Winston-Salem, North Carolina - September, 1960
Vintage Interior photos of the Woolworth's Store, at the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center in 1960. We've talked about Woolworth so much here, that I thought it was about time we take a good long peek inside one.
Mall history: 1950s(?) - present
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none
(photos courtesy & © The Forsyth County Public Library, NC)
Now you're in my home territory.
ReplyDeleteFor those who care, this particular store is now an Anna's Linens.
This center was pretty happening in its day, although it's not a "prestige address" today. In addition to Wooloworth's, it had a Grant's, TWO supermarkets (Kroger and Food Fair), and even a micro-branch of a major downtown dpeartment store (Thalhimer's). You can even still see the entrance tiles with old store names on a few stores.
Of course by this time, Woolworth was starting to put in larger stores, as evidenced by that clothing department pictured.
ReplyDeleteI guess it wasn't too long after that they started Woolco. It makes you wonder if they'd have called them Woolworth instead if the chain would still be around today
That's one county away from me! I think I've been there before a long time ago. I miss Woolworth.
ReplyDeleteWoolworth's was so awesome! I remember walking to the nearest Woolworth's a few blocks away from my Grandma's house in Janesville, WI. They sold old coins from the 40's and 50's inside of a glass display case. That was such a neat store!
ReplyDeleteThose are nice. Brings back a lot of memories.
ReplyDeleteAh, Parkway Plaza...I'm about an hour and half from there by car. I don't remember it in its prime, but I do remeber when this Woolworth was open. Groceteria filled in some great facts that I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteI will say that the construction of the I-40 Bypass practically in this shopping center's front door about fifteen years ago gave it a new lease on life. Previously, it was dying fast with most of its major stores either going out of business or defecting to the gargantuan Hanes Mall one exit west.
The Anna's Linens that's in the old Woolworth spot has changed very little of the original design of this store, though the marquee is a lot different now than it used to be in these shots.
There was a Woolworth almost identical to this built at Thruway Shopping Center a few miles north of here. Unlike Parkway Plaza, Thruway is still on top of its game because it's in a more demographically desirable area.
This is sooooo cool!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWoolworth's was the Walmart in my hometown. Youngstown Shopping Center, Jeffersonville, IN. I remember Danny, my brother shopped for Christmas gifts for Mom and Dad there. Me and my brother bought Mom a heart shaped necklace one year, and they engraved her name on it. I have it now and when I see it I think of Mom and how we would spend so much time in Woolworth's. They had an aquarium area where they sold fish and on the other side of the store they had a food counter. I wanted to be the cook behind the counter when I grew up.
ReplyDeleteAre there any people from MA in this group or pics of MA malls/shopping centers?
ReplyDeleteI move to New York City in 1990 and there was a huge Woolworths right on 34th street complete with a Woolworths luncheon counter. There were actually quite a few Woolworths here up until about 1994.
ReplyDeleteI too, grew up in Jeffersonville, Indiana and vividly recall the wonderful old Woolworth's store in the Youngstoen shopping center. Dark, well worn, hardwood floors, endless, glass enclosed display cases, tons of candy, roasted peanuts, costume jewelry and toys dominated this great old institution. I remember that as teenagers, we girls would buy angora (in any color needed to match one's outfit) to wrap around our boyfriends' class rings that we wore while "going steady" way back in the day. The store as well as the youngstown shopping center clock have been gone for quite some time now. So sad.....
ReplyDeleteI remember the cool neon Youngstown Shopping Center sign as well. It had a clock on it. Sadly it is long gone. The Gateway Plaza neon sign across the street is still standing but has not been lit up for at least 15 years now :(
ReplyDeleteI shopped here when I was a child in the 60's. It was a great shopping center in its day. The Grant store is where I bought my first Barbie doll, one with a black ponytail. There was also a Hinkle's bootstore and a Dewey's Bakery, I believe. One of the larger stores became a Collins Dept. Store. I bought a lot of 45 records at Woolworths. It's great to see these photos of my childhood haunts!
ReplyDeleteI grew up going to Woolworth's with my Mom in Philadelphia. Loved that store and having lunch at the lunch counter. As a teenager, buying all my 45's there and makeup! After getting married and having my children and taking them to Woolworth's too for shopping and lunches. Then after they were all in school, ending up working at a Woolworth's at Neshaminy Mall in Pa.and then in Fla.after moving there,until they closed. :(
ReplyDeleteReally miss that store ~ those were the good ole days.
I do.."... great place wish we could go back. I had to make a Easter hat for school last min of course . I had very thing I needed right there. I won that year. Talant show . I lived in Winston Salem all my life. My brother put a tailer in to the side of moms car in the parking lot. We had great times at woolworths hiding under the cloths I would thought kids out of the store now. Missssssssssss it
ReplyDeleteBeeverly Hawkins Booe