The History of the Department Stores

Department stores opened in the 19th century. They were an alternative to a city that was still, in some senses, fairly mediaeval. The new urban middle classes wanted a place where they could go and be safer. And i guess the appeal ofthe department stoor, whenit started out, was that it offered an alternative to  a city that was dirty,. It wasn't really safe. So we all know what happens at the end of this story.