Thinking back to 1966, when Patricia and I moved to Newton, I remember we had pretty vibrant and diverse businesses in the downtown area.
There were several shoe stores (with no shoes from China), we had ladies’ and men’s ready-to-wear stores, at least three drug stores and three furniture stores I recall.
Back then, Newton also had a number of eateries downtown, including two Mexican restaurants.
Other stores, such as Hogan’s store and Johnny’s Confectionery, also come to mind.
There was a Montgomery Ward store and a Penney’s department store, with a catalogue store to boot. Otasco (Oklahoma Tire and Supply) and Western Auto stores also were in the core area.
Seems like there was a Gambles store on the main drag, also. Readers probably will remember all the ones I haven’t mentioned.
This piece is a salute to the hardy downtown survivors of the passing years (and Wal-Mart). Banks and funeral homes are not included.
In a later column I’ll try to showcase some of Newton’s businesses that have passed from the scene.
AAA pawn shop
Royston’s AAAA pawn shop probably bears mention first. Jack always said he named it four A so it would always come first in the phone book.
When I asked Jack why the sign only had 3 A’s now, he said one got washed off and he didn’t feel like repainting it.
When asked how long he had been in business, he mused a bit and said probably since 1951 or ‘52. Jack felt, in his own way, he provided a service to the community. He said some people always need extra cash and he usually could help them out.
Anderson’s
The real long-time champ would have to be Anderson’s Book & Office Supply.
For more than 116 years, five generations of Andersons have successfully operated their book and office supply store. This business has been recognized as a landmark of Newton’s retail community.
The founder, Philip Murray Anderson, began life in the business world early. At the tender age of 15, he helped support the family by selling newspapers on the Santa Fe trains.
At 17, he opened a newsstand at 420 Main and later began branching out into 422 and 424 Main. His mother, Clarissa Anderson, was an important figure in the business for 22 years.
Phil Jr. joined the business in 1931, after graduating from KU. Phil III joined the business in 1958 after a tour in the Army and graduating from WSU.
Milt and Murray Anderson, great grandsons of the founder, both have worked in the store. Murray is involved in sales and purchasing for the store.
Their mother, Jan, has been the store’s bookkeeper for many years.
The store was moved to its present location at 627 N. Main in 1938. The limestone and brick building was built in 1883 and is believed to be one of the oldest Main Street landmarks. It has its original old wood floors and metal ceiling.
The inventory has changed through the years. Early day products included Kodak film developing and printing , Victrola phonographs and GE refrigerators. Anderson’s also was the first store in Newton to sell Hallmark cards.
In recent years, some of the new items are collegiate memorabilia and clothing, computer printer cartridges and office furniture. Office supplies continue to be a mainstay.
Many remember Phil Jr., who passed away in the 100th anniversary year of the business in 1992, after working in the store for 61 years.
Phil III tells me family always has been at the core of their business. He says much of their success is due to a loyal customer base and their emphasis on customer service. He looks forward to Newton’s oldest family business serving the community for years to come.
Marshall’s Furniture
Marshall’s Furniture is another business in the same location it was in 1966. It is now being operated by a father and son who worked for Charlie Marshall.
Charlie Marshall was the original owner. He opened the store on April 15, 1960. Jack Unruh was the store manager. Jack previously had worked for Charlie in the old Furniture Exchange.
An interesting tidbit is Jack brought his son, Steve, to the back door of the furniture store when he was 5 ears old. Jack had to lift him up so he could see in the window. Jack told his small son this is where Dad was working now.
For years, young Steve spent time at the store with dad and was put to work sorting nuts, bolts and other parts used to put furniture together.
Steve really entered the business in 1975 when he started work as a salesman and TV repairman.
And 1980 was a banner year for the Unruhs. They bought the business from Marshall on Jan. 1 of that year.
Little more than a year later, they purchased the building, also. A major project in 1987was the remodeling of the west side of the building, after the city put in the current parking lot.
Talk about a real family business! Jack’s wife Donna started taking care of the books in 1983. In mid-year 1986, Cheryl Smith Willhoite also started working in the store. She is the daughter of Jack and Donna.
Just weeks before opening Charlie’s store in 1960, Jack and Donna had another son. They claim (tongue in cheek) he is the smart one in the family, since he moved to Texas and is working in the oil business. Young Unruh and his family live in Houston.
Katherine’s
Katherine’s ladies wear is the last of its breed here. Manager Becky Stineman is carrying on a tradition that has few equals in the downtown business world, other than Anderson’s.
Her grandfather, R. L. (Dick) Hogan owned and operated a store at 613 Main as early as 1913. He moved to Newton from Abilene that year and opened a store called “Hogan’s: A Little of Everything.”
