G.C. Murphy is a defunct chain of five and dime or variety stores in the United States. It was founded in 1906 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania by George Clinton Murphy . Murphy got his start as a manager of a McCrory's store in 1896, he later moved to Detroit, Michigan to manage stores there, before he returned to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to launch his own stores.

The G.C. Murphy Company, at the time a chain of about 12 stores, was purchased in 1911 by two former McCrory's executives John S. Mack and Walter C. Shaw upon Murphy's death. The chain quickly expanded both through new stores and purchase of competitors.

The G.C. Murphy Company by 1976 had 529 stores. These stores included "Murphy's Marts", a larger format store found in newer suburban locations. In 1985 the company was acquired by Ames Department Stores Inc. The stores survived until they were acquired by McCrory's, a major competitor, which rebranded some, and closed others. Eventually McCrory's went out of business.

The store's motto was "Have what the people want, let them know you have it, and organize to serve them quickly, courteously and satisfactorily."

External links

• History of G.C. Murphy stores
• G.C. Murphy memories