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

[Redskins/General]

So from that short little speech I take it that you would have preferred TG&Y to have stayed in business and Wal Mart to have never appeared? I won't voice an opinion on that one way or the other. I will say this though, you would not be where you are today financially if you hadn't went out on your own after the demise of TG&Y. Not to say that it was a good thing or a bad thing, just a fact. You were forced into self employment which you did well at it and still are I'm sure. I'm putting TG&Y to bed, good night and good day TG&Y, and Gen/64 says nite nite also!!!

I can't find where Progress Beer was EVER made in Oklahoma??????????????

[AstronautJones]

Any of you former TG&Yer's going to the reunion?

TG&Y Reunion Site

[Redskins/General]

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You know, Progress was a Beer made on the North side of OKC a long time ago....Yes, I miss TG&Y Variety Stores. Not the dollar type stores as we see today. I hope everyone reading these threads realize that we have had a jabbing war with each other for years...ALL IN JEST HOWEVER....Wal-Mart and Sam's:....Hmmm...Even Sam Walton agreed to the Family Center concept that was perfected by TG&Y....The other large chains started trying to make their on way of doing things and it caused the to go kapoot....Target Howeve attempted (successfully) to have a little beter class of clothing and items but, None of the big boys have yet to maintain the basic Variety Store mix in them. Sam was a Ben Franklin Franchisee and he understood the importance of the Merchandise Mix....Take the food onslaught by Wal-mart...Complete after thought....Their prices are not Really always the cheapest...Crest food beats them by a mile....Convenience and Greed is what they were and are after....Ray Young TG&Y....Specialized in what the people in the neighborhood needed....Not wanted.....He himself told me that we all want things but what did we really need????Do you really need a 60W light bulb for your lamp or do you want a 100W bulb just because it's cheaper????
If TG&Y had stay in the Variety store business they would probably be the largest chain of Stores in America right now. But, the people that let the demise of TG&Y, S.H. Kress, Ben Franklin, McCrory, McClellen & Green,Otasco, Woolworth's and every other True Variety Store is the Customer themselves.....Not being Harsh but, Wal-Mart etc. Tell exactly what we the consumer wants to hear.....Do you remember Agnew Hardware??? Up until the day they closed they had what you need...and at a price you could live with....And last but not least....Quality....I was called in to try and buy the inventory but it was too far intellectually over my head....I knew that a 12 oz....(that's right) was a better seller than a 16 oz. hammer.....But you need a 20 oz hammer to Frame and Lay roofs.....None of the big guys train their employees to be people friendly...don't take me wrong the customer is not always right....Except in their own mind......
Answer your Question...Yes I miss TG&Y as I knew it....Manly the Variety Stores....Most of the people reading these threads remember better times in the small stores...59th/Penn..59th/May..44/Shields...Capitol Hill:..29th/Agnew..29th Kentucky...44th and Walker...Reding...Moore...44th/May...Airline Shopping Center....By the way, there were of 50 stores in Okc at one time.....Come to one of the meetings and I will bore you to death about the long lost Story of TG&Y....Your store...

I can't find where Progress Beer was ever made in Oklahoma??????

[papaOU]

I can't find where Progress Beer was ever made in Oklahoma??????

Found this on Google:

John F. Kroutil (President of the Yukon Electric Company, Yukon
National Bank, and the Yukon Mill and Grain Co.) founded the Progress
Beer Company (not to be confused with the beer of the same name
produced by the Indianapolis Brewery in Indiana) in Oklahoma City in
1934 with his business partner G.F. Streich in 1934. It is said that
in those days Progress Brewing Co., Inc., a microbrewery operating
under Oklahoma State Cereal Beer U-Permit # OK-U-923 (a U-Permit was a
brewery license permit issued from 1933-1939) was one of only two
breweries in Oklahoma, the other supposedly being Old King Brewery ?
but I found no evidence of this, so it may very well have been the
only one.

Not much significant is known about the brewery in the ensuing years
but according to this rather ridiculous lawsuit Progress Brewing
Company was owned by J. S. Bryan & Son by 1950.

PROGRESS BREWING CO. v. THOMPSON
OSCN Found Document:PROGRESS BREWING CO. v. THOMPSON

For many years it seems the Progress Brewing Company operated at 501
North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After some brewery laws
began to make things difficult for Progress, Lone Star Brewing Company
of Texas eventually bought out the company. In time Lone Star is said
to have created problems of its own, allegedly getting into trouble
with the Oklahoma City government over its waste polices resulting it
is getting virtually run out of the state.

[Generals64]

Found this on Google:

John F. Kroutil (President of the Yukon Electric Company, Yukon
National Bank, and the Yukon Mill and Grain Co.) founded the Progress
Beer Company (not to be confused with the beer of the same name
produced by the Indianapolis Brewery in Indiana) in Oklahoma City in
1934 with his business partner G.F. Streich in 1934. It is said that
in those days Progress Brewing Co., Inc., a microbrewery operating
under Oklahoma State Cereal Beer U-Permit # OK-U-923 (a U-Permit was a
brewery license permit issued from 1933-1939) was one of only two
breweries in Oklahoma, the other supposedly being Old King Brewery ?
but I found no evidence of this, so it may very well have been the
only one.

