I worked at Smith-B's from Dec. 1965 until May 1971 and then again from Dec. 1976 until April 1980.
I worked in cards, stationary and notions from 65-71.
From 76 until 80, although I started back in stationary & cards, I worked every department in the store, except for the leased departments, although some times I did give breaks to those employees.
My Mom just passed in March - in her cedar chest is a stamped (for embroidery) table cover with the Smith-Bridgman's pin tag (price) still in the corner.
A fond memory from my childhood is shopping with my mother at Smith B's. She always used to get me a Coke at the counter restaurant on the mezzanine. This was in the early sixties and they still used one of those dispensers that mixed the fizzy water with the Coke syrup. I'd sit and watch people going up and down the escalator or look over the balcony to the first floor. Bought a lot of 45 records and a few books on the mezzanine book/record store.
When I was a little girl, I would go shopping dowtown with my Aunt Hedy the Friday after Thanksgiving. I used to Love Smith Bridman's, and Kresge's! I remember Smith Bridgman's had this woman running the elevator and she had this uniform she wore, and I remember just being in awe of her! And, who can forget that incredible chandelier on the main floor?!?
Talk about memories, my mother worked in the annex for many years until she retired. First she sold vacuums, then when the Weber grill came out she sold that in the spring and summer. She used to do Weber cooking demos in the alley.
Dear Gordon, Would you or anyone out there, possibly B. Bridgman of MA, know the address on Saginaw St. It's to settle a bet. Although, Smith B's was great at Christmas with the window displays and seeing Santa(we still have those photos), Maas Bros and the Vogue were my mom's favorite shops downtown. But, I can sure remember those sugar fruit slice candies displayed next to the elevator. What a brilliant merchandising concept. I still live in Flint and go downtown quite often to see the progess of rebirth, but these new kids on the block have no idea of how great it used to be! I went to St. Leo's and Powers for education, but I was baptised at St. Marys. Sincerely, Susan of VintageVogue55@yahoo.com
My brother worked in the warehouse and he met his wife at Smith-Bridgman. She was the redheaded elevator lady. I loved to shop there when I was in high school in the 60's
I worked in the Shoe Dept till 1966 when I moved to San Francisco CA. I was the Asst. Mgr in the basement and then Mgr of the Men's shoe dept on the Mezz. I miss the old downtown before all the Malls started opening. What I weird was when I was 16 I worked at the Fair Store downtown at Christmas time every year till I graduated.
It's fun reading everyone else's memories from shopping the downtown area of Flint. I worked at Smith B's in the ladies accessories dept back 1971 before landing another job with Michigan Bell a few blocks away. Lunch hours were spent looking for sales and on warmer days, eating lunch in the park. Remember a film crew approaching me to do a clip for an eyeglass commercial. Also remember being pinched while in a crowd, shopping the side walk sales at the end of summer. Use to draw quite a crowd of people.
Smith B's was such an elegant department store. My husband and I purchased our wedding china there at $5.95/place setting (Noritake Cheri)and Fostoria pink glassware back in 1963. I still have every single piece and am still married to the same man!! I just found a sack with Smith B's logo and inside was a cut-out bride for a bridal shower marked Hallmark so don't know if I purchased it at Smith B's or not. That has to be approximately 50 years old. I, too, loved the elevator with the gal running it and telling what you could find on each floor. Such memories.
I co-managed the 5th floor, at Smith-B's, with Bill Drury, from 1972-74. As with all of us who grew up here, have a million memories of the store. Recently purchased the 4 ft. tall Nativity Scene from Smith-B's & have about 30 other pieces(boxes, bags, pictures, etc). The address was 439 S. Saginaw(hope you won the bet), & is the same as my current address in Flushing. I would enjoy corresponding with any one interested in getting a discussion group together. Flint has reinvented itself, & its an amazing miracle to witness! I do yoga downtown everyday(YogaLoftFlint.org) & love returning to be a part of the revitalization! Thanks for making this forum available, to share the memories! Peace!
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