America's 5 & 10 phenomenon began in 1879. Frank Winfield Woolworth opened his first "Great 5 Cent Store" in Utica, New York, on February 22nd. Although initially successful, the store had a less than desirable location. It closed for good after only 4 months.
Woolworth decided to open a second mercantile in a better location. The second "Great 5 Cent Store," in a busy section of downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, commenced operation on June 21, 1879. The store was an astounding -and lasting- success. It was rebannered as the "5 & 10 Cent Store" in the summer of 1880.
A revolutionary retail concept was conceived. Up to this time, the typical mercantile did not display prices along with merchandise. The amount paid for an item could vary from sales clerk to sales clerk or from customer to customer. For the "5 & 10 Cent Store," there was a fixed price prominently displayed. Moreover, the company would purchase directly from the manufacturer.
In August 1910, the first in-store Woolworth restaurant began operation at the chain's 14th Street Manhattan store. Restaurants or lunch counters would eventually be included in nearly every store, with eateries known as Woolworth's Luncheonette, Woolworth's Restaurant or Woolworth's Cafeteria. Post-1961, Woolworth food service facilities would also be known as the Harvest House Coffee Shop or Harvest House Cafeteria.
The first Canadian store had opened -in Toronto, Ontario- in January 1899. In 1912, the American enterprise was incorporated as the F.W. Woolworth Company. There were 631 stores in the United States. By 1919, there were 1,081. During the Second World War, store numbers fluctuated. In 1940, there had been 2,027 (this figure including stores in Canada, Great Britain and Germany). In 1947, this total had dropped to 1,792.
In August 1910, the first in-store Woolworth restaurant began operation at the chain's 14th Street Manhattan store. Restaurants or lunch counters would eventually be included in nearly every store, with eateries known as Woolworth's Luncheonette, Woolworth's Restaurant or Woolworth's Cafeteria. Post-1961, Woolworth food service facilities would also be known as the Harvest House Coffee Shop or Harvest House Cafeteria.
The first Canadian store had opened -in Toronto, Ontario- in January 1899. In 1912, the American enterprise was incorporated as the F.W. Woolworth Company. There were 631 stores in the United States. By 1919, there were 1,081. During the Second World War, store numbers fluctuated. In 1940, there had been 2,027 (this figure including stores in Canada, Great Britain and Germany). In 1947, this total had dropped to 1,792.
The Woolworth variety store count in 1960 stood at 2,075; this figure including only those stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. By 1970, there were 1,927. This figure was comprised only of stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Woolco, a discount department store chain created by the Woolworth Company, opened its first store on June 6, 1962. The large-format "discount mart" concept was successful for a time, but by the early 1980s, had become a liability. The United States Woolco operation went out of business January 31, 1983. Branches in the UK and Canada continued on but were eventually shuttered, as well.
Woolco, a discount department store chain created by the Woolworth Company, opened its first store on June 6, 1962. The large-format "discount mart" concept was successful for a time, but by the early 1980s, had become a liability. The United States Woolco operation went out of business January 31, 1983. Branches in the UK and Canada continued on but were eventually shuttered, as well.
By the late 20th century, there were Woolworth variety-type stores in all of the fifty states, as well as in Puerto Rico, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, Cuba, Spain, Canada, the US Virgin Islands and other areas of the Caribbean. The total number of Woolworth variety stores in the United States in 1976 was 1,503. The total number, in the United States, in 1985 was 1,210.
Regretfully, the 5 & 10 format was becoming outdated by the 1980s. The dime store, with its sometimes esoteric lines of merchandise -and 20,000 to 60,000 square foot footprint- was not able to compete effectively with the likes of a 120,000 square foot, "deep discounting" Kmart, Wal-Mart or Target.
An attempt at corporate restructuring was done by Woolworth in 1993 and 1994, with 400 stores shuttered. This initiative was unsuccessful. On July 17, 1997, the remaining Woolworth stores were shuttered...ending the 100+ year reign of the once-mighty merchandiser. As a result of the dissolution, the corporate name was changed to the Venator Group...which morphed into Foot Locker, Incorporated...in 2001.
WOOLWORTH JUNIOR-ANCHORED SHOPPING MALLS:
*RIVER ROADS CENTER, Jennings, MO (1962)
*WEST SHORE PLAZA SHOPPING CITY, Tampa, FL (1967)
*CENTRAL CITY MALL, San Bernardino, CA (1972)
