Two Guys was a discount store founded in 1946 by New Jersey brothers Sidney and Herbert Hubschman. This location in Shillington was constructed during the summer of 1962. The entire company went defunct by 1982, so I am guessing this store location shuttered sometime shortly before then.
These photos below were sent in by Ron Shurr, a faithful correspondent of Berks Nostalgia. Below, take a look inside the Two Guys Department Store that was located on 724 in Shillington, where Ollies and the Trading Post now are. It was directly across from the old Dempsey’s American Restaurant that was torn down in 2018 to make way for a Sheetz. Ron’s recollection of his short time working in the Camera department is as follows:
“Here are some pictures of Two Guys inside the store once located in Shillington, PA. I don’t remember the exact dates they were taken, but it was in the very early nineteen sixties. The pix are primarily of the Appliance, TV and Camera departments with most of the individuals being employed there.
At that time, the Two Guys store was a few blocks from the Shillington Restaurant and Market, next to the Crest House and across the street from a Tiny Tim fast food establishment, near the intersection of Hwy. 724. They would be open seven days a week, which was a problem at that time considering the Blue Laws. Working there, I remember law enforcement, coming by the store on Sunday afternoons to forcefully close the store. Wow, how times have changed!
One thing that I remembered having worked for Pomeroy’s department store, before working at Two Guys, was the Appliance and TV manager. Jack Bush was the manager, who left a buyer management position at Pomeroy’s, in downtown Reading. Other department managers came from different Two Guys locations, a few from as close as Allentown while others were from the New Jersey area.
I remember helping to set up the Lighting Fixture department with a New Jersey Corporate Owner-partner, Manny Brecker. Together we wired and hung fixtures. The department was located between the Camera and Appliance departments. I don’t remember when they officially closed, but I was only there a short time before accepting a Camera store management position in Carlisle, PA.”
Post Two Guys, the building was subdivided into several different stores, with Pathmark taking the left (entrance on the side) and Rickel’s taking the right. After Rickel’s closed the store was divided further into Ollie’s and A.C. Moore. Pathmark was sold to Giant in 1997 and relocated in 2005; A.C. Moore relocated in 2004. –Source
The Ollies is still there, along with a Trading Post store, however, the side-entry Grocery store section has been vacant since Giant left in 2005.
I think I recall there was a Gino’s Restaurant in where the Arby’s is now?
The Arby’s was purpose built in late 70’s early 80’s, I worked in the Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips’ when they built it. Treacher;s became Neidermyer’s chicken and finally a KFC.
Gino’s Cafe is still open in the small shopping area near the intersection of West Broad St, and Museum Road in Shillington. Great food! Mike & Gino’s Sports Bar is located at 2233 Lancaster Pike in Shillington. Next to Gallen Insurance.
I have moved to Florida and thank you for bringing back many memories, I really enjoy the photographs and text you provide. Your efforts make me smile. Thanks again.
I worked at Two Guys from 1972 through 1980, starting in high school and college summers part time and then as a clothing/ domestics area manager after college. In 1972 I was hired as a “scab” to work while the associates were out on strike. That was pleasant crossing the line and being yelled out when all you wanted to do was make $1.90 an hour for the summer!
My dad Earl Fairchild was the shoe dept manager then
I still have a necklace my husband bought me at Two Guys the first year we were married. It was costume, of course. We lived in an apartment in Shillington ((1963/64) so we were constantly running to Two Guys for incidentals.
My father Joe McGlynn was the store Manager
Loved going there !!!!
My dad worked part time in the pet department in the 60’s. Guess he needed a few bucks to support 4 kids. Of course we never gave it a thought. But that’s what good parents did.
Shopped there with my parents all the time. At the beginning there was even a grocery store inside, but my mom never bought groceries there, she always shopped for groceries at Food Fair
My Dad Joe McGlynn was the Store Manager at
TWO GUYS,
loved Going there !!!!
Living in Shillington. We did much of our shopping at Two Guys. Jack Dunn and I were 1953 Reading High grad . Thanks for the memories
Ed Deren
In reference to Kelly, she may be interested in a photo I have of a management awards presentation. I remember the name Joe McGlynn, but I don’t recall his image. I’d like to share the photo with Kelly. And in reference to Ed Deren, Jack Dunn and I used to meet at the Crest House, next door to Two Guys for a nightcap after closing the store, many a night.
One word describes the Two Guys in Shillington: “Bonanza!” The price was always right, especially at Christmas!
I worked at Two Guys for 14 years(1968-1982) in MD and New Jersey. Started at $1.60 a hour in the Mens’ Dept. My first clothing supervisor was from the Reading area. Ken Benniger. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
I went to high school with Ken’s son Ron. He was the envy because he bought a brand new Ford Mustang 1//2 yr when they were a glorified Ford Falcon with 6 cyl engine.
[…] Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips’ was located on Route 724 in Shillington, right in front of Two Guys Department Store. Treacher’s eventually became Neidermyer’s chicken and finally a KFC, which it still is […]
There was a Carroll’s there before that.
I worked there in the summer of 1980. Most employees already saw the end coming, but were dedicated enough to stay until the very end.
I worked in the Housewares/Carpet/Furniture area. Had to build furniture, carry out heavy carpet in good pants, dress shirt, tie and heavy smock.
I was soooo hot. I too remember shopping there during the blue-laws. It was my favorite place to go as a child. The super-store before there were superstores.
When I was a young boy my parents did a lot of shopping at Two Guys. I remember us going grocery shopping on a Sunday, they roped off the aisles so customers were restricted to the grocery section of the store. Two Guys had a great toy/hobby section, and I always went to the record section to check out the latest 45’s and get a WRAW top 40 paper.
Does anyone have pictures or memories of the MG / Austin Healey dealership Wingenroths, right across from the market and Twin Kiss? My brother worked and sold cars there in the mid 60’s.
As a teenager in the late 70’s Two Guys was the go-to place after school. Bought many a soda at the Snack Bar and spent many dimes on the arcade bowling machines.
I forgot about the bowling arcade. Would ride my bike to Two Guys often. Thanks for the memory. I also think there was a popcorn vending machine in the lobby. You can still see the bottom edge of one of the “V” shapes of the unique roof line near the entrance of today’s Trading Post store.
Did you work for Clover Farms Dairy?
[…] community tax income. Kmart enjoyed a 42 year reign in Berks, and now quietly joins the ranks of Two Guys, Pomeroy’s and other retail relics of the […]
My father took me to the parking lot (on Sundays) to learn how to drive. I also worked one summer (1973) in the grocery store, crossing the picket line during the summer labor strike.
Between college years, I got a summer job putting the roof on this Two Guys at union scale wages. Great pay buy really hot and nasty work starting at 6:00 am every day for 2 months. Two Guys was originally called Two Guys From Harrison and was founded in N.J.
I well remember Two Guys and bought a lot of things there. As a kid I liked it for the discount prices on model airplanes and other hobby items. It certainly drew business away from some of the stores in Reading. It heralded the rise of suburban shopping which accelerated with the arrival of the Malls. It’s likely that the new Mall complexes were key to the eventual demise of Two Guys as well.
Two Guys in Lancaster, PA. Me and my buddy both had (good) complete darkrooms. The Two Guys we shopped at was at Columbia Pike/Ave and and Roherstown Rd.
The Columbia Pike was also called RT30 before the “bypass” was built and it was then called RT30. Columbia Pike became Columbia Avenue, and was renamed RT 462 . East of the city the road was, and still is called The Lincoln Highway East. The section through the center of Lancaster was called West and East King Street.
Two Guys had an excellent photography section with just about every darkroom supply you could want. We had to buy very little elsewhere (ie mail order).
We bought all our LP vinyl records there too. Best prices around, as I recall. I mostly shopped there from 1971 to 1974.
My grandparents lived in Montross Manner.When we stayed over, it was close to walk to Two Guys and then it was only a two lane road.I was only a toddler, but remember in the back of the store,there was a mechanical fortune teller in a box with a turbin on his head.It was a must that we asked my grandma for a coin and got our fortune told for probably only a penny or nickel.It would move its head and arms and might have had cards in its hands. I wonder what happened to it when they closed. Would love to have it.