Not much significant is known about the brewery in the ensuing years
but according to this rather ridiculous lawsuit Progress Brewing
Company was owned by J. S. Bryan & Son by 1950.

PROGRESS BREWING CO. v. THOMPSON
OSCN Found Document:PROGRESS BREWING CO. v. THOMPSON

For many years it seems the Progress Brewing Company operated at 501
North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After some brewery laws
began to make things difficult for Progress, Lone Star Brewing Company
of Texas eventually bought out the company. In time Lone Star is said
to have created problems of its own, allegedly getting into trouble
with the Oklahoma City government over its waste polices resulting it
is getting virtually run out of the state.

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I knew Floyd Schneider of Lone Star Brewery Very well.....They (Lone Star) did run into some problems and it was easier to leave town. I didn't realize Mr. Streich was ever involved with the Brewery. The building is still there and the League for the Blind use it for donations and warehouse storage....But, Progress beer was made and sold in OKC for some time...

[papaOU]

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They (Lone Star) did run into some problems and it was easier to leave town.

Are you saying I am giving misleading or bad information??????

[Generals64]

Are you saying I am giving misleading or bad information??????

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Naw...not you...I believe everything you say..Generals64....

[papaOU]

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Naw...not you...I believe everything you say..Generals64....

If you Google Progress Beer the info I posted above has links to what appear to be legal proceedings. I remember Lone Star being there, but I don't know why they left OKC. It may be bad info.

[Generals64]

If you Google Progress Beer the info I posted above has links to what appear to be legal proceedings. I remember Lone Star being there, but I don't know why they left OKC. It may be bad info.

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The guy in charge in Oklahoma told me something about some problems they were having with the city and they were leaving. I visited him in San Antonio
before he passed away...They have a bar down there that has all these weird head mounts and I loaned them some mounted Bass....Need to check on that ...they're probably not there now....any was....he felt as though the OKC Venture would have worked but that was as far as he would talk...Great Guy though....

[SE-76]

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The guy in charge in Oklahoma told me something about some problems they were having with the city and they were leaving. I visited him in San Antonio
before he passed away...They have a bar down there that has all these weird head mounts and I loaned them some mounted Bass....Need to check on that ...they're probably not there now....any was....he felt as though the OKC Venture would have worked but that was as far as he would talk...Great Guy though....

maybe the buckhorn saloon?

[AstronautJones]

For such a large chain of retail stores that was around for such a long time, I am absolutely amazed at how little there is about TG&Y on the internet. The most minute things of the past get entire websites devoted to them, but I've only found a handful of TG&Y store pictures, some very basic background on the history of the business on Wikipedia, and a few anecdotes. This thread may be the biggest source of TG&Y info on the web!

Isn't that odd?

[papaOU]

For such a large chain of retail stores that was around for such a long time, I am absolutely amazed at how little there is about TG&Y on the internet. The most minute things of the past get entire websites devoted to them, but I've only found a handful of TG&Y store pictures, some very basic background on the history of the business on Wikipedia, and a few anecdotes. This thread may be the biggest source of TG&Y info on the web!

Isn't that odd?

I would say yes except that the same may hold true for OTASCO.

Hey! Generals'64, was TG&Y founded and based in OK?

[Generals64]

I would say yes except that the same may hold true for OTASCO.

Hey! Generals'64, was TG&Y founded and based in OK?

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Yes sir:.....Ray Young developed the idea and got together with Mr. Tomlinson from around Fairview and Mr. Gosselin and they pooled their resources and knowledge. Mr. Young started in Kingfisher....the most profound thing he ever told me is make sure your carry what the customer needs and don't fret about what he wants????I said "That doesn't make any sense"....Mr. Young said weell, you want everything but you need certain things....White thread...Shoe Polish....and so on....he is still right.....if you look at Hobby Lobby David Green still uses that philosophy...you go to Hobby Lobby for your needs and shop for your wants....TG&Y started in 1936 ....Stop 1986....many stories still to be told....the name was done in Chronological order..Mr. Tomlinson was the oldest and so on....

[grantgeneral78]

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Yes sir:.....Ray Young developed the idea and got together with Mr. Tomlinson from around Fairview and Mr. Gosselin and they pooled their resources and knowledge. Mr. Young started in Kingfisher....the most profound thing he ever told me is make sure your carry what the customer needs and don't fret about what he wants????I said "That doesn't make any sense"....Mr. Young said weell, you want everything but you need certain things....White thread...Shoe Polish....and so on....he is still right.....if you look at Hobby Lobby David Green still uses that philosophy...you go to Hobby Lobby for your needs and shop for your wants....TG&Y started in 1936 ....Stop 1986....many stories still to be told....the name was done in Chronological order..Mr. Tomlinson was the oldest and so on....

