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Other Five & Dime Stores (page 1)

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The G.C. Murphy five-and-dime store chain was founded in McKeesport, PA in 1906 by George Clinton Murphy. By 1932, there were 173 stores. After several buyouts in the 1980s and 1990s, the remaining Murphy stores closed in 2002. For more, see this website.

G.C. Murphy Building
Indianapolis, IN
G.C. Murphy Building
Welch, WV
The G.C. Murphy Building in Indianapolis was built in 1884. The G.C. Murphy five and dime store was a tenant from 1929 until 1998. Today, the building houses the Murphy Art Center. For more, see this website. [map]

The G.C. Murphy Building in Welch has been vacant for many years. The building was constructed in 1920. I don't know when G.C. Murphy operated here. In later years, there was a Dollar General store here with a sign over the remaining "Murph" sign. The "Murph" sign is gone now. [map]

Other G.C. Murphy stores:
Washington, DC [gone]
Greensburg, IN
St. Joseph, MI
Wildwood, NJ
Gallipolis, OH [map]
Pittsburgh, PA: 1, 2 [map]
Pittsburgh, PA [vintage]
Wheeling, WV: 1, 2 [gone]

The Ben Franklin five-and-dime store chain was established in 1927. At its peak, there were 2,500 stores nationwide. The company went bankrupt and the name was picked up by Promotions Unlimited. The corporate website lists only "kiosk" locations. It appears that all of the Ben Franklin locations now operate independently. For more, see this website.

Ben Franklin
Independence, MO
Ben Franklin [gone]
Chariton, IA
former Ben Franklin [gone]
Dalhart, TX
The Ben Franklin store in Independence closed around 2005. This rooftop sign remains as of 2021. I don't know of any other neon signs like this still on public display. [map]

The Ben Franklin store in Chariton had been here since at least the 1970s and was probably much older than that. By 2023, the store had closed and the sign was gone.

The former Ben Franklin store in Dalhart now houses a furniture store. The sign was gone by 2023.

Ben Franklin [gone]
Bridgman, MI
Ben Franklin
Ironwood, MI
Ben Franklin [gone]
Traverse City, MI
I believe this Ben Franklin store in Bridgman opened in 1955. This photo is from 2011. The building is still there but the store and sign were gone by 2019.

This Ben Franklin store in Ironwood is still in operation. [map]

This Ben Franklin store in Traverse City appeared to be from the 1950s. This photo is from 2011. By 2018, the store and sign were gone.

Ben Franklin [gone]
Bemidji, MN
This Ben Franklin store was housed in the former Bemidji Theatre building. The theatre opened in 1935 and closed in 1955. This Ben Franklin store was still open in 2015. By 2018, the store and signs were gone.

Ben Franklin
Park Rapids, MN
Ben Franklin
Ely, MN
This Ben Franklin store in Park Rapids is still operating. [map]

This Ben Franklin store in Ely is now part of J&L Hardware next door. [map]

Ben Franklin [gone]
Aitkin, MN
Ben Franklin
Fayetteville, WV
This Ben Franklin store in Aitkin was vacant when this photo was taken in 2011. By 2014, the sign was gone and Crossroads in Time was the building's new occupant.

This Ben Franklin store in Fayetteville opened in 1955. It was still operating in 2021. [map]

Ben Franklin
Bishop, CA
former Ben Franklin [gone]
Delta, CO
Ben Franklin
Oberlin, OH
The Ben Franklin in Bishop is still operating. [map]

The Ben Franklin in Delta is now known as Clubb's Variety Store. The Ben Franklin sign was still there in 2012 but gone by 2018.

This Ben Franklin store in Oberlin opened in 1935 and is still operating. For more, see this website. [map]

More Ben Franklin stores:
Sitka, AK [map]
Decatur, AL [vintage]
Centerville, IA [gone]
Denison, IA [gone]
Jefferson, IA [gone]
Sheldon, IA
Hoxie, KS [gone]
Overland Park, KS [vintage]
Durand, MI [gone]
Manistique, MI
New Ulm, MN [gone]
Dexter, MO
Macon, MO
Noel, MO
Hardin, MT [gone]
Seward, NE [gone]
Nags Head, NC
Lavallette, NJ
Bethel, OH [map]
Masontown, PA [gone]
Lemmon, SD [gone]
Fredericksburg, VA [gone]
Middlebury, VT [map]
LaCrosse, WI [gone]

Other Five & Dimes
(page 2)
Five & Dime Stores
Main Page

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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.