Ben Franklin Stores

Ben Franklin Stores are a chain of five and dime discount stores found in small towns throughout the United States currently owned by Promotions Unlimited. They are organized using a franchise system, with individual stores owned by independent proprietors. It was perhaps the first retail franchise, starting in 1927. They are named after Benjamin Franklin, taking a cue in their merchandise offerings from Franklin's saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned." The company logo, a key giving off a spark, refers to Franklin's famous experiment to prove that lightning was a form of electricity using a key suspended from a kite. They had their origin as Butler Brothers, which originated in Boston in 1877 as a mail-order wholesaler selling...