Utilizing his private collection of Woolworth publications [some dating from 1917], researching numerous books, magazines, newspaper articles, and websites, plus calling on his own personal recollections, Mr. Nelson has written an engaging story of not only the first Five & Ten, F.W. Woolworth, but other chains in the industry who contributed so much to the American consumer.

These stores include S.S. Kresge, J.G. McCrory, W.T. Grant, G.C. Murphy, S.H. Kress, J.J. Newberry, Ben Franklin, and others. He provides the narrative of their founding, their growth, their impact on society and unfortunately their demise as the retail landscape changed. Now they are only memories. If you worked or shopped in one of these chains, this book will put a smile on your face.