Search found 689 matches

by Andrew T.
14 Dec 2021 00:39
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Sioux City, 1925-2021
Replies: 2
Views: 894

Re: NEW: Sioux City, 1925-2021

Ah, Sioux City... * In Sioux City, National followed its expansion playbook to the letter: Buy out a local chain, rebrand all the stores, compete ineffectually for a decade or two, and withdraw from the market with a whimper. At least one ex-Council Oak store (1415 Villa) had a pylon. The '60s store...
by Andrew T.
14 Dec 2021 00:04
Forum: History: USA Southeast
Topic: Save-Rite Food Town name question
Replies: 8
Views: 1249

Re: Save-Rite Food Town name question

Actually, it was a joint cooperative warehousing venture that Food Town started with two other small NC chains in 1967 so they could cut ties with MDI, the large distributor. Otherwise, it was (as you mentioned) the warehouse, which they eventually bought out the other two (smaller) chains when the...
by Andrew T.
12 Dec 2021 13:09
Forum: History: USA Southeast
Topic: Save-Rite Food Town name question
Replies: 8
Views: 1249

Save-Rite Food Town name question

In the pre-Delhaize era (and even the early Delhaize era, if this photo is any indication), the Food Lion chain in NC was known as "Save-Rite Food Town." But why "Save-Rite?" Was this a buyers' cooperative or supplier arrangement that Food Town was a part of? Or was it just a tag...
by Andrew T.
11 Dec 2021 15:13
Forum: History: USA California
Topic: NEW: Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda, 1921-1999
Replies: 2
Views: 1916

Re: NEW: Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda, 1921-1999

Congratulations! The San Francisco Bay Area may have lost some lustre over the last 30 years as a place to live, but it's still a unique area with rich history and cultural relevance, and I'm thrilled to see Groceteria be "reunited" with the locale. I salute you for slogging through all th...
by Andrew T.
27 Nov 2021 16:04
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Duluth and Superior, 1925/30 to present
Replies: 3
Views: 1229

Re: NEW: Duluth and Superior, 1925/30 to present

Ah, the link and embed have been fixed now! Duluth is just down the lakeshore from where I live, and it's been on the "short list" of cities I'd like to research for quite awhile. Unfortunately since the international border has been closed or restricted due to COVID for the last two years...
by Andrew T.
19 Nov 2021 01:10
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: A WV Texaco conversion in 3 pictures
Replies: 2
Views: 1386

Re: A WV Texaco conversion in 3 pictures

Hey, a reply! One of the biggest, little-known and untapped photo collections in California is the Caltrans "photolog" series, which dates back to around 1971 and has continued to the present. This was a predecessor to "Google Street View," beginning some 36 years earlier. It con...
by Andrew T.
06 Nov 2021 14:29
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Little Rock, 1925-2021
Replies: 4
Views: 1128

Re: NEW: Little Rock, 1925-2021

Now, for Kroger: A long-lived store (listed in the table as operating from 1930-58, or even longer) was located at 2722 S Arch St. The building itself features rather elaborate brickwork and the bas-relief inscription "19 WILD 25." I'd be curious to see if the location is listed under the ...
by Andrew T.
06 Nov 2021 13:23
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Little Rock, 1925-2021
Replies: 4
Views: 1128

Re: NEW: Little Rock, 1925-2021

National's tenure in the market was brief, but they left quite the relic behind: A store with a pylon, gable roof, and fieldstone exterior that's now a church! The shopping-centre location at 2639 Pike Ave also has a pylon, and it's still in use by its current supermarket tenant, Save-a-Lot. Safeway...
by Andrew T.
30 Oct 2021 14:51
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Quad Cities IA/IL, 1925-2021
Replies: 3
Views: 818

Re: NEW: Quad Cities IA/IL, 1925-2021

1600 N Harrison St in Davenport is a great location! It's a late 1920s/early 1930s commercial building with multiple street-facing "bays" for retail tenants, including A&P. By the looks of things, A&P eventually annexed the entire building, and continued to operate there until aft...
by Andrew T.
30 Oct 2021 14:07
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Quad Cities IA/IL, 1925-2021
Replies: 3
Views: 818

Re: NEW: Quad Cities IA/IL, 1925-2021

Interesting how Hy-Vee's entrance in the 1980s came by succeeding Geifman's. According to this article , Hy-Vee didn't buy the company outright; rather, the Geifman family decided to exit the grocery business due to the economic toll of the farm crisis, sold their store locations, and reformed as a ...
by Andrew T.
30 Oct 2021 12:56
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: NEW: Quad Cities IA/IL, 1925-2021
Replies: 3
Views: 818

Re: NEW: Quad Cities IA/IL, 1925-2021

Ooh! I often criss-crossed Iowa and Illinois on road trips back in the days when I lived in Wisconsin, so I've always been interested in the built history of this part of the country. Can't wait to see what goodies are lurking in the tables here...
by Andrew T.
21 Oct 2021 17:42
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Mystery store: 3000 N Sterling Ave, Peoria IL
Replies: 6
Views: 1200

Re: Mystery store: 3000 N Sterling Ave, Peoria IL

For the record, I just heard from David. He's doing location research here , and was able to confirm that 3008 N Sterling Ave was indeed a Kroger store in 1960! Although the address has shifted, that's only because the building has been divided up: 3000, 3008, and 3010 are all under the same roof. S...
by Andrew T.
17 Oct 2021 10:12
Forum: History: USA California
Topic: Sacramento Update
Replies: 2
Views: 10356

Re: Sacramento Update

The 1957 Safeway building still stands today, although it is no longer a Safeway store. See this 2019 Google Street View: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.56413,-121.5006919,3a,75y,316.82h,76.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-pPVzQJp851YbSmdV1S60Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 Today the former Safeway store building is...
by Andrew T.
15 Oct 2021 20:46
Forum: History: USA California
Topic: Victorville, CA Grocery stores there in 1986
Replies: 2
Views: 2528

Re: Victorville, CA Grocery stores there in 1986

Welcome David, I would recommend visiting the central branch of your local public library. They may have mid-1980s Victorville city directories in their collection, probably squirrelled away in a local history or geneology section. These will usually contain an accurate classified listing of the bus...