Katherine Hogan Gilchrist purchased Grainger’s Ladies Clothing at 615 Main in August of 1959, a few months after her husband passed away.
She then changed the name to Katherine’s. Floann Hanna was a close friend and encouraged Katherine to go into the business. Floann was working for Katherine’s at the start but passed away unexpectedly in December 1960.
Katherine had grown up in retail with her father for many years and had the experience necessary to succeed.
In the late ‘60s, 615 was remodeled with the addition of a back room that extended to the alley. Later, in 1972, she opened her second store, Katydid, at 611 Main. Katherine’s daughter, Becky Stineman. managed Katydid, then took over the operation of the main store upon the death of her mother in August 1991, almost 32 years to the day the store was opened.
In 1995, Becky combined both stores at 615 Main and added a line of Merle Norman cosmetics. Becky says the wisdom passed from father to daughter to granddaughter has been her guiding principle. Customer service is the main priority.
R. L. was a wise man!
Graber’s Hardware
Graber’s Ace Hardware is another example of an enduring family business. The Graber family has been in the downtown area providing Newtonian’s hardware needs for more than 80 years.
Herman Graber opened his store in the 500 block of North Main in 1926.
His son, Max, joined the business after finishing a hitch in the U. S. Navy during World War II.
Graber’s Hardware Inc. moved to 200 W. Broadway in 1958. When Herman retired in the late ‘60s, Max “took the reigns” and managed the new store.
Graber’s became an Ace Hardware store in 1972, when they joined the Ace Hardware cooperative.
Max and his wife, Arnita, had three sons who started learning the business and working in the store in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. John, Scott and Tim took their places in the business when Max retired in 1989. John now manages Graber’s Plumbing and Heating Division, and Tim manages the hardware store.
The year Max retired, Graber’s Ace Hardware Inc. Branched out and opened a store in McPherson. Their store at 319 N. Main occupies more than 14,000 square feet of floor space.
You guessed it! The other son, Scott Graber manages the McPherson store.
Many customers around my age probably have fond memories of Max. He seemed to always be around and took pleasure in visiting with his customers. On occasion, we also got to exchange some conversation with Arnita.
When visiting with Tim recently, I asked if any of their younger generation were planning to continue the family business, a hardware dynasty, so to speak. He said his children were too young to be working in the store as yet, but they did have a niece working there now.
Graber’s Ace Hardware decided to move into the old Safeway building at 208 W. Broadway in 1994. The much-larger building plus adequate parking and outdoor display area most likely will be a fixture in the downtown area for years to come. Who knows, maybe another generation or two of Grabers will be at the helm.
El Toro restaurant
The El Toro restaurant at 121 W. Fifth St. is operated by the same family. Marcella Larez and her mother, Barbara Hernandez originally operated it in the building on the west side of this location. In1974, they moved to the current location east of the original store, in order to expand.
Patricia and I have vivid memories of eating in the original location. Diners had to keep an eye on the pool players, since the table was located between the booths and the counter. There was very little room, and you had to watch for a pool cue intruding on your table space when a player made a back stroke before striking the cue ball.
Along the way, Narcisso and Marcella Larez raised four children — Brenda, Tim, Brian and Traci, all of whom helped with chores around the place. It seems even one of the boys got stuck washing dishes.
The last three children have moved on to other things, leaving Brenda and Momma Larez to run the operation. Good help is hard to find so this is one reason for the abbreviated business hours.
Marcella told me her customers are all like old friends (which many are). When they come to eat, several of them come to the kitchen door and visit with her while she is preparing the food. Some used to do the same with grandma Hernandez.
One memorable steady customer was Kathleen Kelly, the lady who always wore fine hats and wrote a women’s column for the Wichita Eagle.
Marcella said Kathleen and her husband used to dress up like Mr. And Mrs. Santa Claus when they came to eat during the Christmas season.
Faith and Life Bookstore
Faith and Life Bookstore still occupies the corner of Main and Seventh streets. The store has been on this corner since 1964, when the Mennonite Church, General Conference, purchased the building from Dillon’s after the first north store was built.
Originally it served as a bookstore for the Mennonite publications offices and was called the Faith and Life Bookstore. In 1996, the store was remodeled and expanded to its present size. Previously, the Schowalter Foundation, Menno Travel Service and the Offender Victims Ministry also occupied a portion of the current space.
When the two branches of the Mennonite Church merged, the store’s name was changed to Provident Book Store.
In 2006, a group of six families purchased the lease and bookstore fixtures from the church. The original Faith and Life Bookstore name was restored. The public should know it is not just a Mennonite store, but a has a distinct ecumenical flavor. The store stocks a diverse selection of books, gifts, church supplies and decorations to meet the needs of most all Christian denominations.
My thanks to the ladies at the store who helped provide this information.
