Filene's was an American department store chain founded in 1881 by William Filene. The building, completed in 1912, was designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham and is a protected Boston Landmark. The historic Filene's Department Store in the Downtown Crossing district of Boston housed the flagship store and headquarters while branch stores operated throughout New England and New York.  Filene's was a founding member of the Federated Department Stores holding company in 1929.  

Starting in 1947, the Boston flagship store held an annual one-day bridal gown sale.  In 1997, the sale was the subject of a study by two marketing professors at Bentley College.  In 2008, after the flagship store had closed, the bridal event moved to the Hynes Convention Center.  

Founded in 1909 and one of the oldest off-price retailers in the United States, Filene's Basement focused on high-end goods and was known for its distinctive, low-technology Automatic Markdown System.  The history of Filene's Basement is intervwined with that of the venerable Filene's chain.  In 1908, Edward A. Filene, son of the founder came up with the idea of selling surplus, overstock and closeout merchandise in the basement of his father's store.  Filene's "Automatic Bargain Basement", as it was originally called opened in 1909 beneath the Downtown Crossing location. The Automatic Markdown System was famous for its strict markdown schedule.  Prices dropped by 25% after 12 ays, 50% after 18 days, 75% after 24 days and any unsold items were donated to charity after 30 days. 

Filene's Basement was sold to Syms Corporation.  In  November 2011, Syms filed for bankruptcy, resulting in a liquidation sale.  The last Filene's Basement stores closed permanently on December 29, 2011. In the fall of 2015, Filene's Basement was reopened exclusively as an online retailer.

There was no other retail experience like it! The bins heaped with piles of clothes.  The shoppers in such a frenzy that they ignored the dressing room and stripped right in the aisles!  

"No one used a fitting room."

Shopping there was a game of strategy.  Anything that hadn't sold after two weeks dropped in price by 25 percent, after three weeks by 50 percent and after four weeks by 75 percent.  After that, it went to charity.  So shoppers held off buying certain things in hopes that the price would drop.  Then, if they came back and couldn't find it they'd be horrified when it was gone.  Many customers tried to hide merchandise to prevent other shoppers from finding and buying it.  Other customers wanted their items immediately.  They'd actually fight over them!

"Running of the Brides!"

Women would travel hundreds of miles, camp out overnight and wake up ready to sprint!  This isn't the running of the bulls, it's Filene's famous Basement "Running of the Brides!"  

Each year, thousands of brides-to-be would line up for their chance to find wedding gowns at thousands of dollars off the resale price.  Years ago Carson Kressley, fashion designer, traveled to Boston to check in with all of the women lined up the night before the event.  Several of the brides talked strategy with Carson.  Grab as many gowns as you can carry, guard what you have and trade until you find the perfect fit.  "It's sort of like baseball cards for girls"  For example, a woman named Kathryn picks a winner after two and a half hours and a dozen dresses.  It was a strapless Reem Acra 5th Avenue gown that would have cost $5,000 to $6,000 though Kathryn got it for just $699.

Carson Kressley, fashion designer and actor visited the Filene's Basement "Running of the Brides" event on August 20, 2010 in Boston.  

Carson and a prospective bride-to-be.

The search in on!

Exhausted!

Guarding her haul!

The Meeting Point

This ornate outdoor clock at the corner of Washington and Summer Streests served as the city's most popular rendezvous spot for decadesl 

Filene's Famous Clock

August 26, 2013

The Carillon Bells at Filene's 

Downtown Crossing

Boston, Massachusetts

Filene's at Christmas

Circa 1954

Filene's Department Store, particularly its historic Boston location, featured a distinctive four-bell carillon clock built by the Howard Clock Company, a beloved landmark that chimed the hours, adding to the store's legacy and unique atmosphere for shoppers, highlighting the historical grandeur of Filene's.  The bells themselves varied in age, with some newer with one large bell cast in 1942 and others cast, in Holland, later.

Filene's was possibly the only department store known to have its own set of bells that chimed the hour.  The building had what was called a Beaux Arts facade. 

Boston's Great Specialty Store

Entrance to World Famous Filene's Automatic Markdown Basement Store

In the original Filene's Basement, there were no private stalls.  Shoppers famously tried on clothes in the aisles or in large communal spaces, a shared "rite of passage" for many Bostonians. 

Filene's Basement was the best. It offered Brooks Brothers suits for men and Christian Dior apparel for women.

Men's Suits

$11.00

Notice no escalator only stairs and elevators.

For those who remember Filene's it was a major Boston landmark. It was a Boston institution though today the space has been redeveloped into offices yet fond memories of Filene's and its basement persist for many Bostonians, today.

People remember the frenzy of digging through piles of clothes, the "no fitting room" culture and incredible deals on designer goods or even disaster-affected items like Neiman Marcus fire sale goods! Shoppers often remember the "hunt", finding high-end designers like Chanel or Valentino tucked into overcrowded racks regarded as "hidden gems".

The End of an Era

The main store closed in 2006 and Filene's Basement closed in 2007, making way for new development, leaving many nostalgic for the classic retail experience. The reason why people miss it is because of its unique culture (the chaotic, treasure-hunt atmosphere was unlike any other store). It was all about unbeatable deals because it was a prime spot for finding high-end clothing at rock-bottom prices. Filene's was a quintessential part of Boston's retail history, alongside rivals like Jordan Marsh, at the time.

For those looking to relive these experiences, the documentary "Voices from the Basement aired on WGBH captures stories from longtime shoppers, staff and even the Mayor of Boston at the time!

Mayor Thomas M. Menino