By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
During its August public meeting, Penn sauken Township Committee recognized John Lancaster, a longtime resident and past owner of the iconic Discount Harry’s, with a special proclamation.
“Through his customer-first philosophy, commitment to quality, and deep love for the Township of Pennsauken, John Lancaster has left an indelible mark on our town and created cherished memories for thousands of families across many generations,” said Penn sauken Mayor Patrick Olivo during the proclamation. “I, along with the members of Township Committee, hereby extend our deepest gratitude and profound respect to John for his decades of outstanding service, entrepreneurial spirit, and steadfast devotion to the children and families of Pennsauken. We thank you for the legacy he leaves behind and wish him health and happiness always.”
As a 34-year-old salesman for the Philadelphia-based toy store chain Kiddie City, John purchased Discount Harry’s from original owner Harry Kaufman in 1976. And in the ’70s and ’80s, the store, a stone’s throw away from the Airport Circle on Rt. 130, was a major retail destination for toys, bikes, pools, and more. In fact, during the Cabbage Patch Kids craze in 1983, shoppers lined up outside the doors for hours to get that year’s hottest Christmas present.
“For generations, Discount Harry’s served as Pennsauken’s own version of Santa’s Workshop, welcoming countless children and families through its doors to explore aisles filled with toys,” stated Mayor Olivo.
“The only way my mom could get us as kids to calm down in our house was to say if we did what she told us, she would take us to Discount Harry’s. This place was so important to all of us,” added Township Committeeman Marco DiBattista. “We are honored beyond words to have an opportunity to meet you. I thank you so much for all that you have done for this town.”
“We used to go and play hide and seek in that store. I’m pretty sure that me and my friends are the reason why you had to have a parent to go in there,” joked Deputy Mayor Vince Martinez.
In 2000, Lancaster moved the business farther down Route 130, focusing on pools and related supplies under the name Harry’s Discount. By 2013, he had expanded the store’s offerings once again, adding a variety of toys and bikes just in time for the holiday season. For 50 years, Lancaster remained the driving force behind this iconic store until deciding to retire a few months ago.
Pennsauken Township Administrator Tim Killion took an opportunity to thank his father and former Mayor Jack Killion for alerting Committee that Mr. Lancaster was retiring.
“We almost missed out on this wonderful opportunity,” explained Administrator Killion. “You are truly living history of what makes this town so special. On behalf of this entire board and this town, thank you so much for everything. You have given us everlasting memories tonight, but also through many, many trips to your store.”
“Thanks to Mr. John, my husband learned how to make our pool nice and crystal clear,” continued Township Committeewoman Jessica Rafeh. “He’s an awesome guy and he will definitely be missed in Pennsauken.”
“Congratulations and happy retirement to Mr. Lancaster,” added Township Committeewoman Nicole Roberts. “We certainly appreciate all of his dedication to Pennsauken.”
After being presented with the proc lamation, a grateful Lancaster expressed his thanks to everyone – family, friends, colleagues, employees, and mentors – who took part in this special moment, and reflected on his many years serving customers here in Pennsauken.
“This is probably the biggest day of my life other than maybe when my children were born,” said Lancaster.
“We had the biggest toy store in the country. We made a lot of money. We lost a lot of money. We have our ups and downs in life, but my ups far exceeded my downs. The most important thing I got out of my business wasn’t the wealth, but the friendship and the real people that I deal with.”
John also took an opportunity to express how much he loved the community he lived and worked in for decades.
“We’ve got a great town. We’ve got a great committee. We’ve got great people,” said Lancaster. “I think we’ve got one of the greatest cities in the country.”
