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.
[...] more Rookwood tile, on the facade of the old Gidding-Jenny department store, currently TJ [...]
[...] Here is a nice blog about Gidding, and quite a few pictures of the colorful Rookwood facade, which i…But in truth, it opened in about 1907, 57 years after the action in Dark Matter. The first department stores started to appear in New York before 1850, and the idea spread fast but most of the places you would find in a city like Cincinnati in 1850 would be dry goods stores where you would find all sorts of things but they would not really be as fancy as the Gidding-Jenny store that I present you with (marble, staircases, lots of different areas in the store for lots of different sorts of products). [...]
[...] old Gidding-Jenny Department Store facade in downtown Cincinnati was also created by [...]
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.