G. C. Murphy
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G.C. Murphy is a defunct chain of five and dime or variety stores in the United States.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins of chain
The chain was founded in 1906 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania by George Clinton Murphy. Murphy had gotten his start in retail as a manager of a McCrory's store in 1896. Murphy later moved to Detroit, Michigan to manage several stores there, and then returned to thePittsburgh, Pennsylvania area to launch his own stores. His namesake chain was founded in 1906. It was one of several large retailers to originate in Pennsylvania. [1]
Murphy died in 1911, five years after the launch of the chain. Two former McCrory's executives, John S. Mack and Walter C. Shaw, bought the G.C. Murphy chain, which was at the time about 12 stores, that same year. The chain quickly expanded both through new stores and purchase of competitors.
[edit] Overview of features
Murphy's stores became popular in part because of their locations; many locations were in small and medium sized towns that had previously been served only by stores owned by whatever mining company was based there. The lunch counters in the stores were a popular destination for quick and inexpensive meals (prior to the rise of the fast food chain). Murphy's stores were done in house and to a high standard, led by architects like Harold Ellsworth Crosby.
The store's merchandise was also accessible and inexpensive, and like several other chains at the time, Murphy's became profitable by offering these low-priced items. The company remained profitable even during the Great Depression.
[edit] Growth and expansion
The chain began testing larger store concepts; in 1955, it opened several locations in shopping centers. In 1970, it opened its first large scale store, branded as "Murphy's Marts". The stores were similar in size and concept to Kmart, and were often located in suburbs. By 1976, the G.C. Murphy Company had grown to 529 stores.
[edit] Changes and suspension of business
In 1985, the company was acquired by Ames Department Stores Inc. Ames rebranded many of the larger "Murphy's Mart" stores. In 1989, Ames decided to sell the variety stores (while retaining the former Murphy's Marts), and sold the division to the McCrory's chain led by Meshulam Riklis. McCrory's rebranded some, and closed others. The McCrory's chain filed for bankruptcy in 1992, closed many of their stores (including former G.C. Murphy's outlets) in 1997, and ceased any and all operations in 2001. [2]
[edit] Current activities
Although the stores ceased business operations some time ago, the chain's foundation, the G.C. Murphy Foundation, is still in existence. Retirees and former employees of the stores have a volunteer organization that allows them to keep in touch.
In 2005, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Murphy Foundation had commissioned a writer to compile the G.C. Murphy Company's history.[3] On Nov. 1, 2006, the foundation's website indicated that it has a preliminary agreement with an unnamed publisher to publish that history sometime in 2007.[4]
[edit] Trivia
- The store's motto was "Have what the people want, let them know you have it, and organize to serve them quickly, courteously and satisfactorily."
