Sarah Elvins lives in Winnipeg, where she is an assistant professor in American history at the University of Manitoba.
Listed in: American History · Business and Economics
Sales and Celebrations
Retailing and Regional Identity in Western New York State, 1920–1940
By Sarah Elvins
Between the two world wars, the retail world experienced tremendous changes. New forms of competition, expanded networks of communication and transportation, and the proliferation of manufactured goods posed challenges to department store and small shopkeeper alike.In western New York, and in Buffalo and Rochester in particular, retailers were a crucial part of urban life, acting as cultural brokers and civic leaders. They were also cultivators of area pride.