Off to Market (Street)

John Wanamaker, Strawbridge & Clothier, Gimbels, Lit Brothers, Snellenburgs. Take another trip down Market Street and revisit these great emporiums that once defined Philadelphia’s mighty shopping thoroughfare. Each of these five businesses catered to specific clienteles and each department store played important roles in the city’s cultural fabric, with their special promotions and traditions. Hear some stories behind each of these retailers and learn some fun little-known facts. Come “Meet Me at the Eagle” and remember “The Store for Thrifty People,” hear how “Nobody, but Nobody Undersells Gimbels” and recall your “Great Store in a Great City.” The talk guarantees my "Seal of Confidence."

Michael Lisicky is regarded as one of the country’s foremost retail historians and has written several historical books on department stores, such as Wanamaker’s, Gimbels, Bamberger's, Filene’s and more. He has presented lectures at the New York Public Library, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Boston Public Library, New York Fashion Week, and Wanamaker Centennial Week, in addition to appearances on CBS Sunday Morning, BBC World News, and the History Channel. A former contributing retail writer at Forbes.com, Lisicky’s commentary has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.