Delaware shares department store restaurant memories

Ladies in hats, gloves and suits surrounded by shopping bags. Friendly, familiar waitresses. Distinct decor. Tantalizing desserts.

Many Americans, Delawareans included, have fond memories of dining in department store restaurants with their grandmothers, mothers and aunts, but such restaurants had mostly disappeared by 1980.

“The downfall of these restaurants is that they were not money makers,” Michael Lisicky said. “They never really were. It was almost a marketing thing. Keep them fed, keep them in store.”