Title
Griggsby Bert Wright, 1866 - 1932
Subject
Businessmen
Description
Griggsby Bert Wright founded the first dime store in Tuscaloosa.
Wright was born in Alabama in 1866, but was brought up on a farm in Georgia until, according to the story, he left home at age 10 to face the world on his own. In 1885, he began working as a clerk in the mammoth Dime Store of J. K. Holloway, of Columbus, Ga. It was here that he met and married the daughter of a Judge Barr.
The Wrights moved to Tuscaloosa in 1887 and Wright established a business with H. P. Holloway and, in 1888, bought out Holloway and conducted the business on his own.
The Wright Dime Store was described in the Tuscaloosa Times in 1899 as “one of the largest and best equipped institutions of the kind in the south. There, it may be said, that one can find anything under the sun.”
Wright’s stock at that time was estimated to be at least $10,000. He bought with cash and sold for cash. Wright owned his store, his “homestead,” and other real estate in Tuscaloosa. “He buys everything in case lots and imports his holiday goods from Germany and France.” His wholesale trade was growing along with his retail trade.
Wright was described as one of the most successful men who ever opened a business in Tuscaloosa.
Wright was born in Alabama in 1866, but was brought up on a farm in Georgia until, according to the story, he left home at age 10 to face the world on his own. In 1885, he began working as a clerk in the mammoth Dime Store of J. K. Holloway, of Columbus, Ga. It was here that he met and married the daughter of a Judge Barr.
The Wrights moved to Tuscaloosa in 1887 and Wright established a business with H. P. Holloway and, in 1888, bought out Holloway and conducted the business on his own.
The Wright Dime Store was described in the Tuscaloosa Times in 1899 as “one of the largest and best equipped institutions of the kind in the south. There, it may be said, that one can find anything under the sun.”
Wright’s stock at that time was estimated to be at least $10,000. He bought with cash and sold for cash. Wright owned his store, his “homestead,” and other real estate in Tuscaloosa. “He buys everything in case lots and imports his holiday goods from Germany and France.” His wholesale trade was growing along with his retail trade.
Wright was described as one of the most successful men who ever opened a business in Tuscaloosa.
Creator
Tuscaloosa Times
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Publisher
Tuscaloosa Times
Date
May 12, 1899
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
665
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph