Marshall Fields
Marshall Fields & Co. is one of the most recognizable Chicago department stores, and the Fields is one of the most famous Chicago families. Though the company was acquired by Macy's in 2005, the legacy of the Fields family is still seen today, in the Merchandise Mart they acquired in 1930, and the Field Museum, opened in 1921.
One of the most lasting effects the Marshall Fields & Co. stores had on consumer culture was their emphasis on customer service. This is exemplified in the State Street store, where shoppers were met with floors upon floors with any product or service they needed- even lunch or tea.
In the 1890s, it was socially acceptable for women would spend hours on State street shopping but not dine in a restuarant without a gentleman escort. As the story goes, Mrs. Hering, a sales associate in the Millinary department (hat department) overheard a customer complaining about needing to go home to eat a snack. Dedicated to customer service, Mrs. Hering shared her pot pie lunch with the woman, who came back later with her friends to share some company and pie.
What resulted from this fairly simple recipe was the Walnut Room, a full-service dining room within the State street store. Though it was not the first of its kind, the Walnut room quickly became a Chicago winter tradition, as a Great Tree decorated in lights is put in the middle every year. Macy's has kept up the tree tradition, and has even continued to serve Mrs. Hering's pot pie.