The Last Woolworth’s Counter – IOTW Report

The Last Woolworth’s Counter

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The Five & Dime Antique Mall in Bakersfield, California, is filled with retro treasures. But for those who want to experience the past firsthand, the store also offers a piece of living history: the last operational Woolworth’s lunch counter.

By the end of the 20th century, Woolworth’s was struggling to compete with other retailers, and in 1997, it closed its last American store. Although the luncheonette at the Bakersfield Five & Dime is no longer officially owned by the company, it’s almost exactly as Woolworth’s left it. With its vinyl stools, vintage signs, and formica countertop, the luncheonette is the last of its kind: a fully operational portal to the past where you can still enjoy a burger and a shake before diving back into bargain-hunting.

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ht/ fdr in hell

24 Comments on The Last Woolworth’s Counter

  1. If they move that antique mall out of Californicate & not to another state controlled by Progs, then I’ll gladly go. I’ll not allow the state tourist & sales taxes I’d pay to be stolen & stuffed into the Prog Politicians pockets.

    Yes it does look like a great place though.

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  2. Been to Bakersfield many times the last 60 years. Went for the “Bakersfield Boys” – Merle, merle + Buck. we watched Budk + the Buckaroos every week when I was a kid (I was not always old).
    Never herd of this place; but I was “Honky Tonkin” not shopping.

    I really miss “the Boys”!

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  3. Woolworth’s and Newberry’s when American towns were still civilized and products were affordable and USA made. Ideal places to Christmas shop for kids with dimes and nickles, not dollars.

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  4. We had a Woolworth’s with a lunch counter in my little town when I was growing up. We also had a S.S. Kresge’s with a lunch counter. They were the predecessor of Kmart. At at both many times as a kid. Good milkshakes.

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  5. We had both a Woolco and a Woolworth’s in the town where I grew up. I liked Woolworth’s better as they seem to have a better toy selection and for a young boy that was the most important thing when choosing a favorite store. And yes, they had the soda shop/lunch counter and it was my favorite place to get a sandwich. I miss stores like that.

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  6. The downtown Woolie’s had excellent fresh strawberry pie and real fish sandwiches. None of that McD’s pressed food type substance. The best thing was the massive craft and fabric department in the basement. In high school I worked at the Roses’s lunch counter. Wood floors, ceiling fans, fried chicken and warm banana pudding on Saturday’s.

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  7. The one in Portland, ME had the best milkshakes in town when we were kids. Then they moved to the new Mall and it was a great place to go for an inexpensive decent lunch.

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  8. Always loved punching the balloon to see how much discount you’d get on the milkshake!

    My mom operated the Woolie’s counter in Laural Maryland the day George Wallace was shot outside her store.

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