G & M VARIETY STORE

Contact Member

Step back in time at G & M Variety, a truly authentic five-and-dime.

The aisles, featuring the original hardwood floors, are filled with thousands of items. Ride Sandy the horse, and pick out your favorite vintage soda and candy, all while taking a trip down memory lane.

OUR STORY

G & M Variety started as a G.C. Murphy store. Founded in 1906 in McKeesport, Pa., by George Clinton Murphy, the G.C. Murphy Co.™ grew to include more than 500 stores — including the big suburban "Murphy's Marts" — before its acquisition by Ames Department Stores Inc. in 1985. The G.C. Murphy variety stores, or "five-and-tens," survived a little while longer before being absorbed by longtime competitor McCrory Stores.

In 1997 the G.C. Murphy store in downtown St Joseph was purchased by Gary and Mary Nicola. Gary, a former district manager for McCrory, and Mary, a former merchandise buyer for KMart bought the store to maintain the historical and nostalgic feel of the old-fashioned dimestore. Since 1997 it has become a favorite of both residents and the many tourists who visit the small lakeshore town each year. In the spring of 2020, the business was passed down to their daughter, Melanie, and her husband, Matt. Together, they plan to continue the family business while providing a unique shopping experience of times gone by.