J C Penney Mother Store and Family Home

  On April 14, 1902 J C Penney opened a cash only dry goods store in the small coal mining town of Kemmerer, Wyoming. His competition was the company store which operated on credit and scrip so local businessmen predicted the store would fail, however, opening day was a rousing success as the families of miners, farmers, and, ranchers shopped at the store resulting in over $400.00 in sales. By 1915 Penney stores were established in 83 small towns across the west soon followed by an expansion into the eastern market.

  The “Mother Store” is the second location of Penney’s first store. It’s still a actual store but has displays of antique Penny merchandise along the upper walls. The Penneys lived in Kemmerer from 1902 to 1909. Their small frame house has been relocated and now sits a block away from the store and is opened for tours. One room of the house has historic displays, the rest are furnished with pieces appropriate to the early 1900s.

  The first floor of the store is accessible but the house is not due to steps at the porch and front door. The curb cuts in Kemmerer are not flush with the street resulting in a step up at all of them.

   RVs can be parked on the street opposite the store.  Store and House  41.79479, -110.53788