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Today we’re diving into the surprising story of Lawson’s — the hometown convenience store from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, best known locally for its legendary chip dip… and now the second-largest convenience store chain in Japan, with 14,671 locations.
To understand how a small Ohio dairy became a Japanese retail giant, we need to roll back to 1939. James Joseph “J.J.” Lawson opened a dairy plant in Cuyahoga Falls in the old Falls Rubber Company factory, which eventually changed names and became part of Cooper Tire. He decided to add a small retail counter to sell gallons of milk and ice cream directly to customers.
Back then, most milk was delivered to doorsteps in quart bottles. Lawson changed the game with a wide-mouth jug and sturdy wire handle — one container instead of four quarts. It was cheaper, easier to carry, and kept milk fresher by coming from closer to home. This innovation even shared profits with local dairy farmers, sparking a worldwide shift in how milk was sold.
But Lawson’s rise wasn’t easy. He battled strict government milk regulations, Sunday “blue laws” that forced stores to close, and fierce opposition from the home-delivery dairy industry. Some competitors accused him of undercutting prices. Tensions escalated so much that protestors hurled stink bombs into his stores… and even blew up one of his trucks.
Despite the drama, Lawson’s kept growing. He added eggs, deli meats, orange juice — essentially creating an early prototype of the modern convenience store. By 1939, he had ten locations. By 1943, there were twenty. By the 1950s, there were more than 700 stores across the Midwest.
In 1959, Lawson sold the chain to Consolidated Foods for $10 million, shifting his focus to philanthropy, often funding religious causes worldwide. Sadly, in 1962, J.J. Lawson died at age 74 in a head-on collision on Graham Road.
Ownership shifted several times. In 1975, Consolidated partnered with Japanese retail giant Daiei, opening the first Lawson store in Osaka on June 14, 1975. The early Japanese Lawson’s sold American-style party foods and looked very different from today’s locations. Within months, the franchise model exploded across Japan. With its dense cities and on-the-go lifestyle, Japan was the perfect match — and Lawson’s took off.
Today, Lawson’s is Japan’s second-largest convenience store chain, behind only 7-Eleven. On our recent trips to Japan, we stopped at Lawson’s for snacks, egg salad sandwiches, hotel beers, fresh-made ramen, rice balls, and seafood dishes you’d never see in the U.S. The food is fresher, made daily, and contains fewer preservatives than typical American convenience store fare. We have even shipped luggage across Japan from a Lawson’s. Sadly, the chip dip never made the trip overseas.
Lawson Japan didn’t stop there:
1996 – First store in China (now 6,700 locations)
2011 – Expanded to Indonesia (now 365 stores)
2012 – Two locations opened in Honolulu, Hawaii
2021 – Entered the Philippines (214 stores) and Thailand (212 stores)
Since 2001, Mitsubishi Corporation has been Lawson’s main shareholder, and the brand has even partnered with major video games and manga for in-store promotions.
Back in the U.S., things took a different turn. Dairy Mart bought the Ohio stores in 1985 but filed for bankruptcy in 2002. Canadian retailer Couche-Tard bought them out, converting locations to Circle K. The Lawson’s brand disappeared — except for one thing: the chip dip.
Still made by Dairymens Dairy in Cleveland, Lawson’s chip dip lives on in Circle K stores, local bars, breweries, and alongside another Ohio classic, Golden Krisps from Massillon. For many in Northeast Ohio, it’s the last delicious reminder of a brand that went from a small Cuyahoga Falls dairy to a global powerhouse.
Did you know the Lawson’s name — beyond the famous chip dip — still thrives on the other side of the world? Speaking of chip dip, have you tried Pav’s chip dip ice cream yet? What was your go-to Lawson’s treat? Many swear by those big jugs of iced tea. Drop your favorites in the comments!
Also, do you recognize the leftover Lawson’s buildings still in the area? They have those very distinct beams under the roof, originally painted white.
Got a quirky piece of Summit County history? We’d love to hear it. If you enjoyed this video, hit like and subscribe for more deep dives into local history. Thanks for watching — and don’t forget to get out there and explore!
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