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Marshall Field's: The Store that Helped Build Chicago
"Give the lady what she wants!"
Anyone who has waited in a Christmas line for the Walnut Room's Great Tree can attest that Chicago's loyalty to Marshall Field's is fierce. Dayton-Hudson even had to take out advertising around town to apologize for changing the Field's hallowed green bags. And with good reason--the store and those who ran it shaped the city's streets, subsidized its culture and heralded its progress. The resulting commercial empire dictated wholesale tradeterms in Calcutta and sponsored towns in North Carolina, but its essence was always Chicago. So when the Marshall Field name was retired in 2006 after the stores were purchased by Macy's, protest slogans like "Field's is Chicago" and "Field's: as Chicago as it gets" weren't just emotional hype. Many still hope that name will be resurrected like the city it helped support during the Great Fire and the Great Depression. Until then, fans of Marshall Field's can celebrate its history with this warm look back at the beloved institution.
155 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 8, 2021
You cannot grow up in Chicago, or in its shadow without the great Marshall Field's department store having a big impact on your life. Even if all you ever did was stroll longingly past the Christmas displays in the windows at the holidays.
This book brings it all back for me. Some memories are happy ones, registering my china and silver patterns with my mother-in-law to be, treating my tiny daughter to ice cream in the soda fountain, the time my husband set off the alarm in the doorway and no one could figure out why!
Some memories are bittersweet, trying to find presents for my family that fit my budget when was a poor, lonely bank clerk fresh out of college. I had to shop at Field's, though. It was the best store and I wanted to show my family I was doing well.
Oh, how we want things to go back to normal. What wouldn't we give to ride that escalator up and down like we did when we were kids. A shopping trip to Chicago meant going to Marshall Field's.
This book brings it all back for me. Some memories are happy ones, registering my china and silver patterns with my mother-in-law to be, treating my tiny daughter to ice cream in the soda fountain, the time my husband set off the alarm in the doorway and no one could figure out why!
Some memories are bittersweet, trying to find presents for my family that fit my budget when was a poor, lonely bank clerk fresh out of college. I had to shop at Field's, though. It was the best store and I wanted to show my family I was doing well.
Oh, how we want things to go back to normal. What wouldn't we give to ride that escalator up and down like we did when we were kids. A shopping trip to Chicago meant going to Marshall Field's.
June 26, 2016
so many things I didn't know ... but the icing on the cake is the handful of Field's recipes
October 15, 2025
For anyone in the Midwest, this book is a throwback to a store that brought such joy to many. Getting to learn the history of its founder through the many momentous times in history, was really cool to read about.
Fields was a true innovator and visionary for the things that he knew would be critical for his customer base. Hiring women in women's departments, allowing layaway, catering to extreme measures, all in the name of providing the best customer experience, this is how he stood out and created an empire.
The days of holiday shopping in this type of atmosphere are gone in my option, but the nostalgia of what existed brings back a feeling from my childhood that I love.
Fields was a true innovator and visionary for the things that he knew would be critical for his customer base. Hiring women in women's departments, allowing layaway, catering to extreme measures, all in the name of providing the best customer experience, this is how he stood out and created an empire.
The days of holiday shopping in this type of atmosphere are gone in my option, but the nostalgia of what existed brings back a feeling from my childhood that I love.
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November 21, 2024Quick and easy reading
Delightful and interesting with a good overview of Chicago retail history. I love the interesting mini biographies of the other great Chicagoans the author seamlessly brings into the book!
Delightful and interesting with a good overview of Chicago retail history. I love the interesting mini biographies of the other great Chicagoans the author seamlessly brings into the book!
December 30, 2019
Read about this book in the new Moody bio by Kevin Belmonte. The Moody book speaks very highly of the honesty of the Marshall Fields family and department store.
I am reading Moody and Field books concurrently, which is quite interesting because they both take place, for the most part, in Chicago and were both around the same era.
Field's wife took the children to England and never returned. His only son mysteriously died of gunshot wounds, probably self inflicted. He remarried and found some happiness with his 2nd wife until his son’s death. That took the spirit out of him. He died shortly after.
Marshall Field's Store has ties to Target who bought it years ago and especially to Macy’s who bought it and changed the name to Macy’s amid great outcry from Chicagoans in 2007 and 2008 and continuing on to this day (copyright of book is 2010).
Very interesting book. I enjoyed reading it. A nice touch is the recipes at the end and the story of how Field's started serving food in their store. Bibliography at end.
I am reading Moody and Field books concurrently, which is quite interesting because they both take place, for the most part, in Chicago and were both around the same era.
