A friend sent me this old menu from Woolworth's, and boy did it ever bring some memories flooding back! Founded in 1879 by Frank W. Woolworth, it was one of the original and largest five-and-dime stores in America until the 1980's, when increased competition led to its decline. Ever wonder what became of the chain? In the late 1990's it became the Foot Locker, Inc!
Growing up, there was a Woolworth's five-and-dime in a nearby town. I have wonderful memories of my mother taking the 3 of us children to the store the week before Christmas to hunt out those special gifts for each other. We shopped little in our family, so it was something to get excited about. Upstairs the shelves were lined with clothing, household items and other goods that might interest an adult. However, it was the basement that beckoned to us kids, for it was filled with toys, games, recreational equipment, bicycles and anything else that might capture the attention and imagination of a child. And it did! At least mine. I can still see in my mind's eye one year when I spied a miniature play set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, complete with a tiny table to set in the kitchen that was drawn on the box's background. The bottom of the box had a wooden floor painted on it. I
loved this set! No, more than that. I
coveted it! I so hoped that it would be under the Christmas tree for me the following week. I continued on up and down the isles until I had selected the perfect gifts for my sister and brother, though I have no memory of what they were. My mind was too filled with visions of the treasure I'd found and longed for. After we had chosen and purchased our gifts, my mother took us back upstairs and treated us to a rare occurrence........ a meal out at Woolworth's fountain and lunch counter! It was here that I was introduced to the Bacon and Tomato Sandwich, something that would become a life-long favorite of mine. Mom also splurged and allowed us to order milkshakes. What a treat! Ah, but those were the days...........
Yes, I did receive my beloved Snow White and her Dwarfs, a gift from my brother, I believe. And though I have long since lost the pretty box they came in, as well as the tiny table, I hung onto that set for years. I still have the Seven Dwarfs to this day! I remember agonizing over getting rid of Snow White as an adult (a silly notion of 'cleaning out' hit me), and decided in favor of her disposal. Crazy! Don't ask me to understand my thought process at the time. I could still have the original complete set!
Anyone else remember Woolworth's?
