John A. Brown Car Coaster
2.6'' × 2.6" / 1pc
$10.99
Sale price
$10.99
Regular price
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GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Keep a reminder of Oklahoma shopping history close at hand. John A. Brown became a defining department store name in Oklahoma City after John Albert Brown took over the business in 1932. Its story reflects the shift from downtown stores to suburban shopping malls, including Penn Square and Crossroads. After Dayton Hudson acquired the chain in 1971, Dillard's bought its six stores in 1984 and changed their names. This car coaster is a small tribute to a local retail era remembered by shoppers and collectors.
John A. Brown was an Oklahoma department store chain whose roots reach back to 1915, when the Rorabaugh Company acquired Brock's Dry Goods in Oklahoma City and renamed it Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co. In 1932, John Albert Brown bought the business from his cousin and partner, A. O. Rorabaugh, and renamed the store after himself. Brown had also joined John Dunkin in buying Tulsa mercantile store Hunts in 1924; that separate business became Brown-Dunkin and had no formal connection to the Oklahoma City company. After Brown died in 1940, his widow, Della Dunkin Brown, led the company until her death in 1967, when ownership passed to a trust. Dayton Hudson Corporation acquired the chain in 1971 but kept the Brown name. The downtown Oklahoma City flagship closed in the 1970s and was later demolished amid an urban renewal project that did not produce the planned Galleria shopping center. The chain shifted toward suburban shopping malls, including Penn Square Mall and Crossroads Mall. In 1984, Dayton Hudson sold the six-store chain to Dillard's, which quickly renamed the stores. The transition ended the John A. Brown name in retail.
John A. Brown Car Coaster
$10.99
Sale price
$10.99
Regular price
Keep a reminder of Oklahoma shopping history close at hand. John A. Brown became a defining department store name in Oklahoma City after John Albert Brown took over the business in 1932. Its story reflects the shift from downtown stores to suburban shopping malls, including Penn Square and Crossroads. After Dayton Hudson acquired the chain in 1971, Dillard's bought its six stores in 1984 and changed their names. This car coaster is a small tribute to a local retail era remembered by shoppers and collectors.
John A. Brown was an Oklahoma department store chain whose roots reach back to 1915, when the Rorabaugh Company acquired Brock's Dry Goods in Oklahoma City and renamed it Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co. In 1932, John Albert Brown bought the business from his cousin and partner, A. O. Rorabaugh, and renamed the store after himself. Brown had also joined John Dunkin in buying Tulsa mercantile store Hunts in 1924; that separate business became Brown-Dunkin and had no formal connection to the Oklahoma City company. After Brown died in 1940, his widow, Della Dunkin Brown, led the company until her death in 1967, when ownership passed to a trust. Dayton Hudson Corporation acquired the chain in 1971 but kept the Brown name. The downtown Oklahoma City flagship closed in the 1970s and was later demolished amid an urban renewal project that did not produce the planned Galleria shopping center. The chain shifted toward suburban shopping malls, including Penn Square Mall and Crossroads Mall. In 1984, Dayton Hudson sold the six-store chain to Dillard's, which quickly renamed the stores. The transition ended the John A. Brown name in retail.
| 2.6'' × 2.6" | |
| Width, in | 2.60 |
| Height, in | 2.60 |
| Thickness, in | 0.30 |
Product features
- Made from 100% soapstone — naturally absorbent
- Available in 1, 2, or 4-piece sets with the same print on each
- One-sided full-color print with a matte finish
- 2.6″ × 2.6″ size fits most vehicle drink holders; notch for easy removal
- Removable “Made in China” sticker on the bottom
Care instructions
- Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth