I remember shopping at Bullocks and Broadway as a little kid! It did used to be more of an "event." Macy's, Robinson's, Lord and Taylor, and Bloomie's have been fighting for the same stale territory for a while now -- in a way, it makes sense for them to merge. I just hope Nordstrom stays independent -- I'm not quite sure I could survive without Nordie's (this author's totally snide characterization of it as "Oprah-style" notwithstanding).
I remember going down town in Detroit and Cleveland with my mother. We were always dressed neatly. We ate our lunches in the stores: Higbees, The May Co. JL Hudson, etc. But then every one dressed up a little to go any place; church, a family dinner out, etc. People are just more casual today. I miss the down town stores.