Franklin Map Store

[Jerseyman]

Folks:

I stopped in the Franklin Map Store in Crispin Square last week to purchase a USGS topo quad for my project. In speaking with the manager, he informed me that the Franklin Map Company will be closing the store either at the end of April, when he goes on vacation, or before the end of the year. He indicated that the company refuses to expend any money on advertising and the move from the Greentree Shopping Center along Route 73 to Crispin Square off Church Street absolutely killed the business. Franklin even failed to place any notices in the newspapers or elsewhere about the relocation, according to the manager.

So, this is a “last call” for any of you who enjoy visiting that store as much as I do and seeing the many maps they stock. Perhaps if we can aid the manager in rebuilding the store’s traffic and sales volume, Franklin may reconsider their plans.

In addition to many maps, the store stocks a nice bookcase of New Jersey and Pine Barrens books. So, if you have the chance, I encourage you to stop in!!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[RednekF350]

I didn't know they moved from 73.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Teegate]

I didn't know they moved from 73.

Same here. I will have to stop in.

Guy

 

[MarkBNJ]

Do they have any historic maps, Jerseyman?

 

[BEHR655]

I didn't know they moved from 73.
Thanks for the info.

I did but didn't know where. No wonder business is down. Nobody knows where they went.

 

[Teegate]

I did but didn't know where. No wonder business is down. Nobody knows where they went.

Plus, Crispin Square had the Murphy's Market that closed causing less people to go there.

Guy

 

[Jerseyman]

Do they have any historic maps, Jerseyman?

Mark:

Yes, they have some real quality reproductions of historic maps—both local, national, and even international!

Franklin Map has an interesting history. Back in about 1930, the Franklin Survey Company, forerunner of Franklin Map, bought out G.M. Hopkins & Company, one of the most prolific cadastral cartographic firms in the United States. Griffith Morgan Hopkins, born in Haddonfield, New Jersey and founder of the firm, received his training working for the New Jersey Geological Survey during the 1850s and 1860s. When Franklin bought out Hopkins, the new owner received all of the surviving map plates and atlases.

As a result of holding this historic material from G.M. Hopkins, today Franklin has been reproducing some of those plates which they sell framed.

By all means, folks, please start patronizing this store en masse!!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[BEHR655]

Mark:

Griffith Morgan Hopkins, born in Haddonfield, .....

Best regards,
Jerseyman

I assume a descendant of the Pennsauken Griffith Morgan.

Steve

 

[Jerseyman]

I assume a descendant of the Pennsauken Griffith Morgan.

Steve

Steve:

That would be the one!! Writing on the fly with just my memory for navigation, I believe that G.M. Hopkins’s mother was a Morgan—or was it his grandmother? I will check my file on Mr. Hopkins and get back to you a little later.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[jburd641]

Where is Crispin Square?

Do you have an address so I can google it?

 

[Teegate]

It is at North Maple Ave and Church Road on the Mount Laurel and Marlton border. North Maple in Marlton is Church Street in Mt Laurel so you may want to say it is located at Church Street and Church Road in Mt. Laurel.

Here is the location.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...74.927230&jsv=107&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17&iwloc=addr

Edit: It is right across the street from Traino's Liquors.


Guy

 

[jburd641]

Thanks Guy, I'll try to get over there ASAP.

 

[Boyd]

I haven't been in their store for a couple years, since I moved to Atlantic County. But I always enjoyed visiting in the past. I didn't know they'd moved either. But it's funny, in a couple old threads I suggested them as a source for USGS topo maps but others felt they were too expensive.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=1435

Whenever possible I like to support local businesses, knowing full well that I often pay a bit more. Unfortunately, the ease of online shopping and their low overhead are making it tough for the little guys these days. During my many visits to their store in its old location I was usually the only customer there. I suspect they've been struggling for awhile. What a shame.

 

[jburd641]

I stopped in the store today and spoke with the manager about the store closing. He said he was just going on vacation on the 26th but the store will remain open at least through the year. He said he wants to retire but the store owners want him to stay on because they have a three year lease.
It's a shame they will eventually close since they are the only map store left in NJ.
They really should use the internet to make sales but from what the manager said, that will never happen. He went on a rant against the internet and basically said that anyone who uses the internet is an idiot wasting their lives.
Just a case of refusing to keep up with the times I guess.

 

[Teegate]

He went on a rant against the internet and basically said that anyone who uses the internet is an idiot wasting their lives.
Just a case of refusing to keep up with the times I guess.

I was waiting for someone else to mention this, and now someone has. I am not sure if he is the same person who was there years ago, but I was turned off by the man I encountered then. Since I remembered I told Rob from work about the store a few years ago when he needed a map, I informed him a few days ago about this post. He had the exact same experience as I did and would never go back. Unfortunately, it may be more than a location change that is the problem.


Guy

 

[jburd641]

I was waiting for someone else to mention this, and now someone has. I am not sure if he is the same person who was there years ago, but I was turned off by the man I encountered then. Since I remembered I told Rob from work about the store a few years ago when he needed a map, I informed him a few days ago about this post. He had the exact same experience as I did and would never go back. Unfortunately, it may be more than a location change that is the problem.

I'm glad to see it wasn't just me. There was only room for one opinion in that store and it sure wasn't mine, no matter how I tried to explain the good things about the internet.
He may not like it but, the customer is always right.

 

[BillyB514]

He went on a rant against the internet and basically said that anyone who uses the internet is an idiot wasting their lives. Just a case of refusing to keep up with the times I guess.

I have been there in the past and bought many a TOPO from there.
Sounds like a person that is losing everything to technology and by not embracing it and learning to use it to their advantage; they are forming anger towards that which is killing their business. He does not like the internet because he does not know how to use it. People are afraid of that which they don't understand.
I am happy to know that I am wasting my life on the internet. The best single source for just about anything you can imagine. Someone somewhere has probably asked the question you seek answers to. Wow I will gladly keep wasting my life filling my brain with knowledge.
It does suck when a good source of maps [or a long held business] goes like that. It seems like some made bad or bitter choices.
BB

 

[jburd641]

I have been there in the past and bought many a TOPO from there.
Sounds like a person that is losing everything to technology and by not embracing it and learning to use it to their advantage; they are forming anger towards that which is killing their business. He does not like the internet because he does not know how to use it. People are afraid of that which they don't understand.
BB

The funny thing about this guy is he says he wrote a book on microsoft word.
He may have been cranky but he didn't strike me as a BS artist. Could just be someone who enjoys being cranky.
By the way, Batsto is the cheapest place I've found for topo maps.

Jay