Groceteria Journal:

26 April 2008 | Link this

A&P, 1121 Linwood, Kansas City MO, 1940. Unknown source.

I can't remember wher I came up with this photo several years ago, but I've always loved it. It's a beautiful store, with its glass brick, its neon, and the structural entrance to the parking lot. It's a building I'd hoped to seek out next time I was in Kansas City.

Yesterday, while editing some video of my 1997 trip to KC, the image below jumped out at me, and I was almost sure that it was this same store. You can see the brick pattern across the front, the glass brick in the tower, and even th residue from where they tore down the parking entrance. A little research using Google Maps and based on some surrounding structures that were also visible on the tape.

Former A&P, 1121 Linwood, Kansas City MO, 1997.

Unfortunately, the same Google Maps research also revealed that this store is no longer standing. In fact, it looks like rather large chunks of the surrounding neighborhood are gone, including the multistory building to the right of the A&P in the 1940 photo. Looks like the years have not been kind to that area, as it seems to be all vacant lots now. I really regret never having gotten a better look at that building.

21 April 2008 | Link this

Justesen's, Selma CA. Postcard view.

I've had people point out factual errors and omissions on this site before, usually in a good-natured effort to contribute to the research I share freely with the world as a hobby. Once in a great while, some of the corrections are a little snarky or a little demanding. I cope.

But I've never before had someone threaten litigation against me because they objected to a sentence I wrote about a chain that ceased to exist several decades ago. Until this weekend, that is. Yes, it's true. Someone actually threatened to file suit against me because of a perceived slight to his family name in my feature on Fresno chain grocers. It would be funny if it weren't such a sad commentary on our culture.

Read more, including the message I received...

20 April 2008 | Link this

So is that vaguely phallic or what?

The ad is from 1968, again courtesy Pat Richardson (whose site you really should visit). These are actually fairly sophisticated image ads for a small-ish regional chain in late 1960s North Carolina, although some might question the "Chinese lady" image of the second ad, which follows after the break.

Read more...

Journal Archives