F. W. Woolworth Building (Watertown, New York) facts for kids
The Woolworth Building is a very old and important building in Watertown, New York. It is part of the Public Square Historic District, which is a special area with many historic buildings. The idea for this building came from Frank W. Woolworth. He started the famous Woolworth's stores.
Contents
The Story of the Woolworth Building
How Frank Woolworth Started His Stores
Frank W. Woolworth began his career in retail in 1873. He worked at the Smith and Moore Dry Goods Store in Watertown. While working there, he got a great idea. He thought of selling items at a fixed, low price. This led him to open his very successful "five and dime" stores in 1879. These stores sold many different things for just five or ten cents. The Smith and Moore store later even joined the Woolworth chain.
Building a New Landmark
In 1916, Frank Woolworth bought the American Building in Watertown. This was the same building where he started his career. He planned to tear it down and build a much grander building. Sadly, Woolworth passed away in 1919. This paused the building plans for a short time. However, the Woolworth Corporation decided to continue with his dream. The new six-story Woolworth Building finally opened in 1921.
Life of the Building Over the Years
The Woolworth's Department Store was the main tenant in the building. It stayed there until 1971. After that, the store moved to a more modern place. Many different shops used the ground floor of the building. The top five floors were used as offices for various businesses.
The Woolworth Building Today
Changes and Challenges
By 2007, fewer people were using the building. It also needed a lot of repairs. Because of this, the building had to close its doors. In 2008, a new developer bought the building. They hoped to turn it into a fancy boutique hotel. This new hotel would even keep the Woolworth name.
New Plans and Restoration
However, the hotel plan was changed in 2012. Instead, there was a new idea. The upper floors would be turned into apartments for people with lower incomes. In 2013, the inside of the building was in poor condition. Restoration work began in November 2013. It was expected to finish sometime in 2015. By early 2015, the restoration was complete. The building is now occupied again. The ground floor will continue to be used for shops and businesses.
