T.G.&Y. Stores:Gone but not forgotten

[Steve]

I've posted an item on this topic at Welcome to OKCHistory.com (not affiliated with The Oklahoman).

[Generals64]

I've posted an item on this topic at Welcome to OKCHistory.com (not affiliated with The Oklahoman).

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The report is Real Close....Knew Mr. Young personally and very well. Mr. Young remained on as Chairman of the board and he guided Mr. Henderson through the beginnings of the development of the Family center concept. The store at 74th & S. Penn was the pinnacle of the stores but, we (TG&Y) were not quite ready for something this large. But, It worked and the company began to grow dramatically. When this showed to be the direction to go it they (TG&Y) decided to develop what was called the "Expanded Variety" store and the mix (Merchandise) was "Cherry Picked" and many things were added to the Variety store that was 4,500 Sq. ft or larger up to 10,000 sq.ft.....(Was there).....Did many of the remodels.

There was a Kresge store in the old Penn Square Shopping Center (Before mall status). David Green (Hobby Lobby) was the first TG&Y store manager in that store and was solely responsible for the development of that store (with fountain still in tact). Ralph Thompson and W.H. Haskell were the Supervisor and District manger for that store.
Right about Mr. Tomlinson "Ducking" out of the partnetshi[p....He died in 1937 or 1938. His brother and Nephew are developers in the Moore area today.....
Mr. Gosselin was never real active in the development of the stores but you would see his "Smiling" political face quite frequently. Great Guy....

AIM hurt....but didn't kill TG&Y. When people began running the company that didn't have their heart in it is when the company started slipping. If you are from this area you should remember the remodel of the Family Centers in the OKC district. This was an attempt to save face over AIM and an attempt to get more current with TARGET and Wal-Mart.....Worked for a while

When TG&Y began dying we were buying for 1140 stores (1986)....was there....6 warehouses across the country.

Mr. Young was a gentleman and a Scholar...Miss him greatly. Had lunch with him 6 weeks before he died and he gave me his copy of the making of a merchant...dog-earred and sign...What a guy....

[Generals64]

I've posted an item on this topic at Welcome to OKCHistory.com (not affiliated with The Oklahoman).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The report is Real Close....Knew Mr. Young personally and very well. Mr. Young remained on as Chairman of the board and he guided Mr. Henderson through the beginnings of the development of the Family center concept. The store at 74th & S. Penn was the pinnacle of the stores but, we (TG&Y) were not quite ready for something this large. But, It worked and the company began to grow dramatically. When this showed to be the direction to go it they (TG&Y) decided to develop what was called the "Expanded Variety" store and the mix (Merchandise) was "Cherry Picked" and many things were added to the Variety store that was 4,500 Sq. ft or larger up to 10,000 sq.ft.....(Was there).....Did many of the remodels.

There was a Kresge store in the old Penn Square Shopping Center (Before mall status). David Green (Hobby Lobby) was the first TG&Y store manager in that store and was solely responsible for the development of that store (with fountain still in tact). Ralph Thompson and W.H. Allen were the Supervisor and District manger for that store.
Right about Mr. Tomlinson "Ducking" out of the partnetshi[p....He died in 1937 or 1938. His brother and Nephew are developers in the Moore area today.....
Mr. Gosselin was never real active in the development of the stores but you would see his "Smiling" political face quite frequently. Great Guy....

AIM hurt....but didn't kill TG&Y. When people began running the company that didn't have their heart in it is when the company started slipping. If you are from this area you should remember the remodel of the Family Centers in the OKC district. This was an attempt to save face over AIM and an attempt to get more current with TARGET and Wal-Mart.....Worked for a while

When TG&Y began dying we were buying for 1140 stores (1986)....was there....6 warehouses across the country.

Mr. Young was a gentleman and a Scholar...Miss him greatly. Had lunch with him 6 weeks before he died and he gave me his copy of the making of a merchant...dog-earred and sign...What a guy....

[grantgeneral78]

Ok 64 your repeating yourself! hahaha

[Generals64]

Ok 64 your repeating yourself! hahaha

oops:. kinda touchy about Mr. Young and I'm getting too old

[Steve]

General, any chance of you contributing to the OKC History article? I'd need to use your real name though... email me at steve@okchistory.com

[grantgeneral78]

here ya go 64.....

[grantgeneral78]

oops

[grantgeneral78]

Ok last one I promise.

[gen70]

Ok last one I promise.

Keep em comming 78.

[grantgeneral78]

Keep em comming 78.

Ok Gen 70 I will post some more.

[grantgeneral78]

TG&Y in Lawrence kansas

[grantgeneral78]

[grantgeneral78]

[IMG]

[gen70]

TG&Y in Lawrence kansas

Thanks 78! I wish I had some of those cars and that truck from the picture.

[grantgeneral78]

You and me both brother!

[FRISKY]

^^^ I was thinking the same thing.

[Martin]

anyone have addresses for those above building pics? -M

[USG '60]

Testor's?

[Generals64]

anyone have addresses for those above building pics? -M

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One of them is in Lawrence, Kansas the one of the others looks like one in Tulsa. There is a former TG&Y manager in Sand Springs, Oklahoma that carried on the TG&Y name. I'm not sure if he is open still but, it was in a former TG&Y building....the whole thing. I wish I knew how to post pictures like '78's I really have some old ones.....Still lots of memories.

[FRISKY]

Testor's?

I'm pretty sure I still have some old bottles of Testor's paint from the 1960s...dried up no doubt.

[Martin]

one of them is in lawrence, kansas the one of the others looks like one in tulsa. there is a former tg&y manager in sand springs, oklahoma that carried on the tg&y name.

thanks! i was hoping some of those were in okc... -M

[Generals64]

thanks! i was hoping some of those were in okc... -M

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I have some old TG&Y pictures if you want or need them i'll make you copies....As you can tell TG&Y was a passion to me all through the years....

[Generals64]

Posted on the SOUTHSIDE MEMORIES thread I posted an old TG&Y memory about someone in their infinite wisdom decided to have a TURKEY DROP (from a helicopter) on the 74th & Penn parking lot...Pen-Raised Turkeys' don't really know haw to fly..... Get the picture????Those that did fly ran off and those that didn't made a mess on the parking lot.....At least someone was trying.
Or, how about the Rodeo held on the parking lot...does anyone out there remember that?

[FRISKY]

They did a WKRP episode about it:
YouTube - WKRP turkey drop scene Happy Thanksgiving