Filene's 'Running of the Brides'

Filene's flagship store at 426 Washington Street became famous for the 'Running of the Brides,' an annual clearance event in which thousands of brides and shoppers rushed to buy discounted wedding gowns. The event ran for decades and was widely covered in local media, becoming a noted Downtown Crossing retail tradition until Filene's closed in 2006. The Filene's building remains a landmark in the city's retail history and has been the subject of redevelopment efforts.