Field's wife took the children to England and never returned. His only son mysteriously died of gunshot wounds, probably self inflicted. He remarried and found some happiness with his 2nd wife until his son’s death. That took the spirit out of him. He died shortly after.
Marshall Field's Store has ties to Target who bought it years ago and especially to Macy’s who bought it and changed the name to Macy’s amid great outcry from Chicagoans in 2007 and 2008 and continuing on to this day (copyright of book is 2010).
Very interesting book. I enjoyed reading it. A nice touch is the recipes at the end and the story of how Field's started serving food in their store. Bibliography at end.
January 24, 2020
Interesting. Easy reading. How I wished I had seen the iconic store in Chicago. It truly must have been special!
December 26, 2020
This was utterly fascinating! Marshall Field’s was a big part of Chicago, but I never realized just how big, and never knew anything of Marshall Field the person. Field was the reason the store was so wildly successful, and his business acumen sustained the brand long after his death (his successor was John G. Shedd). Leading by example and living by his principles cultivated loyalty from both customers and his workers. He made a point of knowing his workers, visiting the docks and the floors daily, and addressing each by name.
During the Chicago fire, loyal employees showed up to move inventory out of the fledgling store. First they took it to Field’s partner’s house, but then decided that was taking too long. They then began depositing inventory in empty fields out of harm’s way, staying to safeguard the inventory. Even though the store burned to the ground, there was enough inventory to reopen the store in a few weeks. All the workers were paid and inventory was used to make sure that families displaced by the fire had warm coats and mittens. The store continued to grow over the years, finally moving to its permanent location on State Street. And what a store it was!
At 1.5 million square feet, it was considered a city within a city. Customer service was key. There was an accommodation bureau, which provided arrival and departure times for trains, ocean liners and lake steamers, and they would even make your reservation. Customers could send and receive telegrams and cables and make long-distance calls. Valet parking was taken to another level, as you could have your vehicle serviced while you shopped. Seven restaurants made sure hungry shoppers didn’t need to leave the premises. There was a tea room, a grill, the famous Walnut Room and the Narcissus Room which featured fine Italian dining amid Carrara marble fountains modeled after those in Pompeii. While the Field’s motto was “give the lady what she wants,” men could access the Store for Men via an underground pedway.
Merchandise at Field’s was always synonymous with quality, and I didn’t realize a good amount of Field’s merchandise was produced by Field factories. There were entire Field company towns which cut out the middleman to keep pricing reasonable. Fields-owned manufacturing included mills (Fieldcrest), silk plants, rug manufacturers, foundries that provided metal for tea sets and jewelry, jewelers, opticians and shoe plants. Everything was made just a little bit thicker, plusher, denser, softer, etc. in order to be above the competition’s offerings.
Anyone who has experienced the superb customer service at Field’s or visited the store at Christmas will find this interesting. As a bonus, there is an appendix full of recipes and you can recreate the pot pies, chicken salad, cheesecake and Frango mints made famous by Field’s!
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
During the Chicago fire, loyal employees showed up to move inventory out of the fledgling store. First they took it to Field’s partner’s house, but then decided that was taking too long. They then began depositing inventory in empty fields out of harm’s way, staying to safeguard the inventory. Even though the store burned to the ground, there was enough inventory to reopen the store in a few weeks. All the workers were paid and inventory was used to make sure that families displaced by the fire had warm coats and mittens. The store continued to grow over the years, finally moving to its permanent location on State Street. And what a store it was!
At 1.5 million square feet, it was considered a city within a city. Customer service was key. There was an accommodation bureau, which provided arrival and departure times for trains, ocean liners and lake steamers, and they would even make your reservation. Customers could send and receive telegrams and cables and make long-distance calls. Valet parking was taken to another level, as you could have your vehicle serviced while you shopped. Seven restaurants made sure hungry shoppers didn’t need to leave the premises. There was a tea room, a grill, the famous Walnut Room and the Narcissus Room which featured fine Italian dining amid Carrara marble fountains modeled after those in Pompeii. While the Field’s motto was “give the lady what she wants,” men could access the Store for Men via an underground pedway.
Merchandise at Field’s was always synonymous with quality, and I didn’t realize a good amount of Field’s merchandise was produced by Field factories. There were entire Field company towns which cut out the middleman to keep pricing reasonable. Fields-owned manufacturing included mills (Fieldcrest), silk plants, rug manufacturers, foundries that provided metal for tea sets and jewelry, jewelers, opticians and shoe plants. Everything was made just a little bit thicker, plusher, denser, softer, etc. in order to be above the competition’s offerings.
