Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, Washington, DC. Exterior view at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Western Avenue, June 21, 2008.

Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, Washington, DC. Exterior view along Wisconsin Avenue, June 21, 2008.

Previously on LiveMalls
Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie

Lord & Taylor, 5255 Western Ave NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view of main entrance, June 21 2008.

Lord & Taylor, 5255 Western Ave NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view of Western Avenue entrance, June 21 2008.

This Lord & Taylor is the chain's original outpost in the Washington area. It opened in 1959 in the Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase area and measures 146,000 square feet on two levels, along with its own parking garage. It also contains a Larry Forgione Signature Café on its second level.

Lord & Taylor's Washington store is significant in that it retains many of its original interior and exterior architectural features from the 1950s.

Luxury Shopping at SouthPark, 1988

The 1980s will forever be known as a time when luxury shopping went mainstream. Spurred by economic prosperity and television shows like Dynasty and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, consumption became very conspicuous, with the trappings of of a privileged life (or the faux versions of it) available at any price point.

To wit, here is a montage of a very attractive '80s lady immersing herself in luxury at SouthPark in 1988 for a photoshoot for a local magazine.

SouthPark, Charlotte, North Carolina. Model shopping for eveningwear at Belk, 1988. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

SouthPark, Charlotte, North Carolina. Model shopping for shoes at Thalhimers, 1988. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

SouthPark, Charlotte, North Carolina. Model shopping for fur coats at Ivey's, 1988. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

former Woodward & Lothrop, 11th & F Streets NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view, June 21, 2008.

former Woodward & Lothrop, 11th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view with W&L flag shown at center, June 21, 2008.

former Woodward & Lothrop, 11th & F Streets NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view of G street entrance canopy, June 21, 2008.

former Woodward & Lothrop, 11th & F Streets NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view of store nameplate, June 21, 2008.

Woodward & Lothrop was once one of Washington's premier retail businesses. This building served as the department store chain's flagship location from 1887 to 1995, with various renovations creating the lasting form in 1927.

At its peak, Woodies, as it was affectionately called, operated a 400,000 square foot store at this site and over numerous branch stores in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, with a Philadelphia division that consisted of over a dozen John Wannamaker stores.

Increased competition and economic pressures led to the demise of Woodward & Lothrop in 1995, when The May Department Stores Company, parent of nearby rival Hecht's, purchased the chain out of bankruptcy, closing many of its stores and converting the rest to its Hecht's and Lord & Taylor nameplates. Many former Woodies stores were in turn sold to JCPenney, which suffered financial troubles of its own in the '90s and ended up closing most of the acquired locations due to poor sales.

The downtown Washington store, after many failed development plans, has become a mixed-use building, with street level retail and offices upstairs.

Belk, downtown Belmont, North Carlina. Exterior view, sometime in the 1950s. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

Find more Belk memories like this in The Belk Archive

Macy's (former Hecht's), Metro Center, 12th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view, June 21, 2008.

Macy's (former Hecht's), Metro Center, 12th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC. View of entrance, June 21, 2008.

Hecht's (former Macy's), Metro Center, 12th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC. View of main floor from escalator well, December 2005. (unknown image source)

Hecht's vacated its circa 1924 downtown Washington store in 1986 in favor of a new location at the corner of 12th and G Streets NW. The store was extensively renovated in 2003.

Now a Macy's location as of September 2006, the building has a direct entrance to the Metro Center station of the Washington Metro.

former Hecht's (now Terrell Place), 7th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC. Exterior view, June 21, 2008.

The Hecht Company moved its Washington location to this grand glass and marble store at the corner of 7th and F Streets Northwest in November 1925.

Hecht's was the first store in Washington to offer national brands. It also boasted the first parking garage and first elevator. Its relatively open policies made it popular among African-Americans as well as the white populace.

A tour of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms paintings, intended to rally support for the Allied cause in World War II and the purchase of war bonds, premiered at the store in 1943.

In July 1951, a mixed race group began to picket outside the store, protesting racial segregation in the store's cafeteria. The offending policy was changed in January of the following year.

Hecht's vacated this store in 1986 in favor of a new location at the corner of 12th and G Streets NW (built in 1985 and renovated in 2003). Now a Macy's location as of September 2006, the building has a direct entrance to the Metro Center station of the Washington Metro.

The vacated Hecht Company building, now across from the Verizon Center, was extensively renovated and reopened in 2003 as Terrell Place, honoring Mary Church Terrell's role in desegregating that and other public accommodations in Washington.

More vintage SouthPark, circa 1990

SouthPark, Charlotte, North Carolina. Store directory, 1988. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

SouthPark, Charlotte, North Carolina. View of Food Court seating, 1988. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

SouthPark, Charlotte, North Carolina. Alanby outdoors store in Sears wing, 1991. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

Find more SouthPark memories like these in SouthPark, circa 1990

Nordstrom, Circle Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana. Exterior view, 2008. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

Nordstrom, Circle Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana. Upper level mall entrance, 2008. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

Nordstrom, Circle Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana. Exterior view, 2008. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

Carson Pirie Scott (former Parisian), Circle Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana. Lower level entrance, 2008. (courtesy Pat Richardson)

Carson Pirie Scott (former Parisian), Circle Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana. Upper level entrance, 2008. (courtesy Pat Richardson)