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Hornwrecker
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Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 10:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There was an article today in the Detroit News about Bur-Lers, an old time five and dime type store that is still in business.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060324/LIFESTYLE/603240321



They still sell penny candies for a penny.
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Livernoisyard
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Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I lived next door to a dimestore in Milwaukee when I was 6 to 13 years old. It was built on the only vacant lot that my grandparents had remaining from their small truck farm in once-rural Milwaukee (now inner city) after they traded it for 12 acres in Rio Hondo, TX in the Lower Rio Grande in the 1930s.

It had all kinds of penny candy, which I bought from my early-AM paper-route proceeds. The proprietor - Aaron Cohen - ran the store while his wife ran an older dimestore just outside downtown. Aaron' son, Wilbur J. Cohen, was a grad of UW (and also possibly MSU) and was a Cabinet Secretary under LBJ, later in his life.

(Message edited by livernoisyard on March 24, 2006)
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Jimaz
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Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hehe! I added a placemark to my Google Earth for this place. Can't wait to visit!
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Psip
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Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ahh the smell of Oil Cloth..
Oil Cloth
http://www.oilcloth.com/
Be sure to check out the SWATCHES, Archives its like you are at your grandmothers kitchen.
(CAUTION may cause acid flashbacks)

(Message edited by psip on March 24, 2006)
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Jimaz
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Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ha! Filed under nostalgia. Thanks!
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Tammypio
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:21 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Very Cool!
I used to buy Levis from Burlers when I was in high school. I think the dime store the lady from Hamtramck was talking about may have been Lendzions or maybe Neisners. When Lendzions in Hamtramck closed about 10 years ago (?), I was so sad to see it go. I remember buying Christmas decorations, candy, sewing supplies for my home ec class and other really cool things there as I was growing up in Hamtramck. Burlers is a lot like that. I think it has the really cool wooden floors like Lendzions did too. The only other store I know of like this that still exists is the Ben Franklin up in Croswell...another classic, nostalgic place. Thanks for the post!

(Message edited by tammypio on March 25, 2006)
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Jenniferl
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:52 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bur-lers rules!!!
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Jjaba
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 2:14 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Excellent story from the Eastside. Westsiders have never heard of this one. Thanks.
jjaba
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623kraw
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 2:52 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

...from dime stores to dollar stores - now that's progress.

Jjaba, can you rattle off a few of the old time dime stores? (before my time)
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Hamtramck_steve
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 8:26 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Hamtramck lady in the article could have been thinking of Grant's, too.
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Matt
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 11:34 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I can only remember the Woolworth's in east Dearborn from when I was a young lass.

There was also another five and dime in Dearborn Heights on Warren Rd and Inkster, next to the A&P and Perry Drugs... but for the life of me, I can't remember the name of it. Was it a Woolworth's too? Just remember that it said "5c and 10c" on the sign. :-)
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Hornwrecker
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 11:40 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I remembered that there was a Neisner in one of the old photos I snagged from WSU/VMC, located around Mack and Chalmers.

Neisner's  5 & 10

I'll see if I have any other ones lying around.
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Jjaba
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 11:59 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here's some off the top of jjaba's 1940's head.

Kresge's.
Woolworths's (AKA Woolschitts.)
Neisner's. (Wonderful photo Hornwrecker)
W.T. Grant's.
W. H. Kress.
Walton's. (Ark., Okla., Mo.)
Hudson's Basement
Crowley's Basement.
Demery's Basement.
Federal's Dept. Stores.

After 1961, you have the big boxes.

More to come.

jjaba.
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Lowell
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The classic dime store sign design was gold letters atop a red background, like the Neisner's above probably was.

Here is a ruin from 5417 Chene. What was it?

chene store

Here is a close up of the only thing readable, a W inside a flattened diamond. I thought it might be a Woolworth logo, but searching Google images doesn't find a match.

logo
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Pffft
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jjaba,

There was a Demery's in Birmingham (it later housed a Crowley's). Did it start in Detroit and spread out?
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Jjaba
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lowell, the MAN with the ruins. Thanks. Soon, our detectives will come up with an answer for you. Kresge's had a red band like that.

Sebastian S. Kresge opened in Detroit in 1899. By 1912, 85 stores. jjaba's Kresge was on Grand River and Oakman, next to the big Sears store on the northside of the street, E. of Oakman. Now a vacant block.

JJ Newberry open in Penna. in 1911. In 1961, 565 stores.

Samuel H. Kress in Penna. opened in 1896. The last Kress store closed in 1981.
Kress stores were known for the art deco terra cotta architecture. There are many famous storefronts extant. Hilo, Hawaii; Portland, Oregon (now Williams Sonoma Store); 5th Avenue, in New York; Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Calif.; and Canal Street, New Orleans.

The Sunset Blvd. store is now a theme park in Florida.

They were called Five and Dimes, Dime Stores, Ten cent stores. Some other names include:

Ben Frankiln
Alco-Duckwall
Butler Brothers (Sam Walton's first retail job. He was mgr. of the most successful store in chain history.)
Mc Crory
JJ Newberry
H.L. Green.

