Why did department stores become so popular in the 1920s?

In borrowing stage design techniques, department stores spurred new levels of consumer demand and desire, as the rise of corporate America in the 1920s produced unprecedented amounts of both disposable income and the leisure time in which to spend it.

What was the Golden Age of department stores?

The golden age of department stores in the early-to-mid 20th century was a sight the lucky got to behold. Over-the-top window displays, elegant marble floors, glittering glass cases filled with jewels and perfumes, and tea rooms for the who's who to meet every Saturday—the department store wasn't merely a place you stopped in for a blouse.

What was a store like in the 1930s?

Some had great toy or book departments, some were known for high fashion, and most had a unique tearoom or other eatery. From about 1890 through the 1930s, these stores were the places where people learned about new ideas, alongside World’s Fairs and museums. Streetcar lines, buses, and subways stopped near their doors.