All major cities have their distinctive local department stores, which anchored the downtown shopping district until the arrival of the malls in the 1960s. Washington, for example, after 1887 had Woodward & Lothrop and Garfinckel's starting in 1905. Garfield's went bankrupt in 1990, as did Woodward & Lothrop in 1994. Baltimore had four major department stores: Hutzler's was the prestige leader, followed by Hecht's, Hochschild's and Stewart's. They all operated branches in the suburbs, but all closed in the late twentieth century. By 2015, most locally owned department stores around the country had been consolidated into larger chains, or had closed down entirely. COUNT 4
QSN1 When did Garfinckel's begin operating in Washington?  ANS1 1905 QSN2 In what year did Garfield's go bankrupt? ANS2 1990 QSN3 How many major department stores did Baltimore have at the time?  ANS3 four QSN4 By what year had most local stores been assimilated into larger chain operations?  ANS4 2015