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what ever happened to m-k stores?

when i was a kid, in my hometown there were two department stores, each on two floors of two giant victorian style buildings. G.C. Murphy Co. (yes, Murphy's, the one that sold to Ames), and the M-K Store across the street.

While each sold approximately the same stuff, I remember some distinctive features as a little kid... G. C. Murphy had a huge staircase up the front of the store that led up what seemed like two stories to the second floor, and the old M-K, while they were still busy, (before the mall), had an elevator to the second floor.

The M-K was never called the Emm-Kay, that I remember... it was always referred to as the Emm-and-Kay, despite the lack of ampersand.

I was telling Nala that I always dreamed of winning the lottery and renovating that old M-K, since the building itself was 4-5 stories tall with windows which had long since been covered. I was dreaming of loft spaces before they were popular places to live.

Unfortunately, I haven't won the lottery yet. I'd love to see those buildings put to use. Currently the ground floor of the old M-K is now a locally owned pharmacy/general store, and the basement (? it's built in a hill, so maybe it's actually the first floor ) is still a restaurant.

The old G.C. Murphy has now been taken over with expanded Wesbanco offices (they used to have about 1/3 of the first floor, anyway). after they renovated the building. I'd have to say it looks much better now, although the cubefarm that replaced the downstairs looks a little too Office Space for me.

There are several other grand old buildings there in the historic district, but those two will always stick in my mind. Someday, I'll try to do the research in the library to find out whatever happened to M-K Stores.

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