817671232893992012-08-20T07:32:57.131-05:002012-08-20T07:32:57.131-05:00Great pictures and commentary. The Randhurst Mall ...Great pictures and commentary. The Randhurst Mall looks like an architecturally interesting place, and your comparison between such varied spaces as the Randhurst was and today's is spot on. It seems that at one time it was VERY important to be unique in a sea of retailers. Today, there is not such a strong sense of this (less retailers relatively?). Wish I could visit this mall in the state you have shown it here!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794382516478990237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-51199406998582831192012-08-20T02:18:33.222-05:002012-08-20T02:18:33.222-05:00I love this blog, but especially the posts about R...I love this blog, but especially the posts about Randhurst. I grew up close enough to go (or rather, be brought there) occasionally in the 1960s, and have driven past it twice a day for the last dozen years - taking in the downfall of the covered mall and the redevelopment into the lifestyle center. There's parts I miss - the food court was a cheap getaway from the office for the last few years that it existed - but the new Randhurst Village is showing some promise of its own. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629779232261203393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-74192189572147377612012-08-19T14:04:44.520-05:002012-08-19T14:04:44.520-05:00Thanks for celebrating with us and sharing more ph...Thanks for celebrating with us and sharing more photos of Randhurst!<br /><br />The offset interior "terraces" we see in the photos above (a good example of the kinds of design elements inhibited today by accessibility concerns) remind me of the Westminster Mall in Orange County, California, which though unsympathetically remodeled, was pretty awesome back in the day. Unfortunately a cursory search did not turn up any historical photos, but maybe you have resources.<br />Cheers,<br />James BlackJames Blackhttp://lomo.architectureburger.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-65554963473537404282012-08-19T01:35:26.766-05:002012-08-19T01:35:26.766-05:00i love the rules of your contest, wish they were a...i love the rules of your contest, wish they were all as funny. i do remember randhurst--my mom always parked in pear 10 (remember the parking lot signs?) and back in the days when i smoked a pipe, my favorite tobacco--actually the only one i ever used came from the pipe shop in randhurst. can still remember the smell of it--kind of a cross between cherry and chocolate. lots of fond memories not only of randhurst, but a lot of other stores. keep up the terrific work. <br /><br />and if i cannot figure out how to post this with my name , it's john kielhoferjohn kielhofernoreply@blogger.com