My Mom worked at the Peoria Begner's from 1966 - 1973 when we moved. She was the Department Manager of the Fabric Dept. My fondest memories were at Christmas time - riding the escalator down to the basement to see "SANTA" and then going out the back door to pet the real "Reindeer"! Sure wish my Mom was still alive to have seen this, she would've loved it! Thank you for posting it!!
reminds me of my childhood what fun period. I moved to Georgia but always visit at village sad gone lot of memories there, so many people that worked there over the years class whs 82. Peoria was so fun.
Thanks for this! My aunt Mary Oakley did a lot of these commercials. Over her advertising career she did hundreds of spots for Bergners. It is great to see them again!
Thanks for sharing. I sent this to my parents, they will get a kick out of viewing this. I am barely old enough to remember the Downtown store. The Sheridan Village store pretty much looks the same.
It is too bad that a beautiful department store like Bergner's is shutting down forever. My favorite store growing up in Ottawa (Peru Mall). One of the commercials showed a whole bunch of people shopping at the Sheridan Village store. Yes, people went shopping. It is fun. Now I go into any store and it is dead. Thank you Amazon. Stay tuned for a couple of special videos on my channel documenting Bergner's in Peoria and a slide show of all of the facades of the Bergner's and Carson's in Illinois. Amazing commercials.
I spent many an hour roaming the Bergner's store in Sheridan Village in the late 60's while I waited for mom to get off work next door (or so) at Schradski's.
@nightfly776 As I recall, WMBD was cleaning out their archives of old commercials probably around early 1999. Someone there knew my father (who worked at the Sheridan Village store) and thought that he might like to have them. Unfortunately, the best quality that I have is VHS, and I have no idea what happened to the film originals. But, enjoy the copies!
Went inside the Sheridan Village store a couple times in recent months; one time last fall and another earlier this month in the middle (probably beginning) of their liquidation... Caterpillar possibly moving their HQ to Chicago and the closing of Bergners' first ever non downtown store... the hits just keep coming to Peoria, much less Central Illinois in general...
Boy does this brings back memories .
My Mom worked at the Peoria Begner's from 1966 - 1973 when we moved. She was the Department Manager of the Fabric Dept. My fondest memories were at Christmas time - riding the escalator down to the basement to see "SANTA" and then going out the back door to pet the real "Reindeer"! Sure wish my Mom was still alive to have seen this, she would've loved it! Thank you for posting it!!
Such a sweet memory thanks for sharing.
reminds me of my childhood what fun period. I moved to Georgia but always visit at village sad gone lot of memories there, so many people that worked there over the years class whs 82. Peoria was so fun.
Thanks for this! My aunt Mary Oakley did a lot of these commercials. Over her advertising career she did hundreds of spots for Bergners. It is great to see them again!
My aunt, Lois Wheeler, worked with Mary Oakley on many of these commercials!!
Thank you for uploading!
Thanks for sharing. I sent this to my parents, they will get a kick out of viewing this. I am barely old enough to remember the Downtown store. The Sheridan Village store pretty much looks the same.
Oh my gosh, how could I forget how special Bergner's was! Thank you so much for this wonderful blast from the past!
It is too bad that a beautiful department store like Bergner's is shutting down forever. My favorite store growing up in Ottawa (Peru Mall). One of the commercials showed a whole bunch of people shopping at the Sheridan Village store. Yes, people went shopping. It is fun. Now I go into any store and it is dead. Thank you Amazon. Stay tuned for a couple of special videos on my channel documenting Bergner's in Peoria and a slide show of all of the facades of the Bergner's and Carson's in Illinois. Amazing commercials.
The Peru Mall is sadly next to go.
I spent many an hour roaming the Bergner's store in Sheridan Village in the late 60's while I waited for mom to get off work next door (or so) at Schradski's.
These are the most wonderful things ever. Can't thank you enough for taking the time to post!!!
@nightfly776 As I recall, WMBD was cleaning out their archives of old commercials probably around early 1999. Someone there knew my father (who worked at the Sheridan Village store) and thought that he might like to have them. Unfortunately, the best quality that I have is VHS, and I have no idea what happened to the film originals. But, enjoy the copies!
isipeoria do you have any of the 1970-1980s commercials on vhs?
I miss bergners
The girls on the phone was my friend and me for sure. Lol.
Went inside the Sheridan Village store a couple times in recent months; one time last fall and another earlier this month in the middle (probably beginning) of their liquidation...
Caterpillar possibly moving their HQ to Chicago and the closing of Bergners' first ever non downtown store... the hits just keep coming to Peoria, much less Central Illinois in general...
They just closed the Bergner’s one town over from us in Peru 2018.
R.I.P. Bergners
WOW! How cool is this? I am from Peoria. Where did you get these old ads?
They should have stayed independent. Then maybe at least some of the stores would have been around now.
Does anyone know who the blond woman in the hot pink coat is?
Anybody know any of the girls?