This Depression-era postcard illustrates a Tampa, Florida Grants.
Graphic from the Boston Public Library

We weren't sure just where to post our Grants write-up. Should we consider the typical Grants as a 5 & 10-type store? Was Grants actually a standard department store? While we do not consider a latter-day Grants to have been a true "5 & 10," there were a few similarities between a Grants and Woolworth's. With this said, we decided to post our Grants section here, near the end of The History of  the 5 & 10 segment. 

Photo from W.T. Grant Company Annual Report 1961

Grants was a charter tenant at Arlington, Virginia's PARKINGTON CENTER. The 2-level store welcomed first shoppers in August 1952. At this time, the Grants enterprise operated 491 stores in thirty-nine states, with the PARKINGTON unit being the first in the multi-state Washington, DC region. 

Drawing from the W.T. Grant Company

The Street Level of the PARKINGTON store is depicted above. On this sales floor, one would find departments for ladies', children's and men's apparel, stationery, fabrics, notions and candy. 

Drawing from the W.T. Grant Company

The "Downstairs Store" included departments devoted to pets (birds & fish), toys & games, hardware, housewares and draperies. One might note the absence of any kind of in-house luncheonette. At this time, only selected Grants stores included such a food service facility. By 1960, 340 stores -out of a total of 864- included luncheonettes.

Drawing from the W.T. Grant Company

Above and below, we have views of the shiny new Grants VILLA PLAZA store. The shopping hub -and Grants- were located in Lakewood, Washington.
Photo from Tacoma Public Library

The Lakewood store opened for business in 1957. 

Photo from Tacoma Public Library

This logo was used on the cover of a Grants Annual Report. A black & white version was used in newspaper ads of the 1950s and early '60s.

Graphic from the W.T. Grant Company Annual Report 1954

Grants expanded their food service division in the 1960s. In 1963, the first The Skillet Coffee Shop opened at a new Grants store in the Borough of Clementon, New Jersey.

Advert from the W.T. Grant Company

By the mid-1960s, a new restaurant format known as The Bradford Room had also been introduced. 

Advert from the W.T. Grant Company