ARA

Alabama's Centennial Retailers

By Centennial Year

2007

The Bright Star
Bessemer

Founded in 1907 by Tom Bonduris

Owners: Jim and Nick Koikos

Award Given: 2007 

 

2006

Standard Equipment Co. Inc.
Mobile

Founded in 1906 by Richard A. Christian

Owners: E. Burnley Davis Sr. and Robert D. Wilkins

Award Given: 2007

 

2005

G. May & Sons Furniture
Jasper

Founded in 1905 by Gerson May

Owner: Gerson May

Award Given: 2005

 

Art's Music Shop Inc.
Montgomery, Dothan and Birmingham

Founded in 1905 by Albert and Art Freehling

Owner: Paul Freehling

Award Given: 2007

 

2004

Badcock Home Furniture & More
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Founded in 1904 by Henry S. Badcock

Owners: The Badcock Family

Award Given: 2005

 

Fincher & Ozment Jewelers
Tuscaloosa

Founded in 1904 by William H. Fincher & Eugene Truman Ozment

Owners: Tommy Ozment and Tom Ozment, Jr.

Award Given: 2004

 

Florala Pharmacy,  Inc.
Florala, Andalusia, and Enterprise

Founded in 1904 by Steve Wynn and John McLean

Owners: Charles T. Smith

Award Given: 2004

 

2003

Clayton Drug Company
Clayton

Founded in 1903 by Lige Lingo and Lamar Jennings

Owner: William M. “Billy” Beasley

Award Given: 2005

 

Dozier Hardware Company
Thomasville, Clark County, Alabama

Founded in 1903 by W.H. Andrews, Sr.

Owner: Gerald Corgill

Award Given: 2003

 

 2002

J. C. Penney
Founded in 1902 by James Cash (J. C.) Penney

Owner: Publicly owned

Award Given: 2002

 

The Clay Times-Journal Inc. 
Lineville and Ashland

Founded in 1902

Owner: David Proctor

Award Given: 2008

 

2000

Jackson Hardware Company
 Brundidge

Founded in 1900 by John Hatcher Jackson, Sr.

Owner: Ronny and Judy Mobley

Award Given: 2002

 

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home, Inc.
 Valley and Lanett

Founded in 1900 by George T. Johnson

Owner: Willis A. Johnson

Award Given: 2002

 

W.E. Estes & Son
 Athens

(Retailer of Plumbing/Electrical/HVAC)

Founded in 1900 by W. E. Estes, Sr. and Horton Lewis

Owner: Richard (Buzz) Estes

Award Given: 2002

 

1999

Clearman's Dry Goods
 Vernon

Founded in 1899 by W. B. Clearman

Owner: W.B. Clearman

Award Given: 2002

 

Davenport and Harris Funeral Home, Inc.
 Birmingham

Founded in 1899 by Charles Morgan "Boss" Harris

Owner: Wilma Harris

Award Given: 2002

 

1998

Baers Department Store
 Calera

Founded in 1898 by Phillip Baer, Sr.

Owner: Phil Baer

Award Given: 2002

 

Clark Memorials of Alabama, Inc.
Decatur, Gadsden, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Selma

Founded in 1898 by Egbert Clark

Owner: Pierre Tourney, Jr.

Award Given: 2004

 

1997

Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk, Inc.
Birmingham

Founded in 1897 by J. D. Rosenberger, Sr.

Owner: Mae Rosenberger

Award Given: 2003

 

1996

Bon Secour Fishieries, Inc.
 Bon Secour

Founded in 1896 by Frank E. Nelson

Owner: Nelson Family

Award Given: 2002

 

The Lamar Democrat
 Vernon

Founded in 1896 by C. S. McDougal

Owner: Howard Reeves

Award Given: 2002

 

1995

Rosenbush Furniture Co.
Demopolis

Founded in 1895 by Julius Rosenbush

Owner: Bert J. Rosenbush, Jr.

Award Given: 2002

 

1993

Klein & Son
Montgomery

Founded in 1893 by Leo Klein

Owner: Bill Heilpern

Award Given: 2003

 

Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Founded in 1893 by Richard W. Sears and Alvah C. Roebuck

Owner: Publicly owned

Award Given: 2002

 

1992

Buettner Brothers Lumber Company
Cullman

Founded in 1892 by Hugo Buettner

Owner: Jimmy Barnes and Mr. John McPhillips

Award Given: 2002

 

The Randolph Leader 
Roanoke

Founded in 1892 by Olin H. Stevenson

Owner: John W. Stevenson

 Award Given: 2007

 

W.J. Word Lumber Company Inc.
Scottsboro and Rainsville

Founded in 1892 by W. J. Word

Owner: Bruce Yates

Award Given: 2003

 

1991

Golden Rule Barbecue
Irondale, Hoover, Pinson, Trussville, Helena, Calera, Arab,
Huntsville and Tuscaloosa

Founded in 1891 by the Stone and Williams Families

Owner: Michael C. Matsos

Award Given: 2002

 

Greenville Hardware 
Greenville and Luverne

Founded in 1891 by James H. Dunklin, II

Owner: Jim Dunklin

Award Given: 2002

 