Interesting .....always wondered what those stood for...we had our own version wont share that though LOL

[papaOU]

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Yes sir:.....Ray Young developed the idea and got together with Mr. Tomlinson from around Fairview and Mr. Gosselin and they pooled their resources and knowledge. Mr. Young started in Kingfisher....the most profound thing he ever told me is make sure your carry what the customer needs and don't fret about what he wants????I said "That doesn't make any sense"....Mr. Young said weell, you want everything but you need certain things....White thread...Shoe Polish....and so on....he is still right.....if you look at Hobby Lobby David Green still uses that philosophy...you go to Hobby Lobby for your needs and shop for your wants....TG&Y started in 1936 ....Stop 1986....many stories still to be told....the name was done in Chronological order..Mr. Tomlinson was the oldest and so on....

Did they compete with Allen's 5&10?

[papaOU]

Would he have been the Duncan Yo Yo Champ?

Sounds like a Grant Yo Yo Champ to me!!

I'm sorry! That would be a Grant Dodo champ!

Just think, the entire school could compete and tie for the crown!!!

[papaOU]

We always called it Games, Toys and Yo Yo's

[Generals64]

Turtles/Girdles & Yo's-Yo's
Toys/Games/& Yo-yo's
Toys/Guns & Yo's Yo's

Heard them all.....No, TG&Y didn't compete with Allen's 5 & 10...They were an individual Variety store group and they only had a small handful of stores. The one on Capitol Hill seemed to have been a good store. But, when TG&Y came in they had an exact Warehousing program and Allen's couldn't compete....

[Redskins/General]

Mr. Gen/64 do you think Wal-Mart will be around a total of 50 years? Was wondering if you shop there on a regular basis??

[Redskins/General]

I don't even allow my children to drive within 5 miles of a Crest Super Market! They are and were the biggest crooks in the grocery business. They may have good prices, but I sure wish they would pay me and a lot of other small business owners the money they STOLE from us.... Everyone has their opinion, right? Well, this isn't opinion, it's fact..

[Generals64]

I don't even allow my children to drive within 5 miles of a Crest Super Market! They are and were the biggest crooks in the grocery business. They may have good prices, but I sure wish they would pay me and a lot of other small business owners the money they STOLE from us.... Everyone has their opinion, right? Well, this isn't opinion, it's fact..

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Hey Bubba...where you been????I question the authenticity of Wal-Mart in it's current status. they are chasing the quick buys and quick sales....Groceries were a complete after thought for Wal-Mart.....had they left that alone and kept Sam's going the way it was supposed to be Groceries would be a main stay. Now, all they want to do is flex their muscles. I used to sell to Wal-Mart....was friends with some of their buyers from TG&Y I sat down with one of them in the break room and bought a cup of coffee from the bending machine (Yuk!!!) and got him one. I put it down in front of him and was immediately told by security that he could be fired for accepting a 10 cent cup of coffee.......That's going a little too far....I've known the guy for almost 35 years hmmmmm...what do they have to worry about?????

[Redskins/General]

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Hey Bubba...where you been????I question the authenticity of Wal-Mart in it's current status. they are chasing the quick buys and quick sales....Groceries were a complete after thought for Wal-Mart.....had they left that alone and kept Sam's going the way it was supposed to be Groceries would be a main stay. Now, all they want to do is flex their muscles. I used to sell to Wal-Mart....was friends with some of their buyers from TG&Y I sat down with one of them in the break room and bought a cup of coffee from the bending machine (Yuk!!!) and got him one. I put it down in front of him and was immediately told by security that he could be fired for accepting a 10 cent cup of coffee.......That's going a little too far....I've known the guy for almost 35 years hmmmmm...what do they have to worry about?????

I've been trying to gather my composure after Mr. Papa disclosed his previous sexual preferences on the "Favorite Make out Spots" thread!! Were going to have to watch that boy real close, he could actually be a Northsider in disguise!! Ha!Ha!
I'm doing more reading and less posting, that should make some folks happy! Thought I would go ahead and beat you to that one. Actually my feelings have been a little bit hurt due to the fact the Gen/78 never converses with me anymore. I guess I will have to send him flowers or something, ya think? Jellen, QueenoftheSo and Soonergirl have all abandoned me too, it's lonesome at the bottom.....

[papaOU]

Jellen, QueenoftheSo and Soonergirl have all abandoned me too, it's lonesome at the bottom.....

Depends on whose on top............................

[Redskins/General]

Depends on whose on top............................

Not ON the bottom, BUT at the bottom! That didn't sound much better did it? I tell ya Mr. PaPa your startin' to scare me.....Gen/64 started off just like this and see how he ended up! Do you really want to grow up to be just like him????

[papaOU]

Not ON the bottom, BUT at the bottom! That didn't sound much better did it? I tell ya Mr. PaPa your startin' to scare me.....Gen/64 started off just like this and see how he ended up! Do you really want to grow up to be just like him????

Who says I'm going to grow-up..................