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Berkeley, California Area-"Co-op" Supermarket Chain-History

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:36
by Jason B.
The Berkeley Historical Society now is displaying an exhibit about the history of the "Co-op" supermarket chain that primarily served the Berkeley, Calif. area in the late 20th century. See:
http://www.berkeleyhistoricalsociety.or ... hibit.html

The Co-op store at Telegraph & Ashby became today's Whole Foods supermarket. Other Co-op locations in Berkeley are now Andronico's Park & Shop stores, I believe.

Re: Berkeley, California Area-"Co-op" Supermarket Chain-Hist

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 02:24
by Jason B.
A 1950s supermarket building will soon be razed in Walnut Creek (if it hasn't already been demolished). The Co-op supermarket chain ("Consumers Cooperative"), based in Berkeley, constructed a store at 1510 Geary Road (at North Main St.) in Walnut Creek in 1957. Groundbreaking apparently was on March 2, 1957. The store is said to have closed in in the late 1970s and the building apparently has been vacant (or underutilized) ever since. In recent years, the building has decayed. It soon will be replaced with a new independent grocery store building.

In 1962, Co-op acquired the three-store Sid's grocery store chain. The Sid's store on South Main Street near Broadway in Walnut Creek became a Co-op. Therefore, for most of the 1960s, Co-op had two stores in Walnut Creek.

See:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/walnut- ... ck_check=1
http://claycord.com/2011/05/11/co-op-in ... embers-it/
http://crazyinsuburbia.blogspot.com/201 ... or_15.html

So Groceteria.com participants, photograph this 1950s store before the wrecking ball arrives!