The former Gidding-Jenny Department Store on Fourth St. in downtown Cincinnati offers a fine example of Rookwood Pottery. The 1907 facade, restored five years ago, is now part of TJ Maxx.
I didn’t photograph where the old meets the new, because I don’t appreciate the juxtaposition, although I’m impressed that the facade was preserved at all. Click here to learn more about the restoration.
I recall how beautiful this building was in the 70′s and 80s when Gidding-Jenny was still open. I was a kid either shopping with my mom or going there with my old girlfriend while she tried on dresses for a ball somewhere. You could still park there across the street and stare at that captivating facade. I think it looked better then and to think the store was such a destination with its lavender/pinkish packaging a la Tiffany, it’s hard to conceive that that is forgotten history.
On 4th St in the CBD, for me it was that building and the Federal Reserves assemblage of austerity and foreboding that always drew my attention.
Great Blog!
Thanks for the insight, Bob! I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve walked down this block many times but only noticed this facade a couple of weeks ago. Looking up has such rich rewards!
It is a very very cool building.
Many people miss Gidding Jenny, which was a unique, destination shop, but I prefer TJ Maxx myself.
Beautiful photos, Maya. That detail is definitely quite a treat.
what is the name of the perfume sold at gidding jenny? i think i remember it started with an “O”
I remember walking by this building a week before I moved from Cincinnati. I miss Cincinnati’s beautiful buildings.
The name of the “O” perfume was Odalisque. It was my signature fragrance before moving to Cleveland. I didn’t know the store had closed. I miss all of it – Pogue’s, Mabley & Carew. The only thing I have now is to make the Netherland Salad, goetta and Cincinnati chili.
I was just going through some clothing and ran across a pink wool skirt and jacket I wore years ago. I remember shopping at “Gidding’s) w/ my grandmother as a child. Even at that age I had a sincere appreciation for the architecture of downtown Cincinnati. I actually have collected Rookwood pottery since a very young age. BTW? The pink suit I scored at a yard sale 30 years or so ago at a yard sale in Cherry Grove. $4:) Yay me! lol. My daughter wears it now and is the envy of her friends. I, too miss McAlpin’s, Mabley[ & Carew, Pogues, Barnharts, etc…Batsaks is still in business! remember the shoe-shine? What luxury:) And the old Netherland Hilton w/ it’s elevator operators! How fun!
Wow, thanks for sharing your memories with us!
Does anyone know the earlier history of Gidding-Jenny. I think it was called The Jenny Company before they merged or were taken over? Any information would be appreciated.
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My grandma worked there! As a child I remember always getting to ride the bus downtown with my great grandma to visit her at work, it was so beautiful! Then we would walk over to the Kroger Building where my great aunt was a switch board operator and have lunch! Good memories we still have many beautiful shiny purple Gidding Jenny boxes around
How cool! I just searched for an image of the box but couldn’t find any. I’ll bet it was a pretty glamorous presentation, based on everything I’ve heard about the store.
When it was just Giddings before the merge, I was assistant to a decorator at Closson’s and we were ordering small lamp shades, etc. for wall sconces. I also worked there one day during the Christmas season when I was in college. When a salesperson had a sale, she rang one of the bells for us to come and get the item, ring it up, wrap as a gift, and return to the salesperson with any change and the parcel. It’s hard to believe this now.
Wow, that’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing your memories.
Hi, I just bought a gorgeous yellow suit in a vintage store in Providence, RI about two months ago with a Gidding Jenny label, the suit is made so well, and it is really beautiful. I typed in the Gidding Jenny on Google and read all of these comments, was very impressed. Question, when did the store close and why? I am so curious how old my suit is. It also has another label Tailored by Kirkland Hall
It sounds like a really cool find! You know, I tried a quick search but couldn’t find an answer for you, although I didn’t spend much time digging. I found an ad in Cincinnati Magazine from 1985, so it closed after that. I’ve only lived in Cincinnati for a few years, so I’m not the best person to ask, unfortunately.
Does anyone know what year a dress would be from if the only tag on the dress is Gidding’s- Cincinnati ?
No idea; sorry!
omg!!!!! My favorite store. They had a “Attic sale”. I could always buy a classic outfit that was one of a kind. LOVED going up in the elevator. Such GOOD memories.
I bought my first prom dress there all by myself. I had been invited to the prom at school earlier in the day, had gone downtown for a doctor’s appointment after school and decided that while I was there I would shop for my dress. My grandmother always took me to Giddings (that’s what she called it) on our trips to town, so I stopped in, found a dress I loved, and charged it to Grandma. No cellphones in those days so I couldn’t call for permission and the store didn’t ask any questions. I surprised my mother when I arrived home from the doctors with a lovely Gidding-Jenny gown.
What a lovely recollection!
The TJ Max that resides there now in no way reflects how incredible and iconic this store was. Personalized service where customers where clients who had friendships with the sales person, hand written thank you notes after purchases were made, could you image making an appointment to go shop in today’s world? Trust me it was an incredible time saver. All you had to do was tell your sales person everything you were interested in finding and when you arrived it was waiting for you in a room to try and these rooms were bigger than most people’s family rooms. The store even had cocktail service for certain clients. Elevator operators, crystal chandeliers, a salon on the mezzanine, the buyers who bought all of the clothes actually worked in the store. You could at one time buy anything you needed at this store. Purple and gold were the colors of all the packaging, everything wrapped in tissue and put in boxes. There was a staff that prepared your purchases not the salesperson….there job was to stay with you. In house seamstress department that could alter anything within hours if the item was needed for that evening. How I miss working there. The Bridal department was untouchable except maybe in New York when it was open on the 4th floor. The windows were like the windows you would see in Macy’s in New York at holiday and the signature perfume Odalisque was sprayed out thru a mister above the 2 revolving doors on the sidewalk area in front of the store so you would always smell the fragrance.
Wow, that all sounds so lovely and personal! I envy you, as I’ve never had that kind of shopping experience.
I had the pleasure of working at the 4th street store and then at the Westin Men’s Store.They were great and had no rivials south of 5th ave. New York.The Ralph Lauren Store in Chicago comes close but not quite.
Those were the days, right?
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