Before shopping malls and e-commerce, the coin store on the corner of the street was our favorite place to spend money. Magic aisles full of affordable merchandise were just a few coins away. They sold everything from toys and trinkets, to necessities, to candy. These stores became America’s Main Street heart. What were the great things we bought there?
Table of Contents
1. Candy Counter Treasures
The glass candy case was the highlight of every penny. Mary Jane, Bit-O-Honey, wax bottles, and Tootsie Rolls were all choices we had to make as we picked up our first candy. After a long decision made, and with our fingers crossed, the clerk counted our candy out to us and placed it in a small brown paper lunch bag.
Save for later
Want to come back to this story? Save it with your email so it is easy to find again.
2. Comic Book Rack
Comics were also a popular item at 12 cents a piece. Who didn’t want to read the newest edition of Superman, Batman, or Archie? Comic books were engaging and fun to read.
3. Paper Dolls
Doll sets were also a great way to entertain children and spark their creativity. These sets had a doll made of cardboard, and a bunch of clothes to dress it up with, which were all punch-out clothes. Some sets had themes such as Movie Stars, Fashion Models, or even Historical Figures. The best part? These sets were only 29 cents.
4. Model Airplane Kits
The balsa wood airplane kits opened up our imaginations to the world of building and flying our own planes. Each kit came with all the materials you needed and was less than one dollar. They included all the wood pieces, tissue paper for the wings, rubber band motors, and instructions to help you build your first plane. My favorite part of the kits was the glue that came with it. We would use all of it to glue all the pieces together and then we would take our planes out for test flights to see how far they would fly.
5. Bobby Pins and Hair Accessories
In the beauty supply section, rows and rows of hair accessories brought excitement and anticipation to every girl. Most of us saved our money for days and then bought as many as we could. The hair nets, pins, and colorful barrettes were all essential for the perfect hairstyle. The plastic headbands with teeth that would probably break the same day were also a favorite.
6. Notebook and Pencil Sets
The school supply section was also very popular with everyone. Spiral notebooks and matching pens and pencils were such a good buy. Pencil cases with erasers that actually worked, built in sharpeners, and thick pencils were also must haves.
7. Embroidery Floss
The craft section provided lots of fun buying supplies for making friendship bracelets. Embroidery thread came in all the colors and was priced low enough to buy as much as you wanted. The wooden display case of thread was a crafter’s dream.
8. Toy Cars
Kids were always seen leaving the store with new die-cast cars. They were the perfect priced cars for collecting, and kids could buy either Matchbox or Hot Wheels. The display cases were always fingerprinted by kids studying each model, trying to decide which one to add to their fleet.
9. Sewing Notions
The sewing section offered a practical service, offering buttons, zippers, and thread. The wooden cases with small drawers housed everything a person needs for home repairs, and projects. Safety pins, straight pins, and needle packs were everyday items that every house had to have.
10. Picture Frames
Wood and metal frames were cheap, simple ways to display photos. The frame section always had a variety of sizes and styles, from gold painted ones that were super ornate, to simple wood ones. These were great purchases for school pictures, and photos that were taken during special occasions.
11. Greeting Cards
The greeting cards section had cheap cards for every occasion. Birthday cards, cards wishing a speedy recovery, cards saying merry christmas, and all of the other holidays were just a couple cents. The racks that rotated made looking through the cards really easy, and the card designs were simple with a lot of glitter or embossing.
12. Handkerchiefs
Before tissues were common, a handkerchief was pretty much a necessity. The display had plain white handkerchiefs that could be used every day, as well as ones that were fancy and embroidered for special occasions. Ladies’ hankies that had lacy edges that were really delicate were often given as gifts, and all of them cost a few cents.
