Posts
Do ya’ll remember TG&Y? Before Walmart, it was the Big Cat Daddy of discount stores. We bought all our school supplies, toys and most of our records there. Seems they even had a jewelry counter because one of my middle school beaus stole a necklace from there and gave it to me as a Christmas present (he also wore an army jacket and rode a dirt bike).
Here’s what Wikipedia says about the chain:
TG&Y was a five and dime, or variety store, chain in the United States. The chain was named for its three founders: Rawdon E. Tomlinson, Enoch L. "Les" Gosselin, and Raymond A. Young. The initials were ordered according to the age of the three, with Tomlinson being the oldest. Founded in 1935, the chain was headquartered in Oklahoma City. At its peak, there were more than 900 stores.
It was acquired by McCrory Stores in 1986, when it had about 720 stores. Shortly after McCrory's purchased TG&Y, that company cut over 8,000 employees and closed 205 stores, including 23 in its former home-state of Oklahoma. It did business under the TG&Y Family Center and later TG&Y Dollar and Aim for the Best and Dollar-T names as well. Toward the end of its successful years, the chain used the advertising slogan, "Your best buy is at TG&Y."
In 2001, the chain filed bankruptcy and eventually all stores were closed.
Our local TG&Y was located in the center of the City of Moore shopping center with OTASCO on the south end and Anthony’s on the north end (those stores would later fold, as well).
What’d you buy at TG&Y?
13 comments:
We called it Turtles, Girdles, & Yo-yos.
Along with records, school supplies, toys, and the other normal five and dime fare, the good ones had tropical fish and other pet stuff.
Around 1970 (give or take a year, TG&Y built a Family Center at the north end of the City of Moore shopping Center, and Humpty Dumpty moved in next door. The Movies in Moore! was behind to the west, long before McDonald's and KFC went in.
We spent a lot of time in Anthony's (Mom was on a first name basis with the staff), and my first bicycle came from that Otasco.
We bought those little baby turtles from TG&Y when it was the small store where Harry Bears is now. The turtles had Salmonella and ended up giving it to me and both my sisters. Gee.. that was a bad experience. I ended up working in Sporting Goods for TG&Y when it grew to the store on the north end of the shopping center. Sold a lot of guns. It was a good experience for me. I do miss the store and the old times.
Thanks for the clarification of the mall tenants, Mark. My memory is a little fuzzy these days. And Barry, I remember those cute little turtles! Salmonella from those rascals? I bet is was awful but it sounds funny now...
Stacy,
My mom was one of the first female mangers of TG&Y in Oklahoma, she was even sent to help open other stores. The first album I remember buying there was the Grease soundtrack, the reason I remember they took a 3rd party check that I got for my birthday, I just endorsed it over. But, do you remember the old AMC store on 10th & Penn? What mom couldn't find at TG&Y we found at AMC (school stuff wise)
Great story, Katie! And yes, I remember AMC. Isn't it now the Old Paris Flea Market? Seems we'd also occasionally make a trip to Gibson's, was that the name? They had a big selection of bikes...if my memory is correct!
And I received this great story from BOB listener, Dave, who writes:
Stacy,
I was listening to the show as I was driving to my jobsite. Your discussion about TG&Y made me want to call badly but am leary to call while I am working.
In the late 60's/ early 70's I worked at the TG&Y at 29th and south May. I was in charge of the Men's wear and Shoe department while I was a jr and sr in high school. One evening I heard a noise outside my office( the shoe stockroom) when I explored the the commotion, I found an old pair of shoes under the shoe rack. I started to look for any missing shoes and the only thing I found gone was a pair of women's western boots.
I quickly called for "MR. Kennedy"(code word for the off duty Policeman security) to come and we started looking for anyone wearing said boots. I saw a man walking down the main aisle toward the main entrance but all I could see was that orange sticker on the bottom of the boot to give the criminal away.
Mr. Kennedy approached the man and sure enough he was wearing the missing WOMEN's boots. Now it gets really good. The suspect was quite drunk and he told the officer that his wife had just gone to the hospital to give birth. Sure enough, security called the hospital; and his wife was there with contractions about three minutes apart.
They allowed the perp to follow a squad car down town to post bail or pay his fine and he was on his way. Barefoot of course.
Kind of late but thought you might get a chuckle out of the story.
Dave
Wow, of all things to stumble across. I was searching for TG&Y because we were talking about it at work. I worked at Humpty's for 5 years while we were in school. TG&Y was the modern day Wal-Mart in its hayday. We shopped there all the time.
Hopefully things are going well for you.
Randy Street
This is definitely turning into a cyber class reunion! LOL Great hearing from you Randy.
Maybe we'll have to do an expose' on Humpty Dumpty, too.
Stacy
The TG&Y at 74th and Penn was built on three different levels. I remember as a little kid running up and down the ramps between the different levels. Everyone always said that was the largest TG&Y in the whole chain. Thanks for the memories! John
I grew up on the east side of Enid and for the longest time it was the only retail store on that side of town. It was next door to the BestYet grocery store so we did all of our shopping in those two stores. That's where I bought my first ten speed (the one the criminal kid stole).
I worked at the Family TG&Y in Bartlesville in the mid 80s. I worked in the men's department. Before that, while living in West Texas, TG&Y played second fiddle to Wackers. I bought my first bra at that TG&Y. It white with a yellow butterfully. 36AAA.
Great memories and wonderful stories, guys and gals! Thanks for sharing them...
Stacy
My first job was at TG&Y when I was 15 1/2 in Tulsa...Made a whopping 1.83 an hour and I thought I had died and gone to heaven...I bought this for my hope chest (plates and stuff like that) although I ended up using them during college and not when I got married...I hated them by the time I got married...I also bought a little record player there...I played the "Rumors" album on it so much by the end of college the songs were unrecognizable! I bought 45's there for 79 cents and albums were a steep 1.99...and although it sounds as if I am 3 days older than dirt, that was in the late 70's...I left TG&Y to work at Casa Bonita...then I made 2.25 an hour...More than what waiter and waitress' make today...How 'bout them apples...Jacque
Post a Comment