Remembering marshall fields by leslie goddard arcadia. Born on a farm, field became at 16 an errand boy in a drygoods store in. With circassian wood paneling imported from russia and austrian chandeliers, the 17,000 square foot dining room is both elegant and comfortable. A local institution, fields was the premier midwestern department store with industryleading customer service standards. Anyone who has waited in a christmas line for the walnut rooms great tree can attest that chicagos loyalty to marshall fields is fierce. Opened in 1905, the walnut room is one of chicagos most beloved landmarks. At a very difficult time in americas history, frango proved to be exactly what was needed to lift spirits. Classic recipes and fresh takes from the fields culinary council this is a fabulous cookbook for anyone who enjoys really good food. Frango soon became a treasured chicago tradition, a reminder of a wondrous marshall fields experience or a sweet gift for friends and family.
See more ideas about chicago, my kind of town and fields. Although credit must be given to the new yorkbased retailer for preserving the walnut room, frango mints, and yes, the magical window displays. Dec 23, 2014 the 17,000squarefoot walnut room, outfitted with pricey circassian walnut from russia, a coiffered ceiling and austrian chandeliers, is a multistory atrium comprised of a central dining room. Macys acquired and renamed the marshall fields department store in. The book was written before macys bought marshall fields and changed the. Marshall fields 700 nicollet mall minneapolis, minnesota 554022040 u. In 1868, palmer convinced field and leiter to lease a new, sixstory edifice he. Growing up near chicago, marshall field s walnut room restaurant was always a treat at christmas time and i love that the books has several recipes included. These grand department stores have lost their luster except for very few, like neiman marcus. Likewise, the seventh floor walnut room restaurant centered on a twostory atrium directly above the. Until then, fans of marshall fields can celebrate its history with this warm look back at the beloved.
Many readers remember marshall fields department stores and may have experienced their famous walnut room restaurant or other. Sep 08, 2016 the marshall fields cookbook, text by steve siegelman. One of the biggest challenges was dealing with the age of the building. The book traces the history of the marshall field family from the first marshall. Dec 12, 2014 renee rosens latest historical novel, what the lady wants, centers on the relationship between chicago retailer marshall field and delia spencer. It was an instant success, and one that would lead to the establishment of the famed walnut room restaurant on. Nov 30, 2012 the walnut room, on the 7th floor of marshall fields on state street, is one of the oldest restaurants in chicago, dating from 1907. Nov 02, 2018 the nice classy otis traction elevators at the marshall fields building, chicago, illinois duration. I worked parttime at woolworths during my summer vacation from high school and college. Daytonhudson even had to take out advertising around town to apologize for changing the field s hallowed green bags. Talk looks at what made marshall fields so magical at christmastime. Walked in just to see what all the fuss was about and spent the next four hours walking the entire store and eating at the walnut room. Goddard knew the history of marshall fields was a great chicago story.
Macys history tour and walnut room dining experience this total experience at the historic marshall fields building includes a 60minute macys history tour see description below and lunch at the walnut room. It still has the walnut room on the 7th floor where you can eat around the christmas. Elevator girls at marshall fields department store, chicago, illinois, 1947 chicagos history. Conveniently located in the heart of the chicago theatre district, the walnut room is an excellent choice to. International directory of company histories dictionary. Make offer marshall fields and chicago 1940 descriptive booklet heavily illus. If you like shopping or history or chicago, this little easyread is a must. Last night, at a special great tree celebration in the walnut room, guests were treated to items from the walnut room menu including mrs. Apr 07, 2011 i absolutely love knowing this set came from the famous marshall field tea room. Every year there was magic in the window displays of marshal fields and the other stores along state street. Dec 19, 2016 for generations of chicago families, marshall fields simply inspired christmas cheer. But this place retains enough to remind of the glory days of marshall field.
