Newton's Dry Goods Store

This attractive brick building, the third embodiment of Arthur Bullard Newton’s dry goods store, was built in 1909 at the southwest corner of Plant and Boyd Streets in Downtown Winter Garden. The merchandise he specialized in is prominently emblazoned across his building, attesting to his entrepreneurial spirit. He liked to use advertising jingles in his newspaper advertisements, such as this verse from ca. 1910:

"No more cussin’, no more cryin’
No more want of self denyin’
No more doubtin’ or disputin’
When you trade with A. B. Newton."

Newton’s first store and post office were established in 1892, a couple of blocks southwest, and his second store was housed in the wooden building that eventually became Dillard and Boyd’s store at the corner of Plant and Main Streets.

A. B. Newton built this structure at 114 South Main Street and established his fourth store here. Over the years, other businesses set up shop in this building: the Milk Bar and Burl Monk’s used furniture store, among others. The store’s interior burned in the early 1920s and Newton, who had sold the building and was leasing the space, set up shop in a temporary location nearby. When the interior was repaired, he moved his wares back in. The building, once situated in the Cut Ups Hair Salon parking lot, was demolished in 1984.