G.C. Murphy Company

For the database of individual G.C. Murphy locations, see the Drilldown page for Infobox GC Murphy.

The G.C. Murphy Company was a company operating variety stores and discount department stores in the United States. Founded in 1906, the company's business was at first primarily focused on its chain of G.C. Murphy variety stores. In 1959, the company acquired Southern variety chain Morgan & Lindsey, eventually converting its stores to the Murphy name in 1978. Around the same time, the company also acquired Texas-based junior department stores Terry Farris, Bruners, Cobbs, and Bargain World.

In 1970, the company introduced its first discount department stores under the Murphy's Mart brand. Over a decade and a half, Murphy's Mart grew to over 100 stores, making up the majority of the company's revenue. Murphy's was ultimately acquired by Ames in 1985, with Murphy's Marts being converted into Ames stores and other locations being sold to McCrory's.

Store history

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Total variety (blue), discount (orange), and junior department store (green) locations, 1906–1983

Year	Total	Variety stores	Discount dept. stores	Junior dept. stores	G.C. Murphy	Murphy A-A	Murphy Fabric Center	Murphy's Mart	Morris	Morgan & Lindsey	Terry Farris	Bruners	Cobbs	Bargain World
1906	3	3			3
1907	5	5			5
1908	6	6			6
1909	10	10			10
1910	10	10			10
1911	12	12			12
1912	18	18			18
1913	23	23			23
1914	27	27			27
1915	30	30			30
1916	32	32			32
1917	38	38			38
1918	42	42			42
1919	46	46			46
1920	51	51			51
1921	60	60			60
1922	61	61			61
1923	75	75			75
1924	85	85			85
1925	88	88			88
1926	92	92			92
1927	113	113			113
1928	133	133			133
1929	153	153			153
1930	166	166			166
1931	172	172			172
1932	176	176			176
1933	180	180			180
1934	186	186			186
1935	189	189			189
1936	195	195			195
1937	200	200			200
1938	201	201			201
1939	202	202			202
1940	204	204			204
1941	207	207			207
1942	207	207			207
1943	207	207			207
1944	207	207			207
1945	209	209			209
1946	209	209			209
1947	209	209			209
1948	210	210			210
1949	218	218			218
1950	219	219			219
1951	294	294			294
1952	295	295			295
1953	299	299			299
1954	298	298			298
1955	303	303			303
1956	309	309			309
1957	316	316			316
1958	323	323			323					0
1959	418	418		0	325					93			0
1960	437	433		4	334					99	0	0	4	0
1961	480	450		30	337				0	113	15	9	4	2
1962	511	480		31	349				14	117	15	10	4	2
1963	510	478		32	349				13	116	16	10	4	2
1964	512	480		32	353				13	114	16	10	4	2
1965	514	483		31	356	0			13	114	15	10	4	2
1966	508	477		31	347	5			13	112	15	10	4	2
1967	512	481		31	331	23			10	117	15	10	4	2
1968	512	480		32	312	49	0		0	119	17	9	4	2
1969	517	484	0	33	312	54	2	0		116	18	10	4	1
1970	519	488	2	29	315	55	3	2		115	15	9	4	1
1971	516	487	3	26	311	58	6	3		112	14	7	4	1
1972	517	484	9	24	383	0	0	9		101	13	7	4	0
1973	528	483	22	23	384			22		99	12	7	4
1974	527	475	31	21	381			31		94	11	7	3
1975	529	466	44	19	375			44		91	11	6	2
1976	545	451	76	18	362			76		89	10	6	2
1977	536	424	96	16	335			96		89	10	4	2
1978	480	374	90	16	374			90		0	10	4	2
1979	467	352	99	16	352			99			10	4	2	0
1980	448	333	103	12	332			103			8	2	2	1
1981	435	318	106	11	309			106			9	0	2	9
1982	422	300	111	11	260			111			9	0	2	40
1983	403	275	118	10	240			118			8	0	2	35