Anyone who has experienced the superb customer service at Field’s or visited the store at Christmas will find this interesting. As a bonus, there is an appendix full of recipes and you can recreate the pot pies, chicken salad, cheesecake and Frango mints made famous by Field’s!
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
February 14, 2024
If you were born and raised in Chicago as I was, Marshall Field’s was THE place for quality, price and value. The store represented the credo of “Give the Woman Want She Wants” but also give the customer what they expect and more. Two wonderful places named after Marshall Fields ( The Field Museum) and John G. Shedd ( The Shedd Aquarium) are still beloved to the city that takes delight in them everyday as well as a excellent tourist attraction to the world. There are so many memories of the store with the Walnut Room, the Christmas tree, there logo, the clock outside of the building, the Christmas store windows and so many more firsts that have been past into the fog of the forgotten past never to be witnessed again. Take a trip down memory lane, savor the photos and, most of all, try out the recipes that will explode your tastebuds back to yesterday.
November 17, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book although I wasn't the impressed about the subject when I first got the book. It brought back great memories of the Christmas windows, the Walnut Room and the beauty of the store itself. I was pleasantly surprised by the man himself. Knowing that the book probably slants the story in his favor, it seems he was a good man to work for. After the fire in Chicago his employees helped him because they obviously respected him and he respected them. It seems he was a great roll model for businessmen.
July 17, 2025
Loved this short book-I briefly worked at Marshall Field’s in the Chicago suburbs and they put me in the CANDY department (big mistake) where they told me I was expected to try all the assorted candies and chocolates, which were Frango and Godiva at the time. I barely remember the job-but remember the Godiva raspberry chocolate starfish, the raspberry chocolate Frango’s and my favorite original mint chocolate Frango’s. I also remember a BIG sign that was behind the wall where only the employees were allowed that read “The Customer is Always Right”. Great memories!
January 23, 2023
I had bought this book for my mom because my great-grandmother used to work in the Walnut Room. Of course, I then had to read it too and became immersed in the nostalgia that was Marshall Field's. Such a good read however it did make me sad to remember what time has changed and what businesses/ economy has eliminated. If you're from Chicago or have ever stepped foot inside of one of these beloved stores this is definitely worth a read.
July 5, 2025
This is a nice look back at a bygone Era. Department stores are unfortunately going away due to the internet. There are so many aspects of department store shopping that you cannot get on the internet. Personal attention from a salesperson is the biggest loss but also just the social aspect as well. Shopping is entertainment that can be fun to do with others. Also interesting to see Marshall Fields' influence on the whole city of Chicago.
January 25, 2020
This book brought back many memories for me as a former 11 year employee, nine of which which were spent in the buying offices of Marshall Fields. When Dayton Hudson bought the store all of us in the buying office lost our jobs. It was the first time in history Marshall Fields did not have its own buyers.
November 22, 2021
An interesting history of Marshall Fields and the man himself. Quick read. Being an east central Illinoisan, we had yearly bus trips to the store. On one trip I became ill from no food-bus ride-hot store. The Marshall Field's staff was wonderful. They took me and my Mom into an office and brought something to put in my stomach. I was young, maybe 12 or 13 but I'll never forget their kindness.
February 22, 2023
I visited Marshall Fields many times when I lived in the Chicago area and a few times when visiting. I was sad when the name was gone from the stores. This history was an interesting look at the man, Marshall Field, who began with one store in the 19th century and grew a empire based on " Give the lady what she wants!". The store grew as Chicago grew, so it is also a history of Chicago.
January 11, 2018
This was a fascinating history of Marshall Field's. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because the photos were hard to see on my Kindle.
July 22, 2019
Well written slim volume about Marshall Field, his biography and the history of the eponymous store.
November 16, 2020
Loved it, but then I LOVED Marshall Field's and am one of those Chicagoans that mourn it's loss. It was a fabulous store. Macy's ruined it. Now it's just an ordinary department store.
December 13, 2025
Audiobook- nicely written and read - the history of the wonderful store named by and for its founder. So many famous names from the era were woven in - Chicago has an interesting history.
January 29, 2020
Great photos.
December 13, 2024
I read this on a flight to Chicago a few weekends before Christmas. It was fascinating to learn more about Marshall Field and his lasting impact on Chicago. It made the Tiffany Dome all the more beautiful.
May 19, 2020
This book brought back a lot of memories of how great this store was. It’s so sad that there’s nothing like this anymore and traditions have been ruined.
July 5, 2014
This was an absolutely fascinating look at the man, the store, and the retail history of Chicago. I loved how many names I recognized from places that existed long into my life - Shedd, Palmer, Selfridge, etc. I like knowing more about my city.
