The F. W. Woolworth Company (often referred to as Woolworth’s or Woolworth) was a retail company and one of the original pioneers
of the five-and-dime store. It was among the most successful
American and international five-and-dime businesses, setting
trends and creating the modern retail model that stores follow
worldwide today.

The first Woolworth store was opened by Frank Winfield Woolworth
on February 22, 1879, as “Woolworth’s Great Five Cent Store” in
Utica, New York. Though it initially appeared to be successful, the
store soon failed. When Woolworth searched for a new location,
a friend suggested Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Using the sign from
the Utica store, Woolworth opened his first successful “Woolworth’s Great Five Cent Store” on July 18, 1879, in Lancaster. He brought
his brother, Charles Sumner Woolworth, into the business.

The two brothers pioneered and developed merchandising, direct purchasing, sales, and customer service practices commonly
used today.

Frank Winfield Woolworth
(April 13, 1852 – April 8, 1919)

Camille Bohannon

It began on this day in 1965.

President Ronald Reagan’s bombing Russia joke during a voice
test for a political advertisement causes a Cold War flap on this
day in 1984.

On this day in 1992, in Bloomington, MN, the Mall of America
opened. It was the largest shopping mall in the United States.

Haley’s photo from his Service Record.

Alexander Murray Palmer "Alex" Haley
(August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992)

Paul Jackson Pollock (January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956)

Jackson Pollock was one of the greatest artists of his generation, well known
for his innovative style of drip painting (shown below). He died at the age of
44 after driving drunk and crashing into a tree in New York.   

First store located at 719 W. Walnut Street in Rogers, Arkansas

Walmart was founded by Sam Walton (below) in 1962 and incorporated on October 
31,1969. The company has over 11,000 stores in 28 countries with headquarters
in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Samuel Moore "Sam" Walton
(March 29, 1918 – April 5, 1992)

Samuel Moore "Sam" Walton (March 29, 1918 – April 5, 1992)

Oklahoma-born Sam Walton is the founder of Walmart retail chain and
Sam’s Club. He worked at J.C. Penny in Des Moines, Iowa, training in
management. He managed his first variety store, which was part of
the Butler Brothers chain, in 1945 when he was only 26.

Walton’s Five and Dime, now the Wal-Mart Visitor’s Center, Bentonville