New York City's F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 empire launched its Woolco discount mart division, with a store on the southern outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, on June 6, 1962. The first Canadian Woolco store was dedicated, in Sudbury, Ontario, in October of the same year. In October 1967, the first Woolco in Great Britain made its debut. This store was located in Oadby, Leicestershire ["Lester-sheer"].
By late 1967, there were forty-five stateside locations, with twenty-two in operation in Canada. Stores in the rapidly-expanding Woolco chain would encompass between 55,000 and 120,000 square feet. The Greater New York City market was entered in 1966. The first Southern California store was dedicated in 1970 with Greater Chicago's first Woolco making its debut in 1973.
After several unprofitable years, the American Woolco division was shuttered. 336 stores had closed for good by January 17, 1983. British Woolco stores were converted to the Woolworth brand in 1982, with non-unionized stores in Canada being sold to Wal-Mart in January 1994.
WOOLCO-ANCHORED SHOPPING MALLS:
*AZALEA MALL, Henrico County, VA (1962)
*100 OAKS MALL, Nashville, TN (1967)
*LA MIRADA CENTER, La Mirada, CA (1970)
*100 OAKS MALL, Nashville, TN (1967)
*LA MIRADA CENTER, La Mirada, CA (1970)