Every town of any size had a five and dime store.
They've been replaced by what are known today as dollar stores, or the big boxes, carrying the same stuff. Although more towards groceries, chains like Canned Foods Outlet are another chain selling cheap goods. Big Lots also comes to mind.

jjaba.
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Pffft
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A key difference is that unlike the old dime stores the dollar stores don't have things like ribbon by the yard, that they'll cut for you, or penny candy.

The old services ...that seems to be what Bur-Lers still does.
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Jjaba
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, the services and the size too.
Kresge's Newark, NJ was a ten-story bldg., with 120 departments. It was built 1923-28.

Gold fish, paint, children's clothing, lamp shades, women's hats, lunch counters, ham sandwiches and pop corn in the front windows, hardware, a broom, a snowshovel, ribbon cut to lengths. Kresge's had it all.

jjaba, fond memories.
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Hardhat
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 1:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Young Hardhat shopped at the Neisner's and Jupiter stores (next door to each other?) on West Vernor on the Southwest side. I always wondered what was up with the cool Jupiter logo, which was imbedded in the tile as you walked in (I think he was a Roman god). Anyhow, they were good stores. We could walk to them. The cash register's made a satisfying clunking sound. The stuff was reasonably priced. You could get just about anything on Vernor Highway thru the 1970s.
Hardhat, Southwestsider.
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Pffft
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 1:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

One I remember that I don't think anyone's mentioned -- Yankee.

There was one at the Miracle Mile shopping center in Pontiac/B'field Township.
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Unclefrank
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 3:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I remember the one on 7 mile and Mack by St. Johns. I think it closed in the early 70's. A real dump at the end.
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Rustic
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 3:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There were Jupiter stores on GR near Joy and, I think, near Lahser. Jupiter stores were owned by Kresgee's and at least by the 70s they sold the exact same Kresgee brands. They had a waaay cool logo as hornwercker mentioned (Roman God logo).

The Kresgee's at gr/greenfield was 3 floors with openins directly fron ward's mezzanine so you didn't hafta walk outside to go from one store to the other .... the one at northland was only two floors but it mighta been larger.
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The_rock
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 7:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was told during discovery in a lawsuit that the FIRST Kresge's store (a/k/a store #1) was at State and Woodward. across from Hudson's. Kresge's got sued when a lady fell down the staircase leading from the lobby floor to the basement--she actually came to rest on the landing. I represented the independent contractor and the accident occured when she got bumped and fell down the staircase during one of those "Blue Light Specials."
The store manager for Kresge's testified on deposition that HIS store was the first store SS. Kresge established, although I recall him also saying the first "K-Mart" was established in Garden City(?) at the time. Long time ago, facts may be a little fuzzy.
I know when the case was settled, Kresge's corporate counsel sent out a directive that future "Blue Light Specials" were to be held at a location other than at the top of a staircase!
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Jjaba
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 7:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Those passthoughs were cool. Grand River Crowley's Shoe Dept. in a separate storefront, connected to its main store next door.

As jjaba recalls, Demery's was at Woodward and Grand Blvd. in the days when that was a great regional center. He never saw any others.

jjaba.
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Hornwrecker
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

For any of you youngsters out there too young to remember what the interior of a five and dime looked like, here are some scans from Kresge's 50th anniversary booklet. As to why I have this or where I got it, and how it appeared in the bottom drawer of my desk... I have no idea.

First we see the baby and toddler clothes section of the store...

Kresge Interior 1

... and on to the tool and hardware section...

Kresge Interior 2

... which brings us to the end of the first part of our tour in notions, whatever the hell they are.

Kresge Interior 3

tbc...
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Pffft
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Notions = sewing materials!

Very cool photos. Love the floor tiles ...and the "Wee Walker Shoes" ...those tables laden with goods are so familiar ...
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Rustic
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Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 11:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I always get sundries with my notions ...

Remembering TYFSAK!
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Jjaba
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Note the table numbers, also known as departments.
As mentioned, Newark, NJ Kresge's had 120 departments.

The Rock is always correct. K-Mart was started in Garden City, Michigan in 1962. In 1962, K-Mart opened 17 stores. That's quite a few big boxes, quite a few suburban stores.

jjaba, buying goldfish in Chinese Take-away containers.
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Taj920
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Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 1:23 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

7 Mile Mack had both a Kresge's and a Woolworth's up until the 80s.
The last Gneiser's or Jupiter I remember was at Jeff/Chalmers in the early 80s
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Hamtramck_steve
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Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 10:21 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There was a Jupiter at 8 Mile and Conant/Dequindre at least until 1985.
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Hornwrecker
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Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 12:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Continuing our tour: we come to dept #2, which to me, looks like a table with various types of crap.

Kresge Interior 6

... on to the toy Department...

Kresge Interior 5

... and we conclude our tour with a stop at the candy counter.

