Landmark Store

When McFarland Mall opened in the 70s, it was the beginning of the end of shopping downtown. It was Tuscaloosa's first mall and it was a big deal for many years. This was it's anchor store. It was originally Gayfer's Department Store. We loved Gayfer's. We spent lots of time and money there. This was back when my mother went to town every Saturday to have her hair done. Somehow, we always ended up at Gayfer's before we went home. They basically clothed us starting in the kids' department upstairs and finally ending up in the ladies' department. They sold everything else too. Shoes, housewares, china and silver - it was the ONLY store with a wedding registry, electronics, records - yes, records, games and toys, kitchen wares, rugs, etc. It was truly a department store. It had an escalator - first one we'd ever seen, amazing. My first credit card was a Gayfer's card. The people who worked there had all been there for years and literally watched us grow up.
Then, a few years ago, Gayfer's closed and Dillard's moved in. Saddest shopping tragedy in history. New people, new policies, new brand names, new higher prices, no "moonlight madness" sales, new ick. People avoided Dillard's in droves. Rumour is, Dillard's never made enough profit to cover the lease during the entire time they were there. Thus, the "store closing" sign you see in the picture. Does your town have a favorite department store?