Early Alpha Beta

[J-Man]

From the Groceteria article on the history of Alpha Beta:

Albert and Hugh Gerrard had been operating food stores in Southern California since 1900 and had been early adopters of a self-service system in 1914. Their Triangle Grocerteria (at 329 West Second Street, Pasadena) began arranging groceries alphabetically in 1915, the beginning of the "Alpha Beta system"

Unless the street naming system in Pasadena has changed since 1915 (which is certainly possible, although not likely), this address does not appear to exist. In fact, Pasadena doesn't have numbered streets at all. Could it have been in Pomona?

[Daniel]

I just checked with my copy, and that's the address given in the book "The Alpha Beta Story".

[Dean]

From the Groceteria article on the history of Alpha Beta:

Albert and Hugh Gerrard had been operating food stores in Southern California since 1900 and had been early adopters of a self-service system in 1914. Their Triangle Grocerteria (at 329 West Second Street, Pasadena) began arranging groceries alphabetically in 1915, the beginning of the "Alpha Beta system"

Are these GERRARD'S the same as the GERRARD'S that ran markets in the REDLANDS CA area? There is still one (1) site operating under the GERRARD'S name. Another site closed years back.

<<<Edited by moderator to properly frame quoted material. Please read this post for info on how to quote messages.>>>

[runchadrun]

Alpha Beta did start in Pomona. According to a story in the 9/15/1994 LA Times about the demise of the chain in the Yucaipa buyout of Ralphs:

* 1907: Canadian-born businessman Albert C. Gerrard moves to Orange County from Pomona.
* 1910: Gerrard purchases Santa Ana Market near 4th and Main, adding produce and groceries to the inventory; experiments with a "cash & carry" concept with no credit and delivery service.
* 1911: Gerrard purchases four more markets-two in Orange and others in Fullerton and Tustin.
* 1912: Gerrard's brother Hugh becomes manager of the Santa Ana Market. Another market is purchased in Pomona.
* 1914: Self-service shopping is instituted at Pomona market. Previously, customers' orders were filled by clerks.
* 1915: Goods at Gerrard's Triangle Grocery store in Pomona are arranged in alphabetical order to assist shoppers, becomes known as the Alpha Beta System. Orange, Tustin and Fullerton markets are sold.
* 1917: Pomona market becomes Alpha Beta Store No. 1; Santa Ana market is Store No. 2. Second Pomona store becomes Alpha Beta Store No. 3. Third brother Will Gerrard joins partnership and starts Alpha Beta Store No. 4 in Santa Ana.

As for Gerrard's in Redlands, it's quite possible there's a connection. The owner, Paul Gerrard, died in 2004 and according to his obituary he was born in Pomona in 1917. An interesting bit of trivia is that it was in 1986 at Gerrard's where the Food for All program started, where you could make a contribution to hunger programs at the checkstand.