In 1920, there had been thirty-eight Grants stores. Seventy-seven were in operation in 1925, with 350 open for business by 1930. These operated in thirty-five states. The store count in 1935 was 471, with Grants locations in thirty-eight states.
The following decade started off with the chain encompassing 492 stores in thirty-nine states. Due to the world-wide conflict of the first half of the 1940s, the store count had dropped to 488 in 1945. By 1950, the chain had grown into the nation's third-largest variety store operation, with 498 stores in forty states.
864 stores were in operation in 1960, covering forty-three states. The 1,000th Grants opened during 1962. The 1965 store count stood at 1,088, with units in forty-six states. The chain encompassed 1,116 stores in 1970. The maximum number of stores was in 1972, when 1,208 were in service. Store counts began to fall in 1973, when there were 1,189. By mid-1974, this number had been reduced to 1,075.
Although often classed as a 5 & 10 operation, Grants stores were more upscale in appearance and merchandising. The company began to build larger stores, with expanded lines of hard and soft lines, in 1960. In 1961, this new "Grantsville Concept" facilitated the introduction of the Bradford brand of large appliances.
Although often classed as a 5 & 10 operation, Grants stores were more upscale in appearance and merchandising. The company began to build larger stores, with expanded lines of hard and soft lines, in 1960. In 1961, this new "Grantsville Concept" facilitated the introduction of the Bradford brand of large appliances.
The first Grant City discount marts debuted in January 1973. Some of these were converted W.T. Grant units of over 50,000 square feet. This new store format was not entirely successful, due to the fact that competitors, such as S.S. Kresge and F.W. Woolworth, had introduced large-format discount stores over 10 years earlier.
In addition to profitability problems with the Grant City division, the company suffered as a result of the decision to pay stock dividends while teetering toward bankruptcy. An absurdly-lenient credit extension policy, initiated in 1969, also contributed to the chain's rapid decline. Attempts at corporate reorganization failed. Waves of store closings followed, with the last units going dark on March 26, 1976.
GRANTS JUNIOR-ANCHORED SHOPPING MALLS:
*ANTIOCH CENTER, Kansas City, MO (1956)
*EASTLAND CENTER, West Covina, CA (1957)
*WESTERN WOODS MALL, Hamilton County, OH (1966)
*ANTIOCH CENTER, Kansas City, MO (1956)
*EASTLAND CENTER, West Covina, CA (1957)
*WESTERN WOODS MALL, Hamilton County, OH (1966)
William Thomas Grant (1876-1972). He founded the W.T. Grant variety store chain in December 1906. By 1971, the company was operating 1,168 stores.
Photo from http://wtgrantfoundation.org / The W.T. Grant Foundation
