Wednesday, February 8 — One of the first chain stores in the U.S. opened its doors this month in 1879 in Utica, New York. For generations of Americans, Woolworth’s was known simply as the “five and dime” in tribute to its low-cost merchandise. Inside were wooden floors and display tables stacked with items that sold for up to a dime. Equally famous was the store’s lunch counter. The distinctive red and gold signs were taken down in 1997. Woolworth’s was no longer able to compete with the growing number of discount stores, shopping malls, and food courts. Today, Americans have a choice of around 52,000 general merchandise stores in which to shop. These retailers do $641 billion of business annually, and employ over 2.7 million sales clerks and other staff.
You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online here.
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