Customer Reviews

For the Love of Murphy's: The Behind-The-Counter Story of a Great American Retailer

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jason Togyer`s book "For the Love of Murphy's: The Behind-The-Counter Story of a Great American Retailer" strikes a unique balance through its telling of the history of the storied McKeesport, Pennsylvania-based chain.

Neither a treacly nostalgic tome nor a bland business history, "For the Love of Murphy's" captures the true love that customers and employees alike had for the store while discussing in detail how the Murphy business model evolved over the years. The reader experiences the highs and lows of the storied dynasty with the sights and smells as well as the triumphs and blunders that created the chain once billed as "the Macy's of Appalachia"

The only misstep in "For the Love of Murphy's" involves the lack of color photos. My suspicion is that there were budgetary issues involved, but a livelier presentation would have made the book a little more appealing.

This is still a marvelous book, color or no color, perfect for Murphy fans, retail history buffs and those interested in business or the history of Western Pennsylvania.

Buy this book without hesitation.

I ordered For the Love of Murphy's because I grew up with the store as an integral part of my childhood. Throughout elementary school and junior high, Murphy's was THE place to eat lunch, buy back-to-school supplies, wander through the toy department downstairs, and play Pac-Man. Togyer did an excellent job capturing personal vignettes from employees of this venerable institution. I never realized just how cutting edge Murphy's was in terms of marketing and business strategies, while at the same time remaining true to its small-town roots.
My only criticism of the book is that I wish more photographs could have been included. Reproductions of menus, newspaper ads, and so on would only enhance what is an already stellar publication.

For the Love of Murphy's is more than a chronicle of the birth and death of a store. It's a celebration of what Murphy's and stores like it meant to small towns and cities in the 20th century. If you grew up going to the "Five and Ten," you'll find something familiar in the book, from the smell of popcorn upon entering to the notions and everyday items that these stores supplied at a reasonable price. Murphy's was the "department store" for hundreds of towns, and no matter where you lived, you'll recognize your town in this book.

For the Love of Murphy's by Jason Togyer is a must have for anyone that grew up in a town with a Murphy's store in their business district. I grew up in one of the many towns that line the rivers outside of Pittsburgh. A couple of things these towns had in common - people that worked in the steel industry and the local Murphy's.
Togyer recounts a wonderfull story of a retail giant in the days before malls, Wal Mart, Target, etc. Murphy's wrote the rule book on variety store retailing long before Sam Walton ever came along.
From their humble beginings as a single store growing in parallel with the expansion of America in the 20th century - For the Love of Murphy's brings us the life story of the business, growth strategies,the people who ran the company, and the backbone of Murphy's - the genrations of folks who ran the stores, and sadly, the end of a retail giant.
Murphy's was a variety store that had everything from paint, to hardware, clothes to 45 records, toys, candy, and of course the lunch counter. I have vivid memories of the small Murphy's in downtown Elizabeth, PA - the heavy front doors, the creaky old thin plank wood floors,and buying Christmas presents for my family when I was seven years old with maybe $6 bucks in my pocket.
It is sad to see those times move into history, but this book brings back all of those wonderful memories.
Highest ratings - bravo Jason Togyer on bringing this story to life.

I purchased this book for my father and these are some of his thoughts:
After working for Murphys for 47 years your book brought back memories of my first Murphy store in Frankfort Indiana in 1950. It was a terrific book and I only wish it could have contained more photos and had a greater amount of information concerning the success of more of the Murphys Mart stores.
Thanks for your effort.
Dave Warren
Tifton GA

I have been wanting to order this book for awhile. Glad I finally got around to it!Great memories and first person accounts throughout!

This book is great for anyone who enjoys nostalgia, especially for the discount stores that are no longer available to us. In an era where every store seems the same from region to region, this book provides an excellent trip down memory lane to a bygone era. I remember shopping at GC Murphy in Bluefield, WV, during the 1970s and 1980s. The book does a really good job of giving chronological information from the company's beginnings all the way through its (very unfortunate!) merger with Ames. Recommended for anyone who wants to remember the days of GC Murphy and Murphy's Mart!

I thought that this was a well written book. It offers some good lessons for reasons that can lead to business sucess and failure. Nicely done!

G.C. Murphy was my first full-time job -- spanning eight stores in six states. I was stockman, trainee, assistant manager, and store manager. I worked with and came to know many of the people named in the book. Jason's portrayal of the Murphy's I knew is as instructional as it is engrossing. It's a fascinating still life in fine detail of a "once upon a time" era in retailing that has sadly passed. This book may be a singularly poignant read to those of us who knew Murphy's well. Even if you never heard of Murphy's, it is a wealth of insight for the entrepreneur looking for the elusive key to his customer's heart. It's a self-help book, if you will, that makes no boast to be so.

I looked forward with great anticipation to having this book and I must say that I was a little disappointed.......not nearly enough photo's or memorabilia shown. I worked at G.C. Murphy's in Rockville, MD and not one mention of the 3 stores that Rockville supported, for a somewhat small town, 3 stores were alot.
This is a nice book and does have a wealth of information on the operation and growth and downfall of the Murphy's chain......I don't know....I think it could have been better......a missed opportunity here I think?