Vintage grocery store aficionados in the San Francisco Bay Area should check out the former Lucky and Safeway buildings on Central Avenue near Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg. The grocery stores apparently closed long ago, but their former identities are apparent. Curiously, both are now small-scale manufacturing facilities.
At the northwesterly corner of Railroad Avenue and Central Avenue is a former Lucky (1160 Railroad Avenue). From a quick glance, it appeared reminiscent of the late, beloved Lucky on Alma Avenue in Palo Alto. It may be from the 1950s or 1960s. I believe that it is now occupied by Petsport USA, a manufacturer of dog and other pet toys.
On Central Avenue just to the east of its intersection with Railroad Avenue is a former Safeway. The building still has the tall pylon tower (akin to the beloved 1950s Lodi Safeway and the 1950s Livermore Safeway that still stands on First Street as Dom's Surplus). It most recently was a (roller?) skating rink. Now it is or soon will be the home of Raymar Foods, a manufacturer of Filipino foodstuffs (relocated from elsewhere in Pittsburg).
I'd like to know more about the histories of these buildings. Apparently Central Avenue was the hub of Pittsburg's chain supermarkets in the 1950s and '60s.
These buildings certainly have seen better days (reminds me of that line from "Hamlet" -- "To what base uses we may return, Horatio!"), but they are still serving valuable functions and providing good jobs.
Pittsburg, Calif.-Central Avenue-1950s/60s Safeway & Lucky
Moderator: Groceteria
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- Great Pumpkin
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Re: Pittsburg, Calif.-Central Avenue-1950s/60s Safeway & Lucky
Pittsburg Safeway photo from this site, circa 1999, when it was still a skating rink:
![Image](http://www.groceteria.com/safeway/slideshows/1950-current/04.jpg)
![Image](http://www.groceteria.com/safeway/slideshows/1950-current/04.jpg)
Re: Pittsburg, Calif.-Central Avenue-1950s/60s Safeway & Lucky
Per my photo on flickr...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/romleys/1818305165/
The postcard is from personal archives as are the thousands of photos on my pages.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/romleys/1818305165/
The postcard is from personal archives as are the thousands of photos on my pages.
Charles H:)
- Groceteria
- Great Pumpkin
- Posts: 1936
- Joined: 04 Nov 2005 12:13
- Location: In the breakroom
- Contact:
Re: Pittsburg, Calif.-Central Avenue-1950s/60s Safeway & Lucky
Nice photo. I wonder at what point the pylon went blue...
Re: Pittsburg, Calif.-Central Avenue-1950s/60s Safeway & Lucky
I have an exterior photo of the Pittsburg, Calif. former Safeway store on Central Avenue, taken on November 24, 2013. It then was used by "Ramar Foods International."
Re: Pittsburg, Calif.-Central Avenue-1950s/60s Safeway & Lucky
The "East Bay Times" recently ran an article about Ramar Foods, which has taken over the former Pittsburg, Calif. Central Avenue Safeway store building:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/12/30 ... r-of-love/
The headline in the digital edition reads, "Heading East Bay Filipino food manufacturing, distributing company a labor of love
East Bay woman gave up teaching to take over the family’s growing Pittsburg business"
The former Safeway store sign pylon is visible in the photo taken for the article.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/12/30 ... r-of-love/
The headline in the digital edition reads, "Heading East Bay Filipino food manufacturing, distributing company a labor of love
East Bay woman gave up teaching to take over the family’s growing Pittsburg business"
The former Safeway store sign pylon is visible in the photo taken for the article.