Kresge Interior 4

Until a few years ago, Bur-Lers had a candy counter like the one pictured above, but it didn't meet current health codes.
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Jiminnm
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Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 12:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I spent quite a few pennies and nickels at the Bur-lers store on E. 7 Mile between Goulburn and Westphalia, mostly on baseball cards (late 1950s into the 1960s). My mother was one of the few who did not throw them away.

jjaba, I think the Walton's you mentioned was the predecessor to Wal-Mart.
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Jjaba
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Jiminnm, yes Sam Walton started Walton's and that evolved into the regional Wal-Mart brand. Wal-Mart began in Rogers, Ark. in 1962. Walton's then were phased out as Wal-Mart went to a regional concept on freeways between towns. The early model never went to a community with an excess of 10,000 population, and mostly in the Southern states. Wal-Mart offices are in Bentonville, Ark.

Toys are Kresge's Dept. 24. No wonder, US 24 is Telegraph Rd. and the kids would make a "bee line" for toys.

jjaba, buying Kresge's socks.
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Ray1936
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Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 9:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great photos and comments. Although I remember patronizing "dime stores" quite a bit as a kid, the grey cells won't bring up any stories to share or specific memories. Curious.

I do remember a dime store on Meyers north of Schoolcraft. I think it was a bastard brand, sure it wasn't a name brand store. As a young teen, I'd buy my hair oil there; only place you could find the el cheapo foo foo stuff us greasers liked.
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Jjaba
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Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:35 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There was a variety store on Wyoming just north of Schoolcraft, also. They sold Hi-Value paint so maybe that was the name of the store.

I think I saw Ray1936 there singing that John P. Atherton song written in 1949:

"Brylcream, a little dab;ll do ya
Brylcream, you look so deboniar.

Brylcream, the gals'll all pursue ya
They love to run their fingers through your hair."

jjaba, Proudly Westside.
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Psip
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Brylcream
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Mplsryan
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Lowell- I have seen the W in the diamond pattern on old Woolworths stores before. Its often in the tile work of the front stoop of the old stores. I don't know if it was an official TM though. I'll grab an photo when I take one...
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Mplsryan
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Lowell- I have seen the W in the diamond pattern on old Woolworths stores before. Its often in the tile work of the front stoop of the old stores. I don't know if it was an official TM though. I'll grab a photo when I take one...
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Mplsryan
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7th & Nicollet, MPLS circa 1937 Here is one! On the new deco Woolworth's in Mpls circa 1937.
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623kraw
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Thanx everyone for jolting a few old brain cells. I do remember my mom taking us kids to WT Grant, Woolworths and there was also a Cunninghams. We did groceries at Nationals which closed and turned into a Great Scott.
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Wabashrr1
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From WSU, Record ID # 56965_2

Woolworth 1941

I thought it might be Woolworth too but as can be seen in the above 1941 photo, no W in a diamond. Could still be though.. Logo change??

Can't say I remember National, but Great Scott.. Many a late Friday night there after mom got off work.
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Jams
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Ahh, I remember putting Brylcreem into my hair to keep my "princeton" haircut from Joe the barber (Dad's fishing and drinking buddy) looking its best.

Remember as a sixth-grader freaking out my sister's caretaker (My youngest sister was born with a heart condition) buying The History of the Ancient World at Neisner's on W. Vernor from the book remnant section with my "treat money" (I think she bought me a Cherry-Coke at the fountain that day.). I believe, I still have that book somewhere.

JamS - remembering the SW side and the Baker bus passing in front of our house.

(Message edited by JamS on March 27, 2006)
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Barnesfoto
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Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 7:26 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

re: Lowell's pics
FW Woolwoth Co. used the W in the diamond. There was a Woolworth's Identical to the one in Lowell's pics at Grand River and Lahser, Barnesfoto remembers stroller rides to that place for lunch. The Rosedale Players have their space above its' boarded hulk.
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The_rock
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Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 7:31 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Brylcreem---the sponsor of Bill Stern, WJR radio's old-time sports announcer WAY BACK--well before Van Patrick and Bob Reynolds. He used to tell Paul Harvey-like stories about sports figures. Seems to me he was on weekends at 11:15 PM, following the local news.
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Pamequus
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Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:33 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Barnesfoto...There was also a Jupiter at GR/Lahser but my favorite dime store was the Kresge's on 7 Mile near Evergreen. I'd get my 50 cents allowance and spend hours roaming around that store for just the right thing to spend it on.

There was also a great bagel factory in that same area, methinks Stout and 7 Mile. Always smelled soooooo good.
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Wabashrr1
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Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:43 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

http://www.woolworthwalk.com/d iner/
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Catman_dude
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I remember a Ben Franklin 5 and 10 at the corner of Merriman and Joy Road in Westland. It was between an A&P grocery store and a drug store which later turned into a Little Caesars pizza palor. I loved going there for their toys like guns with caps, plastic harmonicas, bubbles-making stuff, plastic whistles with a thingy you pull in and out to make different pitches of sound, and other toys in little clear bags. They had all sorts of candy like peanut butter taffy, candy cigarettes, bubblegum cigars, Charms blow-pops, hard candies (little root-beer flavored barrels and sour lemon-drops) and hot cinnamon jawbreakers. I also remember the smell of varnished wood of the display cases. Mom would spend time over at the boring stuff like the "notions" mentioned above, clothes (like socks) and kitchen crap. The place was also the time I peed uncontrollably in the middle of one of the aisles-- my mother waited to long to get home!

