Woolworth's Department Store

Woolworth's Department Store

1955

2012-2013

2023-2024

The original purpose of this section of the building was to serve as a dime store with lunch counter.

This section of the building was a bank from 2013 to 202-.

This section of the building is currently unoccupied.

Woolworth's Department Store got its footing in 1955 as a part of the very first shopping center in St. Augustine's downtown. The designer, Morris Lapidus, was Florida's foremost mid-20th century architect, but this is the only building designed by him in St. Augustine. Woolworth's sold items like groceries, stationery, and household necessities. This store was a part of a larger chain of stores created by F. W. Woolworth, the first brand to go global with thousands of stores.

Woolworth's is known for its importance to the 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights sit-ins. On February 1, 1960, students in North Carolina organized a sit-in at a Woolworth's whites-only lunch counter and this inspired the black youth all across the South. Soon after, six students from Florida Memorial College had the first sit-in in St. Augustine at Woolworth's.

In 1963, high school students named Samuel White, Audrey Nell Edwards, JoeAnn Anderson, and Willie Carl Singleton organized their own sit-in at the St. Augustine location. They were arrested and the judge ordered an end to their protesting, but they refused. Instead, they spent six months in jail and reform school. This group of students and their legal case is known as The St. Augustine Four. The governor of Florida ordered their release in 1964 after their case gained national attention, including praise from Jackie Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the early 21st century, Atlantis Resort Wear & Gifts moved into the old Woolworth's store. In 2013, a Wells Fargo bank branch was located here which lasted until 202-. A section of the Woolsworth counter and four seats were saved and in 2014 installed as a static exhibit within the bank. In the late 2010s, these pieces were given to the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center for permenant display.

This location is currently under renovation.

F. W. Woolworth's in St. Augustine was part of the Ponce de Leon Shopping Center.

33 King Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084

The following books, articles, websites, and photographers were used to find the above photographs or illustrations:

Photograph 1 (c.1950s): “Ponce de Leon Shopping Center - St. Augustine, Florida.” N039716. Located on Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/147963.

Photograph 2 (2023): Augusty, Jean-Marc "Woolworth Store." March 4, 2023.

Photograph 3 (2023): Augusty, Jean-Marc. "Woolworth's Store Door." March 4, 2023.

The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:

“1.Accord Freedom Trail Site – 31 King Street: Location of Woolworth’s Department Store – Downtown.” Accord Freedom Trail. 2011. https://accordfreedomtrail.org/31King.html.

Eubanks, Gerald. The Dark Before Dawn: From Civil Wrongs to Civil Light. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, 2012.

Rajtar, Steve, and Kelly Goodman. A Guide to Historic St. Augustine, Florida. 1^st edition. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.

The St. Augustine Record. “Historic Civil Rights era Woolworth's counter installed at King Street Wells Fargo in St. Augustine.” July 26, 2014. Located on The Florida Times-Union. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2014/07/26/historic-civil-rights-era-woolworths-counter-installed-king-street-wells/15791459007/.

Flagler College’s Rare Books, Floridiana & Institutional Repository are neither the original nor current copyright owner for the photographs. Please contact the publisher or source cited for each photograph to obtain a copy and/or permission to reproduce these items.

The following St. Augustine Fiction books feature this building as a location:

Forcing Change
Hydra Pit
Once to Every Man
Sugar Cage

This record was last updated on October 10, 2024.