SHOPPING: As today is Black Friday, we looked back at one of our favorite former stores from Bradford’s past.
The F.W. Woolworth Co. had the world’s first “five and dime” stores, which revolutionized the American shopping experience.
It was the first store to allow customers to handle merchandise without a clerk’s help.
With all the work on Main Street this year, we took a look through our archives to see some other interesting happenings on the thoroughfare. In 1928, The Era ran a story about an expansion of a Woolworth five and dime — at 26-28 Main St. in Bradford.
“A business enlargement and expansion of considerable importance to Bradford was announced yesterday by Rolland P. Catel, local manager of the F.W. Woolworth company 5 and 10 cent store located at 26 Main street. Catel received official notice from headquarters of his company that the Woolworth concern has taken a lease of the storeroom adjoining the present place of business recently vacated by Sam Leshner’s men’s furnishing and clothing store.”
The story continued, “According to Catel, the acquiring of this additional space will mean a big change in the appearance of Bradford’s Main Street as the Woolworth company has plans already completed to remodel entirely the local store. The work of alternation, said Catel, will be begun immediately after Christmas season is over and will be superintended by one of the company’s own construction engineers.
“The changes to be made will increase the floor space from 3,400 to 4,500 square feet and will permit the addition of about 150 feet more of counters. All inside walls will be demolished to make one large room. The present fronts of both stores will be torn out and a new and modern front, containing two large entrances and three display windows, will be installed across the entire building.
“The interior of the Woolworth establishment will be remodeled entirely and redecorated. Other changes will include the installation of new counter and wall cases, new ceiling, a complete change in the lighting system and reconstruction of the stock room.”
The Main Street store closed in 1959. And Woolworth at The Bradford Mall opened 10 years later, in 1969.
