Mainstream Stores Best & Worst for Hanukkah

Of course I want you to shop at ModernTribe.com. But if you can't, don't want to, or just don't have the time to wait for shipping, here is the skinny on some of the mainstream department stores' Hanukkah offerings. Have a beautiful, modern Hanukkah!

Disclaimer: Some department stores vary their stock depending on the community -- so if there are many Jews in the community, they will stock more Hanukkah stuff. Therefore, these findings may or many not be true for your "brick and mortar" location.

I have covered Target in previous posts.

Uh oh, may steal ModernTribe's business: Crate & Barrel. They have two very nice looking nickel plated menorahs. I haven't seen them up close but, darn, they look nice and I'd love to be able to offer them to you myself.

Some nice, but traditional, things: Saks Fifth Avenue. These Eleni's New York Happy Hanukkah Cookies look beautiful! Has anyone tried them?

The mainstream of modern: Nambe at Macys and Bloomingdales. I plan to offer the Nambe line in the future. If you want Nambe Judaica now, they have it. I don't like the Nambe menorah however; it looks great with candles but loses its design appeal without them.

"No products found for Chanukah. Did you mean chunky?" JC Penney, Dillards, and KMart come up blank in the Hanukkah department.

Not my taste but a selection of goods: Walmart, Kohls, and Bed Bath and Beyond

Jewish Product Bloopers Part III: Search for Hanukkah or Chanukah at these websites and get:

Kenny G "Miracles - The Holiday Album." the only Chanukah item online at Sears contains one "Chanukah Song" among 10 other Christmas songs. But, I do believe Kenny is Jewish.

A Nativity Votive!? Watch those keywords Bloomingdales!

Woof & Poof Jolly Old Saint Nick at Nordstrom along with rows and rows of other Christmas decorations. I still consider snowmen, angels, and fairies Christmas decor. Do you?

Warning: Target misses with their gelt.

I've tasted a lot of gelt. When we were trying to pick a gelt to sell with No Limit Texas Dreidel we got samples from Israel, Belgium, and around the USA. Target's is decidedly, and by no slim margin, the worst I've ever tasted. It's waxy, greasy, and tasteless. Maybe they confused the Hanukkah candles with the Hanukkah gelt? It pains me because Target has it's own brand of gourmet-ish chocolate called Choxie. I want to see this massive merchandising machine create gourmet Choxie gelt. Let's work on that one for Hanukkah 2008.

Here's the Hanukkah display for Target and then that's it for criticizing my favorite store for it's Hanukkah missteps. (I do it 'cause I luv ya, Target!)

The Ugly Menorah with Modern Company

We did a photo shoot the other day and my husband took a few. We took my "ugly menorah" (a traditional brass menorah with the Maccabee motif that I've had all my life) and surrounded it with modern menorahs. I love the way this picture turned out. You see the Woodland Linking Menorah (unlinked) and a little bit of the Cube Menorah.