A retail organization that carries a wide variety of product linestypically clothing, home furnishings, and household goods; each line is operated as a separate department managed by specialist buyers or merchandisers
A large store divided into sections or departments selling a wide range and variety of products Local department stores are often used as anchor tenants in shopping centers
A department store is a large shop which sells many different kinds of goods. A large retail store offering a variety of merchandise and services and organized in separate departments. a large shop that is divided into separate departments, each selling a different type of goods. Retail establishment that sells a wide variety of goods. These usually include ready-to-wear apparel and accessories, yard goods and household textiles, housewares, furniture, electrical appliances, and accessories. In addition to departments (supervised by managers and buyers) for the various categories of goods, there are departmental divisions to handle, for example, merchandising, advertising, service, accounting, and financial strategy. The Bon Marché in Paris, which began as a small shop in the early 19th century, is often considered the first department store. The first U.S. department store chains J.C. Penney and Sears, Roebuck and Co. date to the 1920s. See also Harrods