I had a bunch of things bookmarked, but my checkout expired even though I asked it to renew. Awesome! Let's see. The history with the Chicago fire was fascinating - all the employees were so dedicated they risked their lives to save the inventory, and he was so dedicated to them, he made sure everyone was paid. He inspired a lot of people, because they respected him - in addition to his big charity work, he'd make sure his errand boys had warm coats and mittens and help employees out. His work was initially subsidized by Potter Palmer, who had a strong belief in him. Harry Selfridge worked his way up from a dime a day (much like John Shedd did) and started the bargain basement shops that I remember from my childhood. The retail district was initially on Lake Street, before he forced a move over to State Street because of central transportation. The Christmas windows began during the Great Depression, in an entire State Street initiative to boost sales - they'd done some before, but they became so grand and thematic around then. Meals around the Christmas tree in the Walnut Room started in the early 1900s. Oak Park's Field's opened in 1929 and sold mostly women's items, with some chldren's. Target actually owned Field's for several years around the new millennium. Field's lost its name 100 years after Marshal Field died. Macy's star logo comes from Macy's tattoo from his years on sea.
It was fascinating to watch people rise up through the ranks of Field's until corporate takeovers began in the late 20th century. I loved this look at early days of Chicago, with fabulous pictures. Some of the early 1900s shots of the main floor on State Street look very similar to how it does now!
I had a bunch of things bookmarked, but my checkout expired even though I asked it to renew. Awesome! Let's see. The history with the Chicago fire was fascinating - all the employees were so dedicated they risked their lives to save the inventory, and he was so dedicated to them, he made sure everyone was paid. He inspired a lot of people, because they respected him - in addition to his big charity work, he'd make sure his errand boys had warm coats and mittens and help employees out. His work was initially subsidized by Potter Palmer, who had a strong belief in him. Harry Selfridge worked his way up from a dime a day (much like John Shedd did) and started the bargain basement shops that I remember from my childhood. The retail district was initially on Lake Street, before he forced a move over to State Street because of central transportation. The Christmas windows began during the Great Depression, in an entire State Street initiative to boost sales - they'd done some before, but they became so grand and thematic around then. Meals around the Christmas tree in the Walnut Room started in the early 1900s. Oak Park's Field's opened in 1929 and sold mostly women's items, with some chldren's. Target actually owned Field's for several years around the new millennium. Field's lost its name 100 years after Marshal Field died. Macy's star logo comes from Macy's tattoo from his years on sea.
It was fascinating to watch people rise up through the ranks of Field's until corporate takeovers began in the late 20th century. I loved this look at early days of Chicago, with fabulous pictures. Some of the early 1900s shots of the main floor on State Street look very similar to how it does now!
May 31, 2011
Marshall Field's: The Store That Helped Build Chicago (IL) by Gayle Soucek
I enjoyed this meticulously well-researched book on my flight from Long Beach,CA to Chicago. What a wonderful tribute to the city's memorable icon, worldwide tourist attraction, and the man who gave so much to the world of retailing. It is an enjoyable read for anyone who values quality and tradition. Not being from the area, I was first introduced to and fell in love with Marshall Fields on my first trip to Chicago in 2003. Following two corporate takeovers (Target and the May Co) the grand store had lost some of the grandeur described in this wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane, however, it remains the awesome attraction that Gayle Soucek describes so vividly. Now that we are recovering from the worst recession since the great depression there are plans in the works to restore areas that, due to lack of funds, fell into disrepair. As Gayle Soucek so vividly describes, Marshall Fields is in hearts of Chicagoans and many well beyond the borders of the windy city. May the traditions of the great man and all he stood for forever live on. "Give the lady (or gentleman) what she (he) wants."
I enjoyed this meticulously well-researched book on my flight from Long Beach,CA to Chicago. What a wonderful tribute to the city's memorable icon, worldwide tourist attraction, and the man who gave so much to the world of retailing. It is an enjoyable read for anyone who values quality and tradition. Not being from the area, I was first introduced to and fell in love with Marshall Fields on my first trip to Chicago in 2003. Following two corporate takeovers (Target and the May Co) the grand store had lost some of the grandeur described in this wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane, however, it remains the awesome attraction that Gayle Soucek describes so vividly. Now that we are recovering from the worst recession since the great depression there are plans in the works to restore areas that, due to lack of funds, fell into disrepair. As Gayle Soucek so vividly describes, Marshall Fields is in hearts of Chicagoans and many well beyond the borders of the windy city. May the traditions of the great man and all he stood for forever live on. "Give the lady (or gentleman) what she (he) wants."
