Memories of Daimaru Kyoto Store

I suddenly remembered when I was a student working a part-time job, a colleague said, 'I went to Daimaru and had coffee at Holly's Cafe. Did you know Holly's Cafe is run by Mr. Horio from Karafune-ya?' and 'If you're a Kyoto local, you prefer Daimaru over Takashimaya.'

I don't have a sense of which is higher-class, Takashimaya or Daimaru, but I know that the older generation calls it 'Daimaru-san' with affection, and there are people who prefer Daimaru over Takashimaya.
※Just to be sure, I also know that Daimaru and Fujii Daimaru originated in Kyoto.
I went to Takashimaya more often when I was a child, but I like both Takashimaya and Daimaru as department stores.
In high school, I had a friend who loved Daimaru, so I went to the Clinique counter at Daimaru once, but since I started university, I began using Daimaru because it was easier to get to by subway.

There was Nojess on the first floor, and INDIVI and L'EST ROSE in the women's clothing section. The Nolley's street-level store that used to be right across from the Royal Hotel closed and moved into Daimaru, so I stop by Nolley's whenever I go to Daimaru. I bought several pairs of Bridget Birkin shoes at Daimaru. I joined the Daimaru Tomonokai, got a Daimaru card, and collected points for visiting on the first floor. I also used discount coupons issued by Kyoto Shinkin Bank. Since I went to Daimaru so often, I even recognized the music that played when it started raining. I bought a Burberry umbrella and a COACH key case at Daimaru for Mother's Day. I bought matching handkerchief towels with my boyfriend, and for my birthday, he bought me a ring at Daimaru that I wore every day. I also bought a necklace for myself. I became a member of the Daimaru Bridal Club, bought tableware for our new home, and ordered our wedding favors and sweets from Daimaru. Since we were allowed to bring our own dragées to the wedding venue, I wrapped the ones I bought at Daimaru with message cards attached. In preparation for the wedding, I had esthetic treatments and shaving done at a building affiliated with Daimaru.

A friend of mine worked at one of the food counters in Daimaru, so whenever I went to Daimaru, I would shop at her store. After looking at miscellaneous goods at Afternoon Tea Living with my female friends, we would have tea at the now-defunct Fortnum & Mason in the basement, or buy Harada's rusks, which weren't available at Takashimaya, or Natsukantou at Oimatsu. I ate lunch and cake at HARBS. I also had tea at Fukujuen, but I loved relaxing over tea at the now-closed Wien no Mori. When my child was just born, I ate there with them in the Daimaru dining hall. I have so many memories.