It was the first time in history marshall fields did not have its own buyers. Munch on the famous frango mints while browsing through the store, or dine at the famous walnut room and have some of mrs. Book description arcadia publishing, united states, 2010. The moody book speaks very highly of the honesty of the marshall fields family and. What became the walnut room also opened that year and was one of several restaurants and the largest on the 7th floor. Selfridge finally got permission to open a tearoom in 1890.
Marshall fields was a department store in chicago, illinois, founded in the 19th century that grew to become a large chain before being acquired by macys, inc in 2005. Talk looks at what made marshall fields so magical at. The walnut room the first restaurant to open in a department store is one of the few remnants of the former marshall fields, a pioneering store that also was the first to employ female. The walnut room chicago restaurant chicago, il opentable. Anyone who has waited in a christmas line for the walnut room s great tree can attest that chicagos loyalty to marshall field s is fierce. Marshall field had several restaurants including the walnut room, the wedgwood room, the narcissus room and the english rooms. Located on the 7 th floor of macys on state street formerly marshall fields, the walnut room has been serving guests as the very first restaurant in a department store since the late 1890s.
The marshall fields cookbook, text by steve siegelman. I love taking my tour guests to see the walnut room and, with the help of historic images. Renee rosen on what the lady wants chicago tribune. Anyone who has been to chicago and walked through marshall fields will love this book. Dec 11, 2008 and so despite marshall fields personal dislike of restaurants in dry goods stores the selfridgeharinggentlewomen team created the first tea room at marshall fields. It was an instant success, and one that would lead to the establishment of the famed walnut room restaurant on the seventh floor. The decadent design behind the iconic walnut room curbed. Having attended a matinee, we arrived breathlessly at 4. I visited mf once in 2004 and absolutely fell in love. The store that helped build chicago is a gigantic ad for marshall field s, true enough, but i decided to enjoy it anyway. Marshall fields department store advertising for sale ebay. At a recent lunchtime lecture at the chicago architecture foundation, goddard spoke about the intimately intertwined relationship between marshall fields and the. Sep 15, 2017 this will always be fields for people of a certain age.
And so despite marshall fields personal dislike of restaurants in dry goods stores the selfridgeharinggentlewomen team created the first tea room at marshall fields. For generations of chicago families, marshall fields simply inspired christmas cheer. This past winter, while visiting chicagoland for new years eve, marieta, my mom, my aunt connie and i slipped downtown for a quick visit to marshall fields walnut room. Macys to keep walnut room on state street despite loop. The walnut room at christmas and the toy floor was a kids paradise. What i did not know and the book talks about is the number of retail first that began at marshall field s.
Anyone who has waited in a christmas line for the walnut rooms gr. It has brilliant and complex parquet floors and beautifully carved walnut wood ceilings. You can still sit by the 17foot marble fountain, amid the original circassian walnut paneling and austrian chandeliers, and enjoy a traditional pot pie made from mrs. Herings the lady from the marshall fields millinery. It still has the walnut room on the 7th floor where you can eat around the christmas tree. You can shop til you drop at marshall fieldsand then recover with a great meal at one of the stores restaurants. Fields was directly across the street from woolworth in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Dec 23, 2015 being marshall fields, of course it was. Munch on the famous frango mints while browsing through the store, or dine at the famous walnut room. Marshall fields cookbook classic recipes and fresh takes. The store prided itself on its dazzling tiffany mosaic dome, walnut room restaurant, bronze clocks, and a string of firsts including the first bridal registry and first book signing. It began with a limited menu, 15 tables, and 8 waitresses. For us it would be hudsons out of detroit, rogers department, steketees, and wurzburgs the store from polar express out of grand rapids, and ultimately marshall fields in chicago. This vintage postcard shows a portion of the narcissus room. Classic recipes and fresh takes from the fields culinary council by steve siegelman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Carpentry stories from marshall fields state street store. Nov 10, 2017 last night, at a special great tree celebration in the walnut room, guests were treated to items from the walnut room menu including mrs. Large norman rockwell print 1979 vintage book page saturday evening.
