The Disappearance of F. W. Woolworth Department Stores | They Did Not Die | History in the Dark

The F. W. Woolworth Company was at one time the largest department store chain in the world. What once started as a humble 5 and dime store grew into a corporate powerhouse and the top retail establishment in the United States. But as the market shifted towards big box stores rather than department formats, Woolworth was unable to adapt their core business model. Eventually, all their American locations would close, many believing they had gone under entirely. But that's incorrect. They're still around, even now, right under your feet.

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#woolworth #woolworths #retail #truestory #documentary #corporate #bigbox #department

[johnmelville]

I loved Woolworths. It was a great store to go to. It had a great atmosphere and was fun to shop in. Wish we still had them.

[GM-jvjz]

I miss Woolworths. As a kid in the late 60's I would get my 45's there, eat at the lunch counter, go downstairs where the fish, birds, and hamsters were, buy paper dolls and jumping beans, and get b&w pics taken in the picture booth . I would do x mas shopping there also.

[airtow]

As a young teen, I'm 71 now, I bought my first album from Woolworths, The Grateful Dead in fact. I can remember the price being $3.79.

[c.yamaura]

I have fond memories of eating in the U shaped counters inside Woolworth's here in NYC on 34th street. They served your meals in brown trays and paper cone coffee cups held inside orange cup holders. They were known for the blue plate specials. This was back in the 80's...

[dianefontaine]

I miss the Woolworth stores here in the US. It was a great place to get supplies you needed (and at least a couple bonus items!) and share lunch with friends who were doing the same. Thanks for the interesting video and awakening some nice memories.

[mrfujiwara-JJ]

Loving these company retrospectives. They're my favorite videos right now on YT.

[OneAdamAdam]

I miss this America. The lunch counters. The whole concept

[drew]

My dad was the regional vice president of Woolworth at the end of its time in the Mid90s. He started at the bottom and moved all the way to the top in 25 years. It’s a sad story how it ended. He loved working for Woolworth

[VictorianMaid]

I loved these stores when I was a child. I bought many HO trains items and model model kits. I miss those little stores. American has changed so much. Being 67 is really difficult.

[haydendegrow]

F.W. Woolworth had a MASSIVE impact on my hometown of Yorkton, SK, Canada, and on me for that matter. After the Hudson Bay Co. decided to move out of their original neoclassical landmark of a building, Woolworth's moved in, and remained there for THIRTY YEARS, serving as the main department store for our entire city. To this day, though the building is considered the HBC Building, one can still see evidence of its later occupant.

As for my side, The Bargain! Shop was the main place my family got mine and my sister's back-to-school clothes, and its small town iteration that we shopped at IS STILL OPEN TO THIS DAY! On top of that, Foot Locker is a great place to get shoes for years in our family. On the other hand, Northern Reflections is a name that is almost spat upon in my family. We somehow got onto their phoning list, and despite several attempts to stop them or to remove ourselves from the list, they never stopped calling us every month for SIX STRAIGHT YEARS. So yeah, thanks Woolworth. We DeGrows REALLY love ya!

And also Darkness, again, the country Barbados is pronounced Bar-BAY-dos!

[earllsimmins]

I am a 78 year old Boomer, my grandmother made a career at the Trenton NJ store and mother worked there until she married after WWII. Thanks for the story.

[vetteman]

I worked for Woolworth from 1960-63! Fabulous French fries at the lunch counter!! Miss them !!

[VladimirPutin-pt]

Yeah but you cant get a grilled cheese sandwich, fries and a pickle at foot locker.

[erie]

Really liked the lunch counter at a Woolworth store in NYC in the 1960's.

[GenMasterB]

Us old folks called Woolworth's and others as a "5 & Dime"

[Larry]

A few UK Woolworths rebranded to "Wellworths" when they closed down, there should be a BBC documentary about it on YouTube somewhere.

[davidgonzales]

My grandma used to take me there when I was little. Best burgers and the place I got my first hamster. Thanks for the memory refresher.

[JamesSavik]

Nice to see a company evolve with the market rather than just roll over and die.

[erichhouchens]

Woolworths Australia is an example of what happens when you don't trademark your name worldwide. In the early 70's Burger King discovered this when it tried to expand to Australia. It found a burger chain down there already using that name. This is why to this day Burger King in Australia operates under the name Hungry Jack's.

[patriciayohn]

Born and raised in Lancaster, PA loved Woolworth's would stop there everyday on my way home from school, the fresh soft pretzels and the candy counter were just inside the door and kids were lined up there to buy snacks for the rest of the trip home. The lunch counter was always busy and the records were in the lower level, bought most of my 45's there.

The store front is still there on North Queen Street but sadly no longer Woolworth's. Good memories.