department store
Sign in to saveretail establishment; building which offers a wide range of consumer goods
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A department store is a large retail building that sells many different types of consumer goods under one roof, from clothing and home goods to accessories and more. Department stores matter because they offer shoppers convenience by providing a wide variety of products in a single location rather than requiring visits to multiple specialized stores.
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Article
Interior of Le Bon Marché in Paris (2008) A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, department stores emerged in the mid-19th century, reshaping shopping habits and the definition of service and luxury. Similar developments were under way in London (with Whiteleys), in Paris (Le Bon Marché) and in New York City (Stewart's).
Today, departments often include the following: clothing, cosmetics, do it yourself, furniture, gardening, hardware, home appliances, houseware, paint, sporting goods, toiletries, and toys. Additionally, other lines of products such as food, books, jewellery, electronics, stationery, photographic equipment, baby products, and products for pets are sometimes included. Customers generally check out near the front of the store in discount department stores, while high-end traditional department stores include sales counters within each department. Some stores are one of many within a larger retail chain, while others are an independent retailer.