Then the internet came along and spoiled everything for department stores.
Some have managed to cling on in the face of ever-growing pressure, but many once mighty high street giants have fallen.
Those lost department store chains hold fond memories for many people who used to shop there, especially those who recall visiting the magical toy sections as a child, or being treated to a meal at the in-store cafe or some pick ‘n’ mix.
Below are nine of the biggest department store chains you’ll remember if you grew up in the 60s or 70s, and what made them so popular.
Between them, they once had hundreds of branches, and their demise has left a big hole in the nation’s high streets.
How many of these lost department stores did you shop at, and is your old favourite among them?
If you’re in the market for more retail-based nostalgia, you might like this look at high street chains that were huge in your childhood but are now struggling or defunct.
5. Lewis's
Not to be confused with John Lewis, Lewis's was a large department store chain that had branches across the UK, from Bristol and London in the south of England to Blackpool and Glasgow. Lewis's began life in Liverpool, where, in 1879, the world's first Christmas grotto opened. Lewis's fortunes plummeted in the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2010, its Liverpool store became the last to close. The name has since been resurrected, with a handful of stores now owned and operated by Lewis's Home Retail Limited. | National World Photo: National World
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6. C&A
C&A was founded in 1841 in the Netherlands and is still going strong more than 180 years later, with over 1,200 stores worldwide. It was for many years a major player on the UK's high streets, popular for its affordable fashions, but the last retail stores in this country closed in 2001. | Getty Images Photo: D. Morrison/Express/Hulton Archive
7. Beales
Beales began life in Bournemouth and expanded across the UK, from Salisbury to Skegness. As well as the wide range of goods it stocked, it was known for bringing a touch of theatre to shopping. It was one of the first shops with an in-store Father Christmas, and it was also famous for its annual Easter farm and for once hosting a baby elephant. The last stores closed in 2020, after Beales went into administration | Google Photo: Google
8. Allders
The first Allders store opened in Croydon, south London, in 1862, and at one time it was the UK's third biggest department store, behind only Harrods and Selfridges. It claimed to have the largest carpet department in the whole of Europe. Allders operated around 50 stores across the UK at its peak, including branches in Leeds, Hull and Newcastle. Its fortunes declined sharply in the 90s, and all stores except the flagship one in Croydon had closed by 2005. The Croydon store continued trading until 2012. | National World Photo: YPN