August 8, 2018
I so miss Marshall Field’s!
I’m a proud veteran employee of both the Springhill and Old Orchard stores. Some of my most prized possessions are my Field’s tote bag and several of the ornaments that were given to employees every Christmas. I didn’t go into a Macy’s anywhere for almost 10 years after they changed the name and I stopped watching the Thanksgiving parade altogether.
This book is a wonderful history of the places that were so much more than stores. To this day I measure customer service by the standard of values that I learned working there.
I also highly recommend the book, “Give the Lady What She Wants”, which goes deeper into the creation of what was once one of the world’s leading brands.
The next time you return something to a store, remember that it was Marshall Field’s commitment to his customers that began the policy that we all take for granted. I so miss the company that defined what customer service should be.
I’m a proud veteran employee of both the Springhill and Old Orchard stores. Some of my most prized possessions are my Field’s tote bag and several of the ornaments that were given to employees every Christmas. I didn’t go into a Macy’s anywhere for almost 10 years after they changed the name and I stopped watching the Thanksgiving parade altogether.
This book is a wonderful history of the places that were so much more than stores. To this day I measure customer service by the standard of values that I learned working there.
I also highly recommend the book, “Give the Lady What She Wants”, which goes deeper into the creation of what was once one of the world’s leading brands.
The next time you return something to a store, remember that it was Marshall Field’s commitment to his customers that began the policy that we all take for granted. I so miss the company that defined what customer service should be.
January 12, 2015
Found this book by chance and devoured it in one sitting. Growing up in Chicago in the 50's and 60's, Field's was the place of choice for every visit downtown. In fact, just before the Field's name was removed from the store, I made sure to take my granddaughter to experience the Walnut Room at Christmastime.
I learned things I never would have known about not just Marshall Field, but also Potter Palmer, John G. Shedd, and other prominent Chicagoans. History and folklore alike ooze from the pages of this book with an added bonus being the Field's restaurant recipes that are included!
Illustrations are excellent and I often found myself chuckling out loud with delight as I read of memories long ago such as Uncle Mistletoe and Aunt Holly.
A must read for anyone who grew up with the enchantment of the big store at State and Randolph gleaming before you!
I learned things I never would have known about not just Marshall Field, but also Potter Palmer, John G. Shedd, and other prominent Chicagoans. History and folklore alike ooze from the pages of this book with an added bonus being the Field's restaurant recipes that are included!
Illustrations are excellent and I often found myself chuckling out loud with delight as I read of memories long ago such as Uncle Mistletoe and Aunt Holly.
A must read for anyone who grew up with the enchantment of the big store at State and Randolph gleaming before you!
March 17, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, learning about Marshall Field himself and the contributions he made to Chicago. I learned so much about the beginnings of Chicago dry goods stores, retail and wholesale. The names are a "whose who" of Chicago retail --- Montgomery Ward, Carson Pirie, John G. Shedd, Palmer, Singer and so many more. I also enjoyed the parts describing the State Street store -- it was so nostalgic. I have many fond memories of taking the train downtown with my mom at Christmas time and going to Marshall Field's ... the store windows, the giant Christmas tree in the Walnut Room, and the unbelievable toy department. This is a great book for anyone that loved Marshall Field's.
September 2, 2013
As a longtime Field's shopper, what a sweet, Frango treat to read the story behind the store. From the tales of the who's who of Chicago retail and philanthropy to the iconic buildings, goods, food, and Christmas traditions...loved it. Wish it had been sprinkled with more pictures but I guarantee you'll turn a page and run smack dab into something you've forgotten all about...like the little metal charge cards...and a surprise bunch of recipes that include the Walnut Room's chicken pot pie and imitation Frango mints.
November 30, 2024
There is a special place in my heart for Marshall Field's. My father worked there for over 30 years as a delivery man, abiding by all the tenents for customer service and quality described in this book. So, I enjoyed the deep-dive into the history, business philosophy, and ground-breaking practices of Marshall Field's. A visit to Marshall Field's was always special and everything that the author describes and more. Today, the retail world has moved so far away from the 'Marshall Field's' experience. Times, of course, change, but it is a bit sad.
October 11, 2011
What a great read....the book is simple, but quick. This book not only tells the history of the store's past, but also has lots of history about Chicago's early days. This book invoked many memories of my dad and me visiting Marshall Field's at Christmas....the beautiful and mesmerizing decorated windows, the humongous Christmas tree in The Walnut Room, Frango Mints and, of course, their toy department. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews