John G. McCrory
John Graham McCrory | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Indiana County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 20, 1943 (aged 83) Brush Valley, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of McCrory Stores |
John Graham McCrory (born October 11, 1860 – died November 20, 1943), originally McCrorey, was an American entrepreneur who amassed wealth through retail by establishing the McCrory Stores, a chain specializing in five and dime merchandise. To minimize expenses on signage, the company shortened its name from "McCrorey" to "McCrory," which led McCrory to officially adopt the revised spelling as his surname. The inaugural store was launched in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, in 1882.
In the early stages of his business, McCrory collaborated with Sebastian Kresge, who eventually parted ways to create his own retail enterprise. McCrory's outlets directly competed with those of Kresge and F.W. Woolworth. While the original firm faced bankruptcy during the Great Depression, it underwent reorganization and grew by incorporating other retail chains such as G. C. Murphy, TG&Y, and J. J. Newberry, along with segments of Kresge’s former operations. This strategic consolidation enabled McCrory Stores to survive longer than most rivals before its final closure in 2002.
John G. McCrory was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, to parents James and Mary (Murphy) McCrorey. He married twice: first to Lillie May Peters in 1893 until her death in 1902, then to Carrie May McGill in 1904. His son from his first marriage, Van Clair McCrory, held the position of vice president within the company before tragically dying in a hunting accident in 1929. John Graham McCrory passed away at age 83 at his residence in Brush Valley, Pennsylvania, in 1943.