Here’s a busy scene at the downtown Houston, Texas Woolworth store, from 1964. For a great many Americans, Woolworth’s was “America’s Christmas Store”, just as the pictured Santa Claus banners say. Woolworth, like its variety store competitors, had moved beyond the 10 cents price point eons ago by this time, but most items carried were still fairly small ticket. The expanded format of the Woolco stores would allow a much greater offering of large items, including television sets and furniture.Since the Woolco program was still in its infancy, Woolworth stores like this were still the company’s mainstay. I really like the little Christmas trees throughout, and the internally lit signage.
I think those lit signs are a classy touch for an otehrwise busy store. A look inside this really makes me miss Woolworth's.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Didi.. this pic makes me miss Woolworths more too as well as Woolco. I heard they closed because of an accounting mistake. They thought they were loosing money when in fact the stores were still turning a profit. By the time the mistake was discovered it was too late.
ReplyDeleteAhhh yes the memories of Woolworths. I recall as a kid visiting the Downtown San Francisco (Powell @ Market streets www.floodbuilding.com where the cable cars turn around) with my Grandmother in the 1970's. Warm cashews at the peanut and candy counter and the scent of popcorn in the air! Now there is a Gap in the space.
ReplyDeleteMrBlueLight, a Woolworth's I used to go to in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood also turned into a Gap.
ReplyDeleteDidi - I'm really into the signs. Overall, it's a great scene and definitely makes me nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteDwayne - That's fascinating, I had no idea. Someday I hope to post at length on Woolworth's and will need to look into that. Thanks!
Mr. Bluelight - Thanks for sharing the great memories! I've seen many exterior photos of the S.F. Powell and Market store, it was truly a landmark. I'd love to see what that particular one looked like inside. I'm assuming it was similar to this.
As a kid (born 1965), we went to the Woolworth's in (City of) Poughkeepsie NY before the malls were built in the suburbs starting in the mid-1970s. The thing I remember most was getting an ice cream sundae at the counter, which was awesome all by itself, but you also got to pop a balloon to determine the price of the sundae.
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