Shopping Downtown St. Albans In The 1950s

[Henry]

Got a note from Louise (Hubbert) Decker and she had the following F. W. Woolworth Menu attached and it really brought back some memories:

I don't remember the F. W. Woolworth Store having a food bar, but do remember the M. H. Fishman Store on the corner of Main & Kingman Street having one.  Never went to St. Albans without going to Fishman's.  It was a store with three stories.  As you went in, you could go down stairs where there was skads of stuff, and on the main floor over to the left was their food place, with what I think were the best hot dogs you could find.  The hot dog buns were steamed and the hot dogs were on some kind of rollers that kept them rolling and they were always plump and juicy.  Nothing could beat that hot dog in a warm steamed roll.  Don't remember what the price was, but it sure was good.  I believe the owner of the M. H. Fishman Stores lived in Vergennes, but a search of the Internet did not come up with anything.

The F. W. Woolworth Store was several stores down from M. H. Fishman and was known as the 5 and 10 cent store.  They had lots of bulk candy there.  They would scoop it out with a scoop and weigh it and then put it in white wax lined bags for you.  Things like Chocolate Covered Peanuts, Vanilla Chocolate Drops, Chocolate Stars and just about everything plus several kinds of peanuts.

Its too bad that Downtown St. Albans doesn't have a M. H. Fishman Store.  I am sure that would certainly attract some people down town.  I doubt however that they could ever have a 5 & 10 cent store as even the dollar store is having trouble finding stuff to sell for a dollar.

Anyhow, Louise, thanks for sending me that menu, you got me on another roll about the old days.  Never was much of a shopper, but I could spend hours in those two stores.

[NorthFairfaxBoy]

I remember as a very young child (35+ years ago...) going to Fishmans and sitting at the food counter with my grandmother.

[mirjo]

I do't know if I was ever in Fishmans or Woolworth's when it was downtown, but I have to say that I do miss the place. Walmart simply does not pack the same kind of junk in the same sloppy manner. It just doesn't have the same feel. Maybe because there is one on every corner of every street in every town in every state? FW Woolworths was also a discount chain (originating from NYC), but it had a different feel to it--maybe the times I don't know. I remember eating in the restaurant there with my grandmother (is there something about department store eateries and seniors?).

I know walmart is a huge controversy and as much as this area needs a discount department store, I think it's sad there isn't another option. I miss Ames and Woolworth. I could always find whatever junk I was looking for. I honestly can't say that about WM. I don't know why. Perhaps it's just that things are now different and I never successfully transitioned, but from the first time I went to the new marvel that is walmart in Williston looking for some basic item I would surely find at the other places easily, I was irritated to discover it wasn't there. Being unforgiving of the gaffe, I have always held it against walmart from that day on as being touted as this "giant among stores but can't carry a suitable selection of goods." Although it's possible that the item I was looking for was simply out of stock and my inability to find stuff is colored by my first experience there, I have never been impressed and have found other stores out of state almost worse in some cases.

Neither Ames nor Woolworth were pretty or well-kept for the most part and it's likely nostlagic affection that I currently feel, but I know in my heart that if I went into either store today I would locate a glass hurricane lamp and oil for about $8-10 in housewares. I couldn't find one at Walmart the other day. I won't go on, I don't shop all that often. Unfotunately, the past is gone and with it all those "good" things and all of the real opinions of those now "good" things.

[Sue W.]

When I was a young teenager, a group of us used to ride our bikes from Georgia into St. Albans to shop at Woolworth's & Ames,. It was a great treat on the way home to stop at Fishman's to sit in the photo booth and have so much fun for a quarter!  I still have some of those pictures!  Great memories!  Thanks!

[Judi]

I just copied the menu into my picture file so I can show it to my Mom. What a wonderful piece of history! Thanks Louise and Henry for sharing this.