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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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OKY DOKY: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:imp443.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Primrose and Burlington. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson]]
[[Image:imp443.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Primrose and Burlington. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson]]
[[Image:imp444.jpg|right|thumb|250px|South Grandview and Highway 52. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson]]
[[Image:imp444.jpg|right|thumb|250px|South Grandview and Highway 52. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson]]
 
[[Image:imp472.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Award winning window display. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]
 
[[Image:imp472.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Award winning window display. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]


[[Category: Company]]
[[Category: Company]]

Revision as of 17:49, 21 March 2009

OKY DOKY. Local chain of popular convenience stores. The first Oky Doky was opened by Jack Thompson in 1964 at 22nd Street and Central Avenue. This was the first of twelve convenience food stores opened in Dubuque, East Dubuque, Galena and Freeport, Illinois. The name of the chain came from an expression Thompson used as a child.

The Thompson strategy was to purchase existing but barely profitable neighborhood stores in good locations and convert them to convenience stores. Winders Food Market, the previous name of the first Oky Doky, was such a site.

As more stores were opened, Thompson began a franchise arrangement that called for the store's operator to pay rent on the building in addition to 3 percent of the store's gross receipts in exchange for the Oky Doky name, buying programs, and marketing.

22nd St. and Central. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson
Kennedy and Pennsylvania. Notice the lack of other buidings at this now busy corner. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson
Primrose and Burlington. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson
South Grandview and Highway 52. Photo courtesy: Jack Thompson
Award winning window display. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding
Award winning window display. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding