Synopses & Reviews
Millions of Americans have fond memories of shopping at Woolworth's, wandering the aisles in search of a humble spool 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 grilled-cheese sandwich or ice-cream sundae at the famous lunch counter?
These and countless other memories are celebrated in 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.
Review
"A well-illustrated stroll down the aisles of the Red Front store...[a] warm tribute to the five-and-dime's golden era." --
People
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [241]-242) and index.
About the Author
Karen Plunkett-Powel is the author of
The Nancy Drew Scrapbook and the coauthor of
Home Design from the Inside-Out. She has published two award-winning plays and hundreds of articles. A resident of the New Jersey shore, she is at work on several other pop culture projects. She can be reached at P.O. Box 3128, Sea Bright, NJ 07760 or by e-mail at
[email protected].
Table of Contents
Nickel parakeets and grilled cheese: welcome to the world's most famous five-and-dime -- Early years of the merchant prince -- The birth of Woolworth's "great five-cent -store" -- Frank sires a million-dollar baby in Pennsylvania -- The march of "five-and-dimes" -- Reaching for the sky: the great Woolworth Building -- Woolworth's international -- Transition: from history to nostalgia -- Those fabulous lunch counters! -- A store for all seasons -- The spectacle of Woolworth's -- Woolworth's coast to coast -- The collectibles!