The Little Daisy was a small, local chain of women’s clothing boutiques selling shoes, jewelry, and accessories.
It was hip and trendy throughout the 1960s and 70s and was known as one of the officially sanctioned stores where local schoolgirls might buy their uniforms.
In the 1980s, the name changed to The Daisy.
The store was founded by Willard “Bill” and Gladys “Daisy” Talkington. The Talkingtons owned a clothing store in San Francisco before moving their operation to Oakland.
According to the Oakland Directory, the Lakeshore Little Daisy was opened in 1949.
In March 1953, they opened a store in the Montclair District at 2020 Mountain Blvd. The store soon became a favorite to many Hill area women for over 35 years and is still missed today.
In 1955, they expanded the Montclair store by taking over four other stores on Mountain Blvd.
In 1963 they opened their fourth store in Lafayette, CA. By 1970 there were five stores in the Bay Area. The business offices were located on Claremont Ave in Oakland and later in Pleasant Hill.
In 1985, the company changed its name to Daisy and adopted an “everyday low price” strategy to broaden its appeal. But as competition intensified, it was forced to close many of its locations, including the Montclair store.
Closes Two Oakland Stores
The president of the Daisy Stores announced in March of 1988 that they would be closing five Daisy Stores, including the flagship store in Montclair and one on Lakeshore Blvd. He said:
“do not fit in with the Daisy concept of catering to the time conscious working women at her place of business.
Bill Bradshaw Daisy Stores
The stores were being phased out as the company planned to focus on its new Daisy 9 to 5 stores. The new stores will specialize in clothing for career women and be located near large office centers, like the one that opened in downtown Oakland in 1987.
Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
Locations
- Berkeley-2590 Bancroft Way
- Danville- 356 S. Hertz
- Lakeshore – 3433 Lakeshore Ave – 3300 Lakeshore
- Lafayette – 971 Moraga
- Marin – Town & County Village – 420
- Montclair – 2020 Mountain Blvd
- Pleasant Hill – 3380 Vincent Rd
- Pruneyard –
- San Francisco – 1 Embarcadero
- Walnut Creek -1224 Broadway
More Info:
Daisy Talkington was born Gladys Warren in 1903 to Edward H. Warren and Alice Ludwig. She was raised in Oakland. She married Willard “Bill” Talkington sometime before 1938. Bill was from Washington. Daisy died in 1997
- The Little Daisy Marks 25th Anniversary – Oakland Tribune Jul 8, 1970
- Little Daisy is Remodeled – Daily Independent Journal Santa Rosa Aug 12, 1975
- Daisy to Close 2 Oakland Stores – Oakland Tribune March 01, 1988
- Daisy 9 to 5 Seeks Bankruptcy Protection – Oakland Tribune Feb 24, 1989, page 2
I shopped at the Montclair store in the 1970s. Loved the store.
Thank you for this wonderful article. My mother always took me to the Lakeshore site and later the Montclair site. They were lovely stores! Sorely missed.
Thank you.
Thanks for the memories! Trendsetting, hip and friendly. I still have a few ‘Villager’ branded items c. 1967-8 from the Montclair store.
You are most welcome!
Thank you!
Today the Montclair store is occupied by Mc Caulou’s – the old Mc’s being vacant – which is both a succint, and sad, comment on the trend of retail here.
I loved The Little Daisy! It was my favorite store, when I was in high school I shopped at the one on Lakeshore and in college at the one on Bancroft in Berkeley. The Little Daisy, just made me happy to be there ! They really knew their business and understood retail. There was an underground parking garage under the one on Bancroft and giant milky white glass balls on a pole outside that was painted with the words Little Daisy. They had the best hippest fashions in the 70’s & 80’s And I bought my favorite bikini EVER (lol) at the Walnut Creek LD. I wish there were more photos of the stores during that era.
I loved the Montclair Little Daisy. I went there with my Mom all the time.