The first Kmart was at Middlebelt and Ford roads in Garden City.

(Message edited by catman_dude on March 27, 2006)
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Hornwrecker
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Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A few more scans from the brochure:







For our Southern neighbours...




Time for lunch.

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Malcolm_t
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Username: Malcolm_t

Post Number: 8
Registered: 01-2004
Posted From: 68.43.107.91
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

how about Sam`s cut rate drugs ,,downtown Detroit,,Randolph and Monroe ..I worked there for some time,,first as general assistant to the store manager,,then in the drug department,,then in the sign shop,,finally in the display department.. Sam`s had a lunch counter,,a grocery dept. ,,men`,women`s and children`s clothing,, and much more.. From there I worked at Hudsons downtown in the bicycle and toy dept. on the twelth floor.. bty.. Sam`s owner,,Sam Osnos,, had a uniformed butler serve him breakfast and lunch in his office on the forth floor..What a trip to see..
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3457
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

On another thread there was a history of the 1937 FW Woolworth downtown Detroit sit-down strike by the "Woolworth Girls." It is an interestng piece of American labor history.

Your photos are wonderful. Thanks.

Glad to see Nehi Grape and Orange on the menu but the prices are a bit dear for jjaba. jjaba gets Senior Cokes at Mc Donalds for 25 cents. And don't put too much ice...........

jjaba, Shopping my dime store for hemp twine.
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The_rock
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Username: The_rock

Post Number: 1069
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 68.42.251.225
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

hornwrecker--you made my day with that photograph of the Kresege store in Pontiac. It was on the SE corner of Huron and Saginaw. Mr. Morgan was the store manager. It was a very attractive building as evidenced by the photograph.
I bought my first box kite there. The soda fountain was quite large, and featured chocolate malts made with Horlick's malt, two scoops of ice cream, milk from Sealtest Dairy, served in those beautiful old pewter containers, and you did not peal the paper from the straw, you tore off one end, and blew the paper off.
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Mplsryan
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Username: Mplsryan

Post Number: 138
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 24.26.164.215
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

funny, we get nostalgic about the chain stores of the 1940s, will our children say the same about the CVS or the Starbuck's?
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3461
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Damn, so The Rock was the kid who hit my mother in the eye with one of those wrappers.

We were up in Pontiac shopping for gold fish, warm socks, and stuff on the clearance tables.

jjaba on the Interurban.
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Pffft
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Username: Pffft

Post Number: 864
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 12.34.51.20
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The CVSes etc. have dumbed down the shopping experience, they don't provide half the products or services. Doubt that anyone will even remember the names...
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Pffft
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Username: Pffft

Post Number: 865
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 12.34.51.20
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

p.s. The stores we're talking about existed in the '50s, '60s, '70s, and even in some cases into the '80s, not just the '40s.
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Jams
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Username: Jams

Post Number: 2996
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 68.79.88.108
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Forgot about those "Painted" turtles, they used to sell until it was discovered the paint kept the shell from growing. Although, usually it seemed many of those turtles met their end in a driveway.

Got my first "only mine" pet, when I was 6 or7, at a Kresge's, a goldfish I named imaginatively Goldy who met her demise in a bowl cleaning accident.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 402
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I just mentioned this thread to Mrs. Ray1936, commonly known as Marge, and she reminded me that she worked at the Kresge store in Allen Park (Southfield & Allen Road) from 1954 to 1956 while in high school. She worked in the stationary and party departments for 45c an hour, but saved enough to buy her first car ('49 Ford) when she graduated from APHS.

She's always been good on finances, which has been a blessing for me, because I'm a monetary idiot.

Ray1936, wondering what the hell that '49 Ford was doing on Dexter Avenue.........
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3463
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ray1936, great tale. Can Mrs. Ray1936 give us some first-hand accounts about being a Kresge clerk?

jjaba's big beef at check-out today is that #1, the cash register is hard to read and does rapidly complex calculations, totally impossible to follow.

Secondly, the clerks are not trained to count your change. They just hand you a sales slip and a wad. Your coin are in a scopper if you remember.
jjaba gets tired of trying to figure out his bill and getting ripped off. Today, a lot of the clerks are not very nice people. jjaba likes nice in a retail setting. We can all imagine Mrs. Ray1936 as nice to customers.

jjaba gives odds the 1949 Ford was black.
If so, it was in front of Grunts Store on Dexter Blvd. and Mrs. Ray1936 was shopping pickles in brine barrel. Mrs. Grunt also sold the Detroit Times BTW.

jjaba.
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Bvos
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Username: Bvos

Post Number: 1342
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 66.238.170.39
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 1:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Have to agree with Pffft on the Five & Dimes lasting into the 80s. My mom used to take us kids in the 80s to one of the last remaining Woolworth's in Metro Detroit. I bought many balsa airplanes there as well as numerous punching balloons. Gone are the days when kids could amuse themselves for days with nickel and dime toys...

Anyways, I could remember the place being on its last leg even as a little kids. The place wasn't kept that clean and lots of stuff was broken and not fixed. However you couldn't beat their selection on all sorts of fun stuff. It sure did strech that allowance money out into a lot of fun.

