by Christine Lorraine Morgan, March 15, 2026

W. T. Grants was a major player in the Erie department store scene for over half a century.

W. T. Grants 9th and Peach Street location had entrances on both Peach and 9th Street. The structure is still standing and in use. It presently houses GECAC.

Grants’ house brand was named “Bradford,” and similar to Sears’ Kenmore line of products, Bradford carried household goods, kitchen appliances and big ticket items. It was named for the PA County of Bradford because that’s where founder William Thomas Grant was born, according to wikipedia.

W. T. Grant Co. in Erie, PA was situated in the 900 block of State Street on the East side of the road in the 1930s. This was before the store opened at it’s most memorable location in Erie at 9th and Peach Streets. The cars in this US LOC image are very impressive. Also visible is a “Waldorf” and Palace Hardware.

As a national chain, Grants operated from 1906 to 1976.

In Erie, W. T. Grants expanded from downtown to this sprawling building near W. 12th Street and Pittsburgh Avenue. The store’s name at this location was “Grant City.”