Do you remember Woolworth's? I certainly do.In my last post I told you a bit about the Farmer's Market that was located in a square in the center of our town. Right across the street was Woolworth's. We often went there when I was young. As a child, one of the things I loved to do was ride the escalator. Other stores in town had elevators, but the escalator was so much more fun.
Woolworth's was what they called a five and dime and there were bargains galore to be had every time we came to town. It was a very popular store and always busy.
As a teenager, I used to love to stop by the soda fountain and restaurant on a Saturday morning. Fountain Coca Cola was the best. Ice cold on a hot summer day, it went down smooth and I always found it refreshing. We seldom got soda pop of any kind, so having a few cents to buy a Coke, as we called it, at Woolworth's was a lot of fun and a real treat. The odd time we had enough to get a grilled cheese or another treat off the menu, but that didn't happen often.
As a teenager, I used to love to stop by the soda fountain and restaurant on a Saturday morning. Fountain Coca Cola was the best. Ice cold on a hot summer day, it went down smooth and I always found it refreshing. We seldom got soda pop of any kind, so having a few cents to buy a Coke, as we called it, at Woolworth's was a lot of fun and a real treat. The odd time we had enough to get a grilled cheese or another treat off the menu, but that didn't happen often. I grew up and got married and it was still fun to shop at Woolworth's and stop by the soda fountain for a Coke. For years it was a regular stop, though I seldom had the money to buy much. It was still fun to ride the escalator and stop by for a Coke.
When my current husband and I were newly married, Woolworth's was still there, but shortly after the store became Woolco. After a couple of years it closed when it was taken over by Walmart. Today, I seldom go to Walmart. It just isn't the same and the clerks are rude, as is the manager. When it opened, it ended an era of great customer service and soda fountain Cokes. Sad in a way, but I will always have the memories.
What are your memories of Woolworth's? Please post in the comment area. I would love to hear what made this five and dime special to you.
Woolworth is gone here in New Zealand, they call them Count down.
ReplyDeleteOh yes... we had a WW here in Ada...... I remember going with Mom and Grandmom..... I remember all the penny toys. I think that Grandmother bought her dress patterns there..I think it went from Woolworth to 5 and dime.... not sure ..... I had forgotten all about Woolworths....... thanks for the memories....
ReplyDeleteI miss Woolworths,I really do.
ReplyDeleteWoolworths....wow, that ages me I think. Yes, I remember that store. But more than the soda fountain, I remember the old shiny wooden floors creaking as we walked the aisles. Weird, huh?
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure for me that you take time to stop by and leave your wonderful comments!!
Holiday Weekend Shadows is my link. Hope your day is treating you well!!!!
We would visit downtown Montreal, which Uptown to us at the time. While the big department stores were great, we'd sometimes stop at either Kresges or Woolworths (not sure which) for a piece of chocolate cake. There may have been other food on occasion, but I remember the cake. In our weird fashion though, we called it the Ten Cent Store.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the country so I did not become familiar with Woolworth's until I started to work for National Life and Accident Ins. Co. , It was located at the corner of the Arcade downtown and we would walk there on our lunch break and check out items but the biggest draw was they had a popcorn stand outside the front door and we would get a bag of popcorn and eat it on our way back to work. By the time we got back to the office, we needed a drink of coke. Peace
ReplyDeleteWe had Woolworth's here, and I think everywhere I lived. Also Ben Franklin's. I miss both so much. The Woolworth's downtown here in Loveland was where all the elderly ladies would go to get their hairnets. They missed it very much, because they could walk there. Sad these places are all gone.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI certainly do remember Woolworth's! I walked by the shopping center it was in every day on my way to grammar school. I loved the soda fountain. They made excellent ice cream sodas. And the candy aisle was something else. Big glass containers. The customers would scoop out their choice, put it in a Woolworth's paper bag and weigh it.
The shopping center with Woolworth's was still there when Dave and I moved out of Manchester. I doubt that it is still there, today, though.
Nice memories. :-)
Tina
I just used google maps to try to see if Woolworth's is still there. The shopping center is still there, but the stores are different. I continued on and got to my old grammar school. It's still an old brick building, but they have added to it and the landscaping is improved. What a hoot to walk down memory lane via google maps.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember Woolworths and also Woolco. I loved seeing that photo with the red stools. Every Saturday, when I was a girl, we would go into the city to shop, and usually stopped at Woolworths or Kresges to sit on the stools and have something to eat. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember Woolworths, but I do believe I inherited some spools of thread from them....I know I have some from TG&Y....
ReplyDeleteI used to love Woolworth's. I would take $5 when I was a little child and buy all my Christmas gifts - always one of those plastic containers full of bubble bath for my two sisters. My mom even worked there for a few years. Ah, thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeletePeople in my town talk about how rude Walmart cashiers, etc. are, too. It must be nationwide!
The town I grew up in was very small and we didn't have a Woolworth's, but the pictures you posted are so familiar because they were in so many other little towns. When we lived in Wyoming, there was a drug store, that is still there, with a soda fountain. Such a wonderful little spot to stop in for lunch. Makes you feel as if you've gone back in time just a tad.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember much about the store itself but I do remember it meant having the opportunity to shop with my Mom.
ReplyDeleteKilleen, Texas got its first Mall in the early 70s, I think, and Woolworth's was one of the major stores, located at one end of the mall. We lived about 4 blocks away, & I used to walk there, take the boys to get haircuts at the Barber Shop, look through all the stores, the last stop at Woolworth's. We'd browse the aisles - most anything you wanted to buy could be bought at the store. Then we'd go to the food counter, sit in a booth, and order burgers, fries, and cokes. We were all pretty tired by then, so it was great to sit down & rest and have a bite to eat. That was a great time of life, with many wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteMy Father used to Manager Woolworth stores....we got to go into work with him sometimes...some of my favorite memories were helping the cashiers bag during Christmas events.
ReplyDeleteOh yes I remember all to well, My dad was a manager at a few Woolworth's in Chicago area. I am looking for photos of inside the State street Soda fountain.
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