It was near Macomb Mall, but not in Macomb Mall. It's the place along Gratiot that used to have the Montgomery Wards, and a Crowleys I believe as well.
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The_rock
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Username: The_rock

Post Number: 1070
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 68.42.251.225
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 2:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jjaba, tell mom that I apologize if I ever banged her in the eyeball with a straw wrapper. We usually aimed for the soda jerk.
And as I recall, some of those soda fountains had glass containers, where you just would lift the top off and take out a plastic straw that was not coverd with paper. Not overly sanitary.
I wish I had know you were looking for goldfish at the Kresge's store in Pontiac. I would have taken you by your little hand and walked you out the front door of Kresges, walked you across Saginaw St., past the old court house,and down the next block west to Taskers Hobby Shop on Huron Avenue.
What an awewsome place- they sold tropical fish, cheap fish, balsa wood airplanes, and even Lionel trains. We spent a lot of time there.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 404
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 4:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jjaba is psychic. The car was indeed black. In my massive family archives I even had a scan of it in this ancient computer. Mrs. Ray1936 is out shopping, but I shall ask her for experiences on her return and post later.
car
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 351
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 69.242.223.42
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It's not unusual to have an incorrect checkout at today's stores - all kinds, even fastfood places with icons on their cash registers. Some stores do not have their specials on computer, and some clerks possibly "double-scan" part of a transction and later "till-tap" the overages into their pockets whenever it's convenient for them to do so.

In any event, I have a good ability to get my total calculated mentally to within a percent or so before the checkout and don't generally fall victim to any "honest" mistakes. I even return the very few "bank errors in my favor" to the stores except for a few places which routinely try to rip people off.

The state department that checks stores stated that over 25% of their spot checks detected errors, almost always in favor of the stores. So it's caveat emptor, even today.
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Wkl
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Username: Wkl

Post Number: 71
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 204.212.159.1
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I worked at Kressge when I was in high school. One the first things I had to do was scoop all the dead gold fish out of the tank. Don't think those things lived more that a day or two. The tank was pretty empty come the end of the week.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 352
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 69.242.223.42
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Those poor fish probably were "living" in chlorinated water and were probably not fed. So their survival was assured - not.
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Wkl
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Username: Wkl

Post Number: 72
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 204.212.159.1
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

We feed them...we feed them.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3465
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 6:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As The Rock knows, Taskers fish didn't die on you, but don't leave them in the car when it's 10 below out. Or in Mississippi where you have Tupelo.

Wkl, tell us more about working at Kresges. Which store? What dates? What was you other job except scraping up dead fish?

Livernoisyard knows that Animal Cops-Detroit would be on their case if they sold nearly dead fish. Glad you are quick with numbers. Nobody likes to overpay in a store.

Rock, get us a full report on Fremont, Mich. Ben Franklin Store. Did they hawk baby food?

jjaba, in the school sneakers aisle.
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Hamtramck_steve
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Username: Hamtramck_steve

Post Number: 2839
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 69.209.182.37
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 6:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bvos, I know exactly which store you're talking about, at 15 Mile & Gratiot. I think it was a Woolworth's. It was behind the Monkey Ward's, so that you couldn't see it from Gratiot.

Macomb Mall had a Kresge's, and there was a Woolworth's on Harper just north of 9 Mile.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 354
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 69.242.223.42
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 6:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Walton bought out what was left of the Woolworths and Woolcos, no?
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3469
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 7:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No, jjaba has never heard that Walton's bought out Woolworth and Woolco. Woolco, K-Mart, Target, and Wal-Mart all started in 1962.

jjaba, stocking up on storebrand cheese crackers.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 356
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 69.242.223.42
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 7:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Did a little research: Walton bought the Canadian Woolcos, and Woolworth's eventually became Foot Locker.
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 986
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 63.41.8.224
Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

One thing I remember about the goldfish and turtles is that you used to take them home in those cardboard containers that Chinese take-out comes in. Another thing were those plastic turtle environments, with the "realistic" green plastic, palm tree on the center island.

I went by Bur-Lers today, and they report a decent increase of customers since the article. Those old wooden counters with the glass edgings are still there, although I didn't see any displays of oil-cloth there. The place is really in a time warp.

Rock, glad to find a photo that made you happy.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3471
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 12:20 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Livernois Yard about Woolco and Wal-Mart-Canada. I didn't think they made any deals in USA. Thanks.

jjaba.
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Dday
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Username: Dday

Post Number: 820
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 65.209.165.170
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 9:48 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bill Fiedler from the article is my Aunt Kathi's father in law. Nice guy.
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Wkl
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Username: Wkl

Post Number: 73
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 204.212.159.1
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:10 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jjaba - worked at the Kressge on E. Warren and E. Outer Dr back in '73. I was a stock man. Did the receiving, cut keys and shades, hauled the trash, did assembly stuff like that. It was our neighborhood store. We had Cunninghams, Sanders and Kressge all on the same block.