1990

Andrews Hardware Co., Inc.
Citronelle and Saraland

Founded in 1890's by Carl Pick

Owners: Bruce Andrews and John N. Andrews

Award Given: 2002

 

The Choctaw Advocate
Butler

Founded in 1890 by Charles Edward McCall

Owners: Helen W. Cleary,  William A. Davis, Ann W. Allen,
Hunter Doggette and Shirley M. Perry

Award Given: 2004

 

Lowe’s Pharmacy
LaFayette

Founded in 1890 by B. B. McGehee and A. Berry

Owner: Lewis Lowe

Award Given: 2004

 

Mickleboro’s of Montgomery, Inc.
Montgomery

Founded in 1890 by John Conner Mickleboro

Owner: Amy Michaels

Award Given: 2003

 

 Robertson’s Garage
Cragford

Founded in 1890 by John Robertson

Owner: Larry D. Robertson

Award Given: 2005

 

1989

Banks and Company
Eutaw

Founded in 1889 by James O. Banks and Beckam Palmer

Owners: Mr. James O. Banks, Jr., Philip B. M. Banks and James E. Banks

Award Given: 2004

 

E. R. Porter Hardware Co., LLC 
 Dothan

Founded in 1889 by E. R. Porter

Owner: Jane Thrower

Award Given: 2002

 

1987

 Parisian
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio,

South Carolina and Tennessee

Founded in 1887 by Bertha and Estella Sommers

Owner: Public Company

Award Given: 2004

 

Long-Lewis Inc. 
(Wholesale hardware as well as a Ford Lincoln Mercury car and Sterling truck dealership) 
Bessemer, Birmingham, Hoover, Sylacauga

Founded in 1887 by William J. Long

Owner: Vaughn Burell

Award Given: 2008

 

 1986

Brannon’s Inc., dba Brannon’s Office City 
Talladega and Sylacauga

Founded in 1886 by W.R. Brannon and W.T. Billue

Owners: Allen C. Jacobs Jr., Catherine Jacobs-Roberson,
Patricia Jacobs and Allen Jacobs III

Award Given: 2007

1984

 Herald Printing and Office Supplies
Florence

Founded in 1884

Owner: John Martin

Award Given: 2004

 

1979

Julius Goldstein & Son Inc., dba Goldstein’s
Mobile

Founded in 1879 by Julius Goldstein

Owner: Richard Frank Jr.

Award Given: 2007

 

Harrison Brothers Hardware
 Huntsville

Founded in 1879 by James B. and Daniel T. Harrison

Owner: Historic Huntsville Foundation

Award Given: 2002

 

1977

 Louis Crew & Co. 
Goodwater

Founded in 1877 by Colonel Madison Crew

Owner: Johnny Crew Watson

Award Given: 2004

 

1974

 Cullman Tribune
Cullman

Founded in 1874 by George Parker and G. A. Prinz

Owner: Delton Blalock

Award Given: 2004

 

1971

Douglas Brothers Jewelry
 Troy

Founded in 1871 by C. B. Douglas

Owner: Scherr Qualls

Award Given: 2002

 

1970

The Clayton Record
Clayton, AL

Founded in 1870 by Edgar Quillin

Owner: Rebecca P. Beasley

Award Given: 2003

 

Pilcher McBride Drug Company Inc.
Selma

Founded in 1870 by Cunningham and Gatchell

Owners: Alfred Stewart, Jim Creech and Leslie Harrison

Award Given: 2003

 

1969

Don Drennen Motor Co. Inc. 
Hoover
Founded in 1869 by Hubert, Mack and Mell Drennen
Owner: D. Ward Drennen III

Award Given: 2009

1967

The Southern Star
 Ozark

(Newspaper and Retail Printer)

Founded in 1867 by Joseph A. Adams

Owner: Joseph H. Adams

Award Given: 2002

 

1965

Whitlock Jewelry
 Eufaula

Founded in 1865 by J. B. Whitlock

Owners:  Irene and Sonny Harrison

Award Given: 2002

 

1964

 Kymulga Grist Mill
Childersburg

Founded in 1864 by Confederate Army Captain Forney

Owner: Childersburg Heritage Society

Award Given: 2003

 

1956

 The Clarke County Democrat
All of Clark County and parts of adjacent counties 

Founded in 1856 by Issac Grant

Owner: Jim Cox

Award Given: 2003

 

1953

Milner-Rushing Discount Drugs,
Florence and Muscle Shoals

Founded in 1853 by Joseph Milner

Owner: John Lawson

Award Given: 2002

1952

The Battle House, a Renaissance Hotel and Spa
Mobile

Founded in 1852 by John A.M. Battle

Owner: The Retirement Systems of Alabama

Award Given: 2008

1936

Bromberg & Company, Inc.,
Birmingham and Montgomery

Founded in 1836 by Frederick W. Bromberg

Owner: The Bromberg Family

Award Given: 2002

 

1927

The Selma Times-Journal
Selma

Founded in 1827 by Thomas Jefferson Frow

Owner: Boone Newspapers Inc.

Award Given: 2007