The 1940s:
Greensboro’s 1940 population stood at 59,300, making it the fourth largest city in North Carolina. Durham had edged into third place late in the 1930s. But Greensboro during the war years was a lively place, with a major army base located on the eastern side of town. And after the war, its colleges and factories attracted many returning GIs.
Through the 1940s, grocery retailing in Greensboro continued to be largely clustered in the downtown area, with many new stores continuing to open just blocks from the center of town. Only A&P had much of a suburban presence; outlying areas were largely served by small curb markets instead of large supermarkets. In fact, every chain grocery location in Greensboro was within 2 1/2 miles of downtown as late as 1949; most were within a mile or so.
A&P entered the 1940s with ten Greensboro locations, six of which dated from before 1930. The newest store was the modern 1938 supermarket on Commerce Place. During the war, two of the oldest locations closed, while no new stores were constructed.
A&P, 225 Commerce Place, 1947. (Greensboro Daily News)
The first store constructed after World War II was actually a replacement store. In the summer of 1946, the Commerce Place supermarket burned to the ground. It was replaced by a sleek new store at the same site, which opened on 16 June 1947. The new 13,500 square foot store featured six food departments and offered 2500 items. A key feature was the 55-foot self-service case for produce items. A&P operated out of leased space in the city curb market next door during construction.
In addition to the replacement store on Commerce Place, new stores opened at 2113 Walker Avenue (1947) and 110 Asheboro Street (1948). The Walker Avenue location was a relocation of a branch a few doors down, while the Asheboro Street store replaced three southside locations dating from the 1920s and early 1930s.
However, two pre-1930 locations survived the 1940s: one at 823 East Market, in a predominantly black section of town, and one in a streamline building with curved glass brick at at 901 West Lee Street.
In 1940, a merger with Rogers Stores of Atlanta transformed the David Pender Grocery Company into Colonial Stores Inc., and starting in 1947, all stores in the chain were rebranded under the new name. The 1937 Big Star supermarket at Washington and South Greene Streets was that chain’s only outlet in Greensboro through most of the 1940s. Late in the decade, however, a new Colonial supermarket opened on the north end of Greene Street at Lindsay, approximately six blocks north of the existing store. Interestingly, the earlier store would outlast the later one.
Piggly Wiggly’s Greensboro operation was a casualty of World War II. By 1947, the six stores from 1940 were no more. The chain would reappear in the 1950s in a limited way, under the ownership of the Ivory Store chain. Ivory itself peaked in 1940 with six locations. By 1947, it had abandoned all but its two Walker Avenue locations, one of them a few blocks east of Woman’s College and one a few blocks west, across from the new A&P on Walker Avenue.
Original Ralph’s Food Palace location, Lawndale Drive, 1948. (Greensboro Daily News)
One innovative newcomer in 1948 was Ralph’s Food Palace on what was then a largely undeveloped Lawndale Drive near Cornwallis. Locally-owned Ralph’s was the first food store in the area, and served the up and coming Irving Park and Kirkwood areas. It would be only the first among many in the area.
Larry Talbott
December 25, 2018 at 3:43pmAs a high school student I worked at the Kroger’s Golden Gate store starting in March of 1973. It closed later that same year when the new Palmer Plaza superstore opened..
Kelly J Heath
October 12, 2021 at 7:10pmWhat was the name of the Italian restaurant at Golden Gate Shopping Center in the corner back in 70
Groceteria
October 12, 2021 at 9:11pmThe Flamenco. I think at one point there’s also a second location called the Flamenco Too. I believe the Pavilion restaurant on Vandalia Road near Pinecroft is run by the family of the Flamenco’s owner.
Janice DeGree
January 18, 2020 at 6:25pmMy Mom took me with her when she shopped at Big Bear in Lawndale Shopping Center until it closed. I have fond memories…
Darius Burwell
July 25, 2020 at 7:42amAs a kid growing up in the 1980s my family use to shop at the old Food World on Summit Ave. It wasn’t the biggest or the best looking supermarket, but it was neighborhood, so that was enough for us.
We