The marshall field and company building, which now houses macys at state street in chicago, illinois, was built in two stagesnorth end in 190102 including columned entrance and south end in 190506, and was the flagship location of the marshall field and company and marshall fields chain of department stores. The marshall fields cookbook classic recipes and fresh. The marshall fields axel madsen barbaras bookstore. See more ideas about food recipes, food and mint cheesecake. In fact marshall fields was the first department store ever to introduce the concept of an instore tea room with the walnut room. Also photographs of oldest and youngest members of field family, stanley field, nephew of marshall field, and frederick w. The 17,000squarefoot walnut room, outfitted with pricey circassian walnut from russia, a coiffered ceiling and austrian chandeliers, is. Teddy field, greatgreat grandson of marshall field, posed in front of fireplace over which is a portrait of marshall field i.
Leslie goddards book remembering marshall fields is a work of historical preservation that conserves the memories and meaning of a special department store within the collective consciousness of chicago. The design definitely looks like something that would have been used in such a tea room, perhaps in the twenties or thirties. At a recent lunchtime lecture at the chicago architecture foundation, goddard spoke about the. Located on the 7th floor of macys on state street the walnut room is the first restaurant ever opened in a department store. Anyone who has waited in a christmas line for the walnut rooms great. Marshall fields food and fashion by joan greene 2005. After many rebuffs from founder marshall fieldthis is a dry goods store. Last week my friends and i were lamenting the demise of the great localregional department stores. For generations of chicagoans, marshall fields meant. Until then, fans of marshall fields can celebrate its history with this. Dec 20, 2016 being marshall fields, of course it was. The soaring 17,000squarefoot dining room is both elegant and comfortable. Herings here the worldfamous walnut room was the first restaurant ever opened in a department store.
Conveniently located in the heart of the chicago theater district, the restaurant is an excellent choice for taking a break from shopping or for a meal and a glass of wine before a. From the frango mints that were made in the store, to dining in the walnut room clad with its circassian walnut paneling and marveling at the window displays each christmas, the opulent interior and attention to detail conjure up warm memories of occasions with family and friends. The fascinating history of macys on state street in chicago. For me the food is associated with decades of memories. Marshall fields christmas classic chicago magazine. Walnut room, marshall fields, chicago, il i refuse to call it macys. The fascinating history of macys on state street in chicago visit. Renee rosens latest historical novel, what the lady wants, centers on the relationship between chicago retailer marshall field and delia spencer.
Marshall field sent buyers to europe for the latest fashions, insisted on courteous service, and immortalized the phrase give the lady what she wants. In the 19th century, it was considered in poor taste for a lady. The world famous walnut room has been a chicago tradition since 1907. Marshall fields cookbook classic recipes and fresh takes from the fields culinary council. Jul, 2012 this past winter, while visiting chicagoland for new years eve, marieta, my mom, my aunt connie and i slipped downtown for a quick visit to marshall fields walnut room. What a wonderful book, especially if you lived the dream initiated by marshall field. Carpentry stories from marshall fields state street store in. Is there a book that features the walnut room at christmas and the history. The marshall fields cookbook classic recipes and fresh takes. The worldfamous walnut room was the first restaurant ever opened in a department store.
Macys history tour highlights of this 60minute tour include the tiffany ceiling. Leslie goddard is a historian and the author of remembering marshall fields arcadia, 2011. Along with the atrium transformation that was designed to improve the circulation through the store, marshall fields completed an interior remodel of the first basement up to the 7th floor. From pictures of the christmas tree in the walnut room to the mechanical windows on state street, this nostalgic book will take you back you your childhood, complete with some recipes from the restaurants. Jul 11, 2011 marshall field sent buyers to europe for the latest fashions, insisted on courteous service, and immortalized the phrase give the lady what she wants.