283 - Johnson Store

Manville Arthur Johnson began his career as a handyman at the Michigan Mercantile Store in 1907. Through skill and ambition, he rose to become the principal owner and manager of the fourteen stores that belonged to the Johnson Hometown Stores Company until his retirement.

MA Johnson was always a willing worker, a common trait of rural North Dakotans. He increased his business sense through determination and knowledge gained from mail order correspondence courses. Mr. Johnson, even in his early days, always showed great attention to the needs of his customers. In 1910, the Michigan Mercantile Company opened a branch store in Michigan, North Dakota. Johnson was placed in charge and would remain so during a reorganization in 1913 and another in 1929. At this time, Mr. Johnson and other store personnel purchased most of the interests of outside stockholders and the name of the store was changed to Johnson Stores Incorporated. New branch stores were opened, establishing a chain store system.

In the years that followed, the business continued to grow. A creamery was added in 1931 and later a poultry processing plant. While the Great Depression was devastating to many businesses, the company survived largely in part due to efficient operations, sound policies, and dedicated personal service to patrons, all things that promoted future growth.

The company did well for many years. Total sales in 1974, for instance, totaled $4.7 million dollars, which would be roughly $29 million by today's standards. Because of this incredible feat, MA Johnson’s chain of stores became known as the “JCPenney of the North”, a large cry from the humble beginnings when customers would bargain for merchandise, butter was sold in crocks, and bulk molasses was available.

MA Johnson died in 1972 and the parent company liquidated in 1983 due to increased competition from discount stores, higher operating costs, and the recession of that period. Some locally owned stores continued to operate for some time, including the store in Michigan, North Dakota, which has an interesting tale that is memorialized in the June 19, 1990 edition of the National Enquirer.

Ed Toutges (Tao-gee) was a salesman through and through. He began his career as a delivery boy in 1932 and within twenty-four years had become an owner of a Johnson Store. When it came time to retire, Toutges could have made one final sale in his career, that of his beloved store. What he did instead, shocked the community, especially his three longtime employees. On January 11, 1990, Ed wandered into the front doors like he had done thousands of times. He looked at his three friends and said matter-of-factly, “I’m giving you guys the store.” And that is just what he did.

This story, as well as many other memories of the Johnson Stores, offer a nostalgic piece of hometown pride to area residents.