That Kressge closed on 12/31/73 and I was there when we locked the doors. The lease was up and Kressge (they where still Kressge Corp back then, not Kmart) was about to pay the rent increase the owner was asking. We sold everthing out of the store, right down to the bare walls. The huge mirrors that where on the all the walls went for $5 bucks each. My mother picked up those big metal cabenets that the sewing patterns where stored in for $15. I was one who had to drag the darn thing down the alley and down into our basement.
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Jams
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Username: Jams

Post Number: 3017
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 70.236.185.26
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:46 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thought about Mrs Ray1936 as I read this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200 60328/ap_on_fe_st/costly_burge rs_1

Why learn math? Computers will do it for you.
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Jams
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Username: Jams

Post Number: 3018
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 70.236.185.26
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:50 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh BTW I'm a Jaguar myself. Wonder what AP looked like when she worked at that Kresge's?

I lived a block away, in the old section of AP.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 405
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 1:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jams, that's a classic. But anyone who uses a debit or credit card for a four-buck purchase is a little wacky in the first place, IMHO (apologies to any forumers who might take such action....my bad!)

Mrs. Ray1936 states Kresge's had cash registers that required each purchase to be punched up on keys. She can't recall how the 3% (then) sales tax got added, whether she calculated or the register did it. But after HS she left to become a travel counselor for AAA.
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Wkl
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Username: Wkl

Post Number: 74
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 204.212.159.1
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 1:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ray - I think all the registers had the tax table taped to them. The cashier would hit a sub total key, check the total against the table, key that in and then total the bill.
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Catman_dude
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Username: Catman_dude

Post Number: 7
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 198.252.245.194
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 1:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Trying to remember all the toys these 5 and dime stores sold:

Metal (not plastic) toy cars
Sling shots (prolly now banned by Homeland Security)
Yo-yo's
Balsa wood airplanes
Jacks (don't leave on floor after you're done playing with them!)
Plastic harmonicas
Paddle-ball (forgot the real name)
Marbles of all kinds
Superballs
Old-style skateboards
Toy guns
Caps (for toy guns)
Um....that ball on string that you try to catch in a little cup at end of a stick
Hula-hoops
Bell ringer for bikes
Little flashlights
Non-alkaline batteries
Sparklers (when still legal)
Paper kites (couldn't afford higher priced box-kites)
Balls of string
Blowing bubbles stuff
Foot and half long pencils
Snow domes

Those are some I can think off the top of my head.

CMD =^-.-^=
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 406
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 1:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, I recall that tax table on the register from my days at Fromm's Hardware.....that was prolly the same for her.

Anybody remember "Fromm's Hardware"? They sold out to Damman Hardware about 1965 or so after founder Eric Fromm of Highland Park died. Was a great job for a teen; learned much that I use even today as a "do-it-yourself"er homeowner.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3475
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 4:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Tax table confirmed by jjaba when he worked at two Wrigley's as Cashier. (W. Davison and Greenlawn; and Greenfield, South of Grand River.)

jjaba always thought doing Trip-tiks for AAA would be a boot. He's always liked telling people where to go...

jjaba, AAA member 50 years or more.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 409
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I suspect computer programs such as Microsoft's "Streets & Trips" have kicked butt on the AAA's Trip-tiks. Every year on my annual back to Detroit I make my own trip-tik with that program, then check each state's DOT website for construction along the way.

Mrs. Ray1936 still reads maps upside-down, the way she was trained to assist customers. And she's never gotten us lost.

Is "gotten" a word?
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3479
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Having a skilled pro navigator is such an assset on a trip. Expecially one that can read the signs you missed looking backwards at 75 MPH.

Mrs. Ray1936 should start a "Best Spots" thread.

jjaba, Westsider.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 411
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 9:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

She could do that; after at least 50 driving trips from LV to Detroit and return, she knows the routes like a trucker.

The best spot in my opinion is eastbound on I-94 or northbound on I-69 leaving Indiana where you see that beautiful sign, "Welcome to Michigan".
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3483
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 6:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jjaba prefers the DETROIT WELCOME he gets when you alight from the tunnel. WOW!

Five minutes later eating two on one at The Lafayette, onions, chips no fries, Vernors.

Hard to get a decent coney in Canada.

Mrs. Ray1936 knows the way.

jjaba.
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Hamtramck_steve
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Username: Hamtramck_steve

Post Number: 2848
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 69.209.182.37
Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 7:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ray, the internet only maybe affected people going to the office to get their trip tiks.

AAA offers online trip tiks to members, and they are AWESOME. The construction info prints without any extra steps, and you can get hotel and restaurant info printed, too.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 414
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 7:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Didn't know that, Steve....I dropped AAA when I moved to LV. The rates and membership for the local franchise, Auto Club of California, had much higher rates so I shopped and never went back.

Jjaba, Canada also has lousy pizza.
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The_rock
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Username: The_rock

Post Number: 1075
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 68.42.251.225
Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 7:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wow!! jjaba was/is a 50 year AAA member. He must have joined in Jr.High School. Maybe i.d. was required to hop on the Dexter bus to go down to the local Kresge store.
Beats me, as my card says 1970. But my late mother's card says "Member since 1931".
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Mikeg
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Username: Mikeg

Post Number: 34
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 69.136.155.244
Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 8:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In 1969-70, my soon-to-be bride worked at an SS Kresge store that surprisingly enough was in the same shopping center as a K-Mart. She much preferred working there over her previous job slopping Whoppers at Burger King. This Kresge store even had a deli counter - she used to bring me home a leftover submarine or an occasional strawberry pie.

Speaking of AAA, my card says "member since 1968" and I always stop in to get a Trip-Tik before I leave town. I've tried using the on-line version, but those exit numbers seem to be getting smaller every year and they are almost unreadable on those computer-generated versions.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3485
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 1:05 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

MikeG, there's nothing quite like those travel counsellors pulling the pages for your own trip-tik and the accompaning map with the green lines and the colored arrows for speed traps and construction detours.

Rock, jjaba's father Irving, alva sholem, was also a AAA member. jjaba took over after he passed on. He was also an old Michigan Mutual customer when they were on Grand Circus Park.
Is MM still arround?

No, the drivers on The Dexter never get lost.
Today, my driver stopped at Fluke's Party Store on the route for popcorn. Claimed he was 2 minutes hot. And he left the bus running, Oy.

MikeG, how did you reduce that line of print?
Does Lowell have fonts on this board?

jjaba, Westsider sneaking a Ham and Cheese at Kresges.
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Mikeg
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Username: Mikeg

Post Number: 36
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 69.136.155.244
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 5:45 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jjaba - on the left side, scroll down and click on "Formatting Tips". In my example, all it took was to put the words smaller every year within a pair of curley brackets, like this {smaller every year}, and precede it immediately with this command: \-2

You can make the text larger, bold, italic or different colors (and also put it in the "Quote" format) using similar commands, which are all explained in the "Formatting Tips".
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The_rock
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Username: The_rock

Post Number: 1076
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 68.42.251.225
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:49 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mich Mutual is still around, now called Amerisure and I believe they are now out in Farmington Hills.

I worked in the legal department of MM for a year after I got out of law school, and previously worked in their workers comp department when I was in night school.
That's when they were on W.Adams and owned their own building. Victor Lim's restaurant, Cliff Bell's, the Statler, Adams theatre, all going strong. Great area, and now it appears to be coming back.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 419
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 11:51 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Just what I need -- screwing around with formatting on DY.

I'm into a year-long book writing project right now which involves changing font sizes, justification, bold face/italics, and all kind of mouse clicks. That's more than enuf formatting for me.
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Jjaba
Member
Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3489
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 1:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks MikeG.
jjaba will check into it.

Ray1936. a book?

jjaba, Cass Tech. Hand Compositor Letterpress Printer.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 420
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 3:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ray1936. a book?

A labor of love, actually. Title to be "The Downings of Downingtown, Pennsylvania"; will be a genealogical book of the descendants of Thomas Downing (1691-1772), my 6xgt grandfather, and the immigrant (1717) from Devon, England, of my line; namesake of Downingtown, PA.

Will be published by the Higginson Book Co., of Salem, Mass. Should be somewhat less than a best seller. I get three copies and trinkets for residuals. Been researching for ten years and finally have it firmed up enough to begin the transcriptions.

One copy will go to the Mormon library in Salt Lake City and one to the Downingtown Historical Society. Third will become a family keepsake.

Whaddahell, keeps me out of trouble.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3497
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:23 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good deal Ray1926. jjaba will gladly write a nice summary for the New York Times Review of Books.

jjaba.
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 993
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 66.19.23.18
Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The 1930s Wolverine map of the CBD shows three locations for S.S. Kresge (in red), and one F.W. Woolworth (in gold) on Woodward.

On older maps the Kresge at State St. is known as the red front store, and the one at Grand River is known as the green front store.

The one in the Woodward Bldg at Clifford opened sometime between 1920s. Woolworth was originally located next to the Clifford Kresge, and moved to the one across from Hudson's

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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 997
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 66.2.148.51
Posted on Sunday, April 02, 2006 - 10:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Since I've been searching around about the dimestores, I've found a photo of what maybe the first one in Detroit, Knox, from around 1894.

Knox was originally partners with Woolworth, then went their separate ways, and then got back together again when both were rather successful to eventually become the F.W. Woolworth company.

I haven't yet found where this store was located.

Knox 5 & 10
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3522
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 1:09 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That's the FW Woolworths that had the girls' sit-down strike in 1937, as described elsewhere in another historical thread. They got the idea from Flint GM sit-downers.

jjaba.
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Hornwrecker
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Username: Hornwrecker

Post Number: 1002
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 66.2.148.27
Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 12:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dimestore tour up Woodward.

Kresge at State

Woolworth on Woodward

Kresge at Grand River

Kresge at Clifford

Note the old location of Woolworth's in the last photo.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 3528
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 67.160.138.107
Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 2:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Hornwrecker. Great tour of Woodward dime stores. Imagine how many people they served over the years.

jjaba.
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Walterwaves
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Username: Walterwaves

Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 6:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LOWELL

Hi, I am almost sure you took that picture standing at the corner of Kirby and Chene did'nt you?

That was Woolworth's.

Oh boy does a former bright eyed kid remember that place.
I would walk in holding mom's hand and as soon as we stepped in I slipped her hnd and ran straight to the back left side of the store to the toy section to see if there were any new lunch boxes or mego dolls. Mt older brother Steve ran for the Superman and Batman toys.Mom would go straight to the sewing section and my brother and I would spen all day looking through the toys.
Boy talk about a memory rush. THAT WAS A GREAT OLD STORE. iT HAD HARDWOOD DARK STAINED FLOORS and along the entire perimeter was a wall display that went floor to ceiling. Along what seemed like a vast sea of aisles were 6 foot high glass and wood displays making up the rest of the store stacked with everything from candy to lingerie.
Right in back of the toy section were the bathrooms and next to that was the food counter and on the way out was something like a huge podium which was the register counter and that had tons of jumk on it for the last minute "please mom can I have it" before exiting the store.
There you would have your pic of Magic Fish or Incredible Live Magic Mexican Jumping Beans to candy, to Topps Collectors cards to Saturday Night Fever Authentic Tony Manero Disco Necklace.
Wow!!!!! The store had 3 entrances but they only used the one farthest left because they used those other doors to set displays against.
I heard they tore the building down sometime ago, how are these photos?

WOW!!!!!! man I miss the big D!
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Mama_jackson
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Username: Mama_jackson

Post Number: 189
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 10:43 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There used to be a Kresge's in downtown Flint.

C S Mott used to have lunch there everyday! I remember seeing him when we would take a break from shopping.

The restaurant window went from wall to wall and you could see outside to all the traffic on Saginaw Street. That impressed me very much at the ripe ole age of 5!
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Lroth
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Username: Lroth

Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 6:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hornwrecker: Just to say that the photo in Post #975 is the Neisner's on Mack Avenue and St. Jean Street. My first ever job was there, working on the toy counter.

Thanks for the posting the photo.
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Gibran
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Username: Gibran

Post Number: 929
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 7:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here is what started it all...(Wal-Mart that is)

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Goggo
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Username: Goggo

Post Number: 194
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 6:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I closed the last S. S. Kresge store in 1987 when I worked for KMart. It was the store in the Livonia Mall (#423, I believe). I also closed the store on State St. in Ann Arbor... what a great location! KMart was then so very obsessed with disassociating its image from S.S. Kresge that management overlooked the possibilities of the unique and outstanding locations that it was giving up. Ironically, Kmart was snapping up prime Montgomery Ward stores at the same time. Those of us on the dimestore 'graves detail' also suspected that Kmart was shaking off employees with decades of service.

The one thing that I remember about closing Kresge stores most, sadly, were the senior citizen customers. They often seemed like they were being put out of their homes.

Kmart sold some of its locations to McCrory. Store #1 (Woodward Ave.) did more dollars in selling submarine sandwiches than many KMart cafeterias did in total business. The gold leaf letters used on the very old red-front stores were pried off carefully by yours truly and secretly delivered to the homes of company execs, as well as many antique mechanical NCR cash registers.

I can still hear the clatter of stoneware and stainless cutlery clanking in the grill and the chirping of parakeets in the pet department. I also remember watching the blue haired ladies measuring out yard goods for my mom as I kept my mouth shut with hopes of scoring a toy. My sister and I picked up WKNR's top 40 list faithfully and I bought my first car model kit (an AMT 3-in-1 1957 Ford) at the Wonderland Kresge.

Sad it's gone, but glad I was there to remember.
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Norwalk
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Username: Norwalk

Post Number: 234
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 3:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I used to love those kressge's submarine sandwich's. I could always talk mom into buying me one.
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Larjmarj
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Username: Larjmarj

Post Number: 9
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 8:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

They just closed the last dimestore Downriver last month. Spring Grove Variety was on Jefferson for a number of years now it's no more. The last time I was in the store was when they were clearing out the merchandise, I barely made it out the door before I burst in to tears. How SAD.
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Vetalalumni
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Username: Vetalalumni

Post Number: 979
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 8:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I too enjoyed S.S. Kresge submarine sandwiches. BY far, the best submarine sandwich I ever had was from Whitehouse Subs in Atlantic City, NJ. Eat it on the boardwalk or on the beach.
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Eriedearie
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Username: Eriedearie

Post Number: 1382
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 8:19 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

S.S. Kresge and Woolworth's in downtown Detroit is where me and my friends would head on a Saturday afternoon. We'd take the bus from the east side and spend all day downtown. We'd have lunch at one of the lunch counters. And we'd always spend a quarter to stuff ourselves into the take your own photo booth and get a strip of 4 pictures of us together. I bet everyone here has a strip or two of those kinds of pictures.
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Reddog289
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Username: Reddog289

Post Number: 255
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - 4:56 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

2 years & maybe 2 late, the dime store at warren&inkster, that was d&c. D&C had a few places around my house [ westland, dbn hghts even brighton] wayne had kressges, but i went to the one at westland more often then not. 7mi/ evergreen kressges also a bis saturday afternoon with a trip to krogers and then sanders.