By Ed Stozek
For the Herald
A staple in downtown shopping districts across the United States for over 100 years, Woolworth’s catered to shoppers of all ages by offering affordably-priced merchandise. It was the first brand to go global, eventually building more than 5,000 nearly identical stores. Woolworth’s locations in the United States formally closed in 1997, however, stores still continue to operate in several countries including Woolworth Mexicana.
After several failed attempts, Frank Winfield Woolworth opened his first successful store in 1879 in Lancaster, Penn., with all merchandise at either five or ten cents, a pricing policy that stood for over 50 years. By 1932 the Woolworth company raised the limit to 20 cents and three years later abandoned the pricing policy.
During the 1920s the Woolworth Canada unit was founded and based in North York, Ont. By Aug. 16, 1935, the 141st Canadian store opened its doors at 116 Main Street North in Dauphin.
“The most complete addition to the Woolworth chain occupies the new Stelck building. Residents of Dauphin will see a new store built along modern lines with a frontage of 29’ and a depth of 90’. For the past two weeks a large staff completed preparations for the grand opening.” (Aug.15, 1935, Dauphin Herald)
The building erected by Stelck’s Limited had been constructed in two and a half months and provided the final link in a “solid block of business houses.” Stelck attained his goal of a completely solid block of businesses on the east side of Main Street between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave.
All work with the exception of fixtures was done locally under the supervision of J. McLarthy, a superintendent for the F.W. Woolworth Co. The store featured two main entrances and three large show windows. The inside layout consisted of two centre squares and solid side counters.
The newly-appointed manager, A. Rusconi, had last been employed as an assistant manager at Saskatoon. Apart from the manager and assistant manager, all employees were local residents.
A full-page advertisement in the Dauphin Herald indicated that the store would open on Friday morning at 9 a.m. with exceptional values for a wide variety of products all priced at 20 cents or lower. A special upcoming school opening sale on a full line of student supplies for Aug. 24 was also advertised.
In early November 1960, construction began on a much larger new Woolworth store location at the corner of Main Street and 4th Avenue SW next to the Dauphin Theatre. With a frontage of 94 feet and a depth of 132 feet the one-storey building consisted of a sales floor area of 9,000-square feet and 3,200-square feet devoted to stock and service rooms. The store was set up with two service entrances providing admittance to the self-service unit for shopping convenience and fixtures with the latest merchandising counters.
The official grand opening occurred on Ap. 27, 1961, with the first 100 customers receiving a free half pound of coffee. Twenty-eight stools provided seating for the shoppers who wanted to sit and relax and whet their appetite. The lunch counter was a popular spot. One patron recalled that one winter day she bundled up her two children, pulled them on a sleigh to Woolworth’s, did her shopping and then ordered a coffee for herself and fries for the kids.
When the Dauphin Market Place Mall opened on Aug. 22, 1979, Woolworth’s general manager, Nick DiRienzo noted “a Woolworth store was put into the mall because the company which runs both Woolworth’s and Woolco stores is established in Dauphin. Opening day for the shopping mall was a very good day and for the downtown outlet as well. The downtown location will stay open.” (Aug. 22, 1979, Dauphin Herald)
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1982, a fire broke out at the Woolworth downtown location at 8:50 a.m. It was believed that the fire started in a deep fryer in the store’s kitchen, spread into the ventilation system and into the roof and was soon out of control. The store was in the midst of a clearing out sale.
The era of shopping at a Woolworth’s downtown location in Dauphin came to an end.
