Remembering Woolworth's: A Nostalgic History of the World's Most Famous Five-and-Dime

by Karen Plunkett-Powell

Remembering Woolworth's brings back to life all the nostalgia and magic of the famous five-and-dime that captured the hearts of Americans for over a centuryMillions of Americans have fond memories of shopping at Woolworth's, wandering the aisles in search of a humble spool of Woolco thread, festive Christmas decorations, a goldfish or parakeet, or a blue bottle of Evening in Paris perfume. And who could forget the special treat of a grilled-cheese sandwich or ice-cream sundae at the famous lunch counter?These and countless other memories are celebrated in Karen Plunkett-Powell's Remembering Woolworth's. Packed with photos, first-hand remembrances, vivid anecdotes, and a lively, well-researched narrative, the book tells the story of how a poor potato farmer named Frank Woolworth created a merchandising empire that touched the lives of Americans in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between. Chapters cover the store's humble beginnings, surviving the Great Depression, the civil rights sit-ins, Woolworth's around the globe, the popularity of Woolworth's collectibles, and much more.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

510 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 1999

Reviews

[Bobby Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working class Americans once had a place to shop with their families where they were made to feel important, even rich. They could dine inexpensively at the lunch counter and spend a morning or afternoon just browsing through the most fabulous Five-and-Dime store in the world. The rich had Tiffany's and Macy's. Everyone else had Woolworth's.

Before I came to live in Australia, where an entirely unrelated Woolworth's is a grocery chain, on Sunday mornings I would walk through the aisles of that familiar building with the famous Red Font bearing the Woolworth name. It was no longer Woolworth's, of course, but this only added to the nostalgia while I searched for nostalgic Coke items or old books, and other bits of Americana to take home. The building was/is a nostalgic downtown landmark in Bakersfield which had been converted into a huge antique shop. It still felt like a Woolworth's inside, however; even the famous lunch counter remained, adding a sense that I was somehow stepping into the past, where I belonged.

This marvelous book by Karen Plunkett-Powell will bring back fond memories for those not fortunate enough to have that connection to America's past to enjoy. The book is filled with sentimental remembrances from children who shopped with their parents or grandparents, or had an ice cream soda with the girl they later married. It is a book filled with recollections from those who bought all their Christmas presents for friends and family at America's Christmas store, and even some who worked at Woolworth's, personalizing a great success story.

It is that mix of personal nostalgia and historical narrative about this most wonderful of stores which separate this book from others of its ilk. The book is augmented by color and black and white pictures of stores in America and abroad, and Woolworth's products and collectibles. Even photos of Hollywood fan magazines showing the retailer's connection to early silent films are included in a book both fun and informative. While dealing with the business transitions and social and economic changes which finally saw the last store of this greatest of companies fade into the sunset, it is the nostalgia most people will find irresistible.

Not just the story of Frank Woolworth and how he built a retail empire by offering customers quality merchandise at low prices while making them feel special, this is very much a story of America's nostalgic past. Sadly, one which is long gone in a way which has little to do with the passage of time. Woolworth's belongs to America’s past, and is imbedded into the memories of those to whom it was a constant in their lives growing up. Any girl who ever bought a bottle of Evening in Paris and any young man who ever enjoyed its fragrance while sitting next to her in a movie house is connected to that icon of retailers, Woolworth's. I highly recommend this fabulous trip down memory lane. And if it’s still there after all these years, and you're ever in Bakersfield, you might want to stop at the Red-Font once again and remember with a sigh how America once was.

[Thomas Radigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was an interesting overview of the Woolworth's store chain history, how it came to be, how it thrived, and why it eventually died. It also covered the lives of Frank Woolworth himself as well as his family and descendants (who had nothing to do with the business), and the friends and relatives who also were part of the business. The book mentioned how the store had innovative-for-its-time practices, such as allowing customers to handle merchandise before buying it, and having said merchandise displayed attractively to entice customers.

Yet the book could have been put together better. It jumps between time periods and repeats itself when it was not really necessary, the idea to cover different aspects of Woolworth's such as overseas expansion, but it could have been more linear. While Frank Woolworth started the whole shebang, it was his successors who made the changes to the business to allow it to prosper for decades after his demise.

I admit I have no special nostalgia for Woolworth's, other than seeing the parakeets when I was a boy; there were other stores I liked better, and Woolworth's unfortunately went into decline by the late 1980's and essentially became little better than a chain of junk shops. Still a very interesting story.

[Stuart Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who remember their local 5-and-dime will find this informal history a pleasant read. Interspersed throughout are short "time capsules", quoting former customers' or employees' stories about working or shopping at Woolworth's, once a ubiquitous feature of almost any city or town's business district. I grew up frequenting local dime stories--Danner's and Murphy's in Indianapolis--but as an adult I shopped at Woolworth's in Chicago in Hyde Park, the two stores on State Street and the one on Michigan Ave. I remember when the chain reintroduced the parakeets and the store on south State St. had a great selection of indoor plants--along with paper pads, pencils, needles and thread, roasting pans, jigsaw puzzles and just about everything else. I still miss it!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought back a lot of memories. Everything they wrote about was like a trip down memory lane. We used to go every Saturday and I would look and look before I decided on anything to buy with my allowance. The description was just like I remembered. The lunch counter and their little BLT's with a toothpick stuck in it. (That's what I liked, don't ever remember getting a grilled cheese) I would recommend this book to anyone really. If you don't remember going to Woolworth's there is a lot of information to learn about the store. I did not know that they had other stores that they owned other than Woolworth's.

[Lorraine Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting story! I wish the author hadn't called Mr. Woodworth "porky" as an adjective. Portly would have been a kinder, classier word to use.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not sure why I read this book. I have only very vague memories of ever stepping foot in a Woolworth's store when I was very young, and since they're all gone now I'll never really know. I think I read this because of my interest in vintage items and "dime-store chic", most especially when it pertains to vintage Christmas items. I now know more about the history of Woolworth's than any person should--the good news is that I'll know the answers whenever a Woolworth's question comes up in Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy!

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book for anyone who wants to relive the times and places of the Woolworth era. With in-depth history of the man who created the Woolworth empire, you'll learn all about the various people who helped make this store such an important part of every American's life. Filled with nice photographs, illustrations,and photocopies, readers will go from the beginning to the ultimate demise of such a great business. Filled with facts, memories, and trivia, readers will enjoy this book on such a unique Americana style story.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to like this book, as I fondly remember Woolworths. The narrative is just too chaotic. Sections all over, flying through history. Was interesting to see they started Footlocker, Afterthoughts, and Champs. Woolworths was quite driven though. Amazing how he got all this done and with no doubt. Did not like to read how he got so focused on material when building his house, buildings, and gifts for wife.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this awhile ago. Having grown up in a small town, I have a lot of memories of our Woolworth's store. It was really interesting to read how it all got started.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brought back some good memories! But I wanted even more from this book.