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Commercial
September 5, 1938
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
1935 Census Bureau report ranks Memphis sixth among 15 major U.S. cities for Negro-operated retail stores (324 total), down 14.5% from 1929. Sales dropped 63.5% to $566,000, with food stores and eating places dominant. Operating expenses $122,000; payroll $44,519 for 144 employees.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Memphis Ranks Sixth In
Negro
Retail
Business
Census Bureau
Shows 324 Stores
in Tennessee City
WASHINGTON. D. C.-(ANP)-
Memphis, ninth city in size of Negro population (96,550 in 1930) was in 1935, according to William L. Austin, Director of the Bureau of the Census, sixth in number of retail stores operated by Negroes in the 15 cities in the United States having 50,000 or more Negro inhabitants. Three hundred twenty-four stores were operated by 318 Negro active proprietors and firm members.
This was 55 fewer stores than were operated by Negro proprietors in the same city in 1929 when 379 stores were reported. Thirty-six and seven tenths per cent (119 stores of Negro operated retail stores were classified as eating and drinking places and 27.5 per cent (89 stores) of the enterprises as "other retail stores."
Whereas, from 1929 to 1935 Negro operated retail stores in Memphis decreased only 14.5 per cent, sales reported by stores located in the aforenamed city decreased 63.5 per cent, that is, from $1,552,583 in 1929 to $566,000 in 1935.
In 1935, 84 food stores, 25.9 per cent of the retail stores operated by Negroes, realized 45.4 per cent of total sales and 119 eating and drinking places, 36.7 per cent of the stores operated by Negro proprietors, reported only 24.2 per cent of total sales.
Total operating expenses amounted to $122,000 and constituted 21.5 per cent of sales. Operating expenses of eating and drinking places totaled $54,000 and represented 44.3 per cent of total operating expenses and 39.4 per cent of sales made by eating and drinking places.
Forty-four thousand five hundred nineteen dollars was paid to an average of 144 employees during 1935. Total payroll of $44,519 constituted 36.5 per cent of total operating expenses and 7.9 per cent of total sales.
Negro
Retail
Business
Census Bureau
Shows 324 Stores
in Tennessee City
WASHINGTON. D. C.-(ANP)-
Memphis, ninth city in size of Negro population (96,550 in 1930) was in 1935, according to William L. Austin, Director of the Bureau of the Census, sixth in number of retail stores operated by Negroes in the 15 cities in the United States having 50,000 or more Negro inhabitants. Three hundred twenty-four stores were operated by 318 Negro active proprietors and firm members.
This was 55 fewer stores than were operated by Negro proprietors in the same city in 1929 when 379 stores were reported. Thirty-six and seven tenths per cent (119 stores of Negro operated retail stores were classified as eating and drinking places and 27.5 per cent (89 stores) of the enterprises as "other retail stores."
Whereas, from 1929 to 1935 Negro operated retail stores in Memphis decreased only 14.5 per cent, sales reported by stores located in the aforenamed city decreased 63.5 per cent, that is, from $1,552,583 in 1929 to $566,000 in 1935.
In 1935, 84 food stores, 25.9 per cent of the retail stores operated by Negroes, realized 45.4 per cent of total sales and 119 eating and drinking places, 36.7 per cent of the stores operated by Negro proprietors, reported only 24.2 per cent of total sales.
Total operating expenses amounted to $122,000 and constituted 21.5 per cent of sales. Operating expenses of eating and drinking places totaled $54,000 and represented 44.3 per cent of total operating expenses and 39.4 per cent of sales made by eating and drinking places.
Forty-four thousand five hundred nineteen dollars was paid to an average of 144 employees during 1935. Total payroll of $44,519 constituted 36.5 per cent of total operating expenses and 7.9 per cent of total sales.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic
Market Condition
Labor
What keywords are associated?
Memphis Retail
Negro Businesses
Census Report
Store Statistics
Sales Decline
Operating Expenses
Employee Payroll
What entities or persons were involved?
William L. Austin
Bureau Of The Census
Where did it happen?
Memphis, Tennessee
Commercial Details
Location
Memphis, Tennessee
Event Date
1935
Key Figures
William L. Austin
Bureau Of The Census
Notable Details
324 Stores Operated By 318 Negro Proprietors
Decrease Of 55 Stores From 1929
Sales Decreased 63.5% From $1,552,583 To $566,000
84 Food Stores (25.9% Of Stores, 45.4% Of Sales)
119 Eating And Drinking Places (36.7% Of Stores, 24.2% Of Sales)
89 Other Retail Stores (27.5%)
Total Operating Expenses $122,000 (21.5% Of Sales)
Eating And Drinking Expenses $54,000 (44.3% Of Total Expenses)
Payroll $44,519 For 144 Employees (7.9% Of Sales)