Hoy’s 5&10 Celebrates 75th Anniversary

STONE HARBOR – A lot has changed since Hoy’s 5&10 first opened its doors in 1936. From how money is processed and products are priced to the employee dress code and featured merchandise, Hoy’s has changed with the times. But one thing has remained the same. Hoy’s 5&10 has been the fun place to shop for 75 years.
Owner David Hoy and longtime employees recently reminisced over the company’s history, comparing ‘then’ with ‘now.’
The Shopping ‘Climate’
Then: Hoy’s 5&10 opened during the Great Depression. People did not have a lot of money. But they still needed supplies. At the time, there were no chain stores, large shopping centers or malls. The whole idea behind the 5&10 was to be able to buy something for less. Hoy’s had buying power and so could offer lower prices. That brought in customers.
Now: Today, there are shopping malls, deep discount chain stores, dollar stores and online retailers. Hoy’s has established its own niche. It has become the ‘mom and pop’ store in the beach communities that it serves. Each store is customized to its clientele, which means Hoy’s offers Stone Harbor souvenirs in Stone Harbor and Ocean City souvenirs in Ocean City. The store also offers everything you need to stock up on when you’re in town visiting from kitchen supplies to thread for mending and holiday decorations for the Fourth of July. The store is also a draw for kids and teens, with toys, jewelry and clothes with them in mind—at Hoy’s signature low prices.
Employee Dress Code
Then: Through the 1970s, it was a suit and tie, white shirt and dress shoes for men; dress or skirt and heels for women. Pantsuits came out in the late 1970s, allowing women more flexibility in dress. At beach locations, however, a more business casual dress code was permitted.
Now: Neat and casual with closed toe shoes for safety at all Hoy’s stores.
Price Tags
Then: Prices were handwritten on tags and placed on each item.
Now: For the last four years, Hoy’s has bar coded its inventory. But for the convenience of customers, store employees still hand stamp prices on each item.
At the Cash Register
Then: There were no such things as debit or credit cards, at first. Everything was a cash sale. The cash register also was not electric. Neither was the adding machine. You pushed in the number and pulled the lever. You counted the change into a customer’s hand. By the 1980’s, credit cards were more prevalent. Hoy’s used to receive thick books in the mail that listed bad credit cards. Employees would have to check the card number against the numbers in the book to make sure the card was good.
Now: Cash registers are not only electronic, they are computerized. The register automatically tells you the change to give. While cash sales still predominate, plenty of customers also rely on debit and credit cards. Countertop devices allow employees to instantly draw payment from a card.
Edibles
Then: The early Hoy’s stores had a countertop restaurant, known back then as a soda fountain. It served everything from soda and ice cream to hamburgers, fries, pudding, and more. Customers sat on spinning stools and enjoyed breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. The counter closed at 5 p.m. Food wasn’t limited to the soda fountain, however. Hoy’s used to roast its own nuts and serve popcorn hot and fresh out of a popcorn machine. Employees also used to hand dip water ices, in flavors ranging from lemon to cherry, blue raspberry and watermelon. They had an extensive candy counter, where customers could choose a few pieces or have employees bag up a pound or more for them.
Now: You’ll still find candy of all kinds and some other packaged treats at Hoy’s stores, but that’s the extent of the edible offerings.
The Hoy’s Mini ‘Zoo’
Then: For many decades, Hoy’s maintained a pet department, which resembled a miniature zoo. Not only did it have the requisite fish, birds, hamsters and gerbils, it had rabbits, ducks and chicks for Easter. The department even boasted many more exotic pets as well. For example, there were alligators, pythons, white rats, and squirrel monkeys. One employee, Sarah Harmon, remembers a special attachment to one black monkey. “We used to put a leash on him and walk him around the store,” she said. “I tried to talk my husband into taking him home, but he wasn’t a monkey fan.”
Now: The pet department disappeared from Hoy’s around 1977. Today, the only live animal you might be able to purchase is a hermit crab.
The Fads
Hoy’s 5&10 has been through more than seven decades of fads. Here are some of the more memorable ones, then and now:
•Slinky (1940s) – Invented by a ship inspector, this toy became wildly popular after the war, and continues to be so today.
•Hula Hoops (1950s) – In the first two months on the market, 25 million hula hoops were sold in the U.S.
•Pet Rocks (1975) – A million pet rocks sold for $3.95 a piece in just a few months after the product was introduced to the market.
•Cabbage Patch Dolls (1984) – Employee Sarah Harmon remembers that customers put their name in a box. If selected, they could purchase the doll for $44.95.
•Beanie Babies (1990s) – These small, inexpensive stuffed animals had a tag with the animal’s name and birth date. This created a collector’s craze. By 1996, more than 100 million Beanie Babies were sold.
•Webkinz (2005) – Stuffed animals linked to games on the web were a novel idea. The
•Silly Bandz (today) – The original rubber bands, and many knock-offs, come in many colors and shapes. Kids like to wear them on their wrists. The more you have, the better.
The Cost
Then: A spool of thread was a nickel back when Hoy’s first opened its doors. A bag of marbles cost a dime. A jump rope was about 15 cents.
Now: Today, at Hoy’s you can find these same items: thread ($2.65), bag of marbles ($1.29) and jump rope ($1.59).
Has Anything Stayed the Same?
The family owning Hoy’s 5&10 has remained the same over several generations now. Bernard Joseph Hoy founded the store, and managed the chain until the mid-1960’s. The business was then passed to his son, William R. Hoy, and his nephew, Bernard Joseph Hoy, Jr.
Today, the third generation is at the helm: David Hoy, co-owner with siblings Susan Hoy, Elizabeth Furcolo and Georgene Luttmann. (David is the only sibling currently active in the daily operations of the business.)
A 75th Anniversary Celebration
Hoy’s is offering special “Now and Then” pricing this season in honor of the 75th Anniversary. Look for special merchandise marked down to just 5 or 10 cents! Stop by the cashier to sign a giant anniversary card and be part of the fun.
Hoy’s 5&10 is located at 34th Street and West Avenue in Ocean City, at 732 Asbury Avenue in Ocean City, at 219 96th Street in Stone Harbor and at 2800 Dune Drive in Avalon, N.J.