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Give your notes a touch of Oklahoma retail history with this John A. Brown spiral notebook. The store's roots reach back to 1915, when an Oklahoma City business was named Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co.; John Albert Brown renamed it in 1932. Over time, the chain reflected the move from downtown department stores to suburban malls, with locations including Penn Square and Crossroads. Its stores took new names after the 1984 sale to Dillard's. A fitting notebook for writers, local history fans, and retail 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 Spiral Notebook
$19.99
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Give your notes a touch of Oklahoma retail history with this John A. Brown spiral notebook. The store's roots reach back to 1915, when an Oklahoma City business was named Rorabaugh-Brown Dry Goods Co.; John Albert Brown renamed it in 1932. Over time, the chain reflected the move from downtown department stores to suburban malls, with locations including Penn Square and Crossroads. Its stores took new names after the 1984 sale to Dillard's. A fitting notebook for writers, local history fans, and retail 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.
| One Size | |
| Height, in | 8.00 |
| Length, in | 6.00 |
| Thickness, in | 0.60 |
Product features
- 118 ruled pages (59 sheets) of smooth 90gsm paper for clear, bleed-resistant writing
- 350gsm front and back covers with a printed front and dark grey back for durability
- Metal spiral binding that lays flat and allows easy page removal
- Interior document pocket on back cover for storing receipts, maps, or notes
- Compact size: 6" x 8" (15.2 x 20.3 cm) — portable and ride-ready
Care instructions
- Use a soft, clean and dry cloth to gently brush any dust or dirt off from the center of book outwards.