A millinery, ready-to-wear department and shoe salon were only a few of the store’s boasting points when the I.H. Rubenstein and Son department store opened in the summer of 1964.

Repeating Gothic arches welcomed visitors into the spacious, French-inspired building, which featured an interior drenched in white, gold and soft blue hues. So chic. Fashion not your fancy? Feel free to peruse the gift and household accessories shop, beauty salon or the infant’s and children’s department, complete with “Grandma’s Corner,” which was stocked with an array of unique gifts perfect for spoiling the newest members of the family.

As showcased on the cover of the August 15, 1964, issue of The Register, the department store opened by I.H. Rubenstein and his son in the Broadmoor Center on Florida Boulevard was the talk of the town. Then, department stores were most often locally owned and truly served as one-stop shops. I.H. Rubenstein’s was no different, offering high-end and affordable fashion, gifts, beauty services and housewares for every member of the family at every stage of life.

The cover feature is sure to mention the bridal fitting area, a small sitting room decorated with French provincial furniture, windows and drapes. Novel, too, was The Oxford Shop in the men’s store, where young men could complete their Ivy League looks with clothing and accessories.

The golden age of department stores is long gone, as most recently evidenced by Dick’s Sporting Goods moving into the former Sears location at the Mall of Louisiana earlier this year. All good things must come to an end. However, the legacy of beloved local department stores—Godchaux’s, Rosenfield’s and the New Orleans-based D.H. Holmes, which opened in 1849 as one of the first department stores in the United States—lives on in the memories and Polaroid photos of locals. And thanks to unwavering community support for decades, iconic, high-end styles sold in many of these stores are expertly preserved and regularly displayed by the LSU Textile and Costume Museum, where visitors are almost guaranteed to say, “Oh, I’d wear that!” at least once. Stores may come and go, but timeless style always endures.