Located in the heart of downtown Rayne, Worthmore Five and Dime Store is a place that will take you back in time.
“We have merchandise that probably can’t be found anywhere within this area,” says store manager Norman Faulk. “We are proud of that fact and what keeps the old store going.”
Worthmore was opened in 1936 by Dave Rosenbaum who ran the store until his death. Before dying, he passed the store on to his two employees Effie and Ike Hanks whose children still own the business today.
“In the 80 plus years it’s been in operation it’s really only been owned by two different people,” says Faulk. “The Rosenbaum’s and the Hank’s.”
If you visit the store today it looks the same as it did 80 years ago.
“But this old store, since 1936, has almost, in fact, I can show you pictures taken 50 years ago of the inside of the store; it’s exactly as it was then,” says Faulk. “Nothing has changed and we try not to change anything.”
The store still sells much of the original merchandise from old toys to craft supplies and everything in between.
“Another factor that keeps the store going is our flower business,” Faulk says. “We sell a tremendous amount of flowers and the ladies who make the flowers do beautiful work.”
When you’re done shopping, Faulk will ring you up using the original register.
“It came with the store, Rosebum got it, where he got it I have no idea but everything works on it,” says Faulk. “At the end of the day, it will tell me exactly how much money was put into it and how much cranked up.”
For Faulk, he loves watching people visit for the first time and hearing their reactions.
Faulk hopes that the store continues on for future generations to enjoy.
“The goal is to keep going,” he says. “Just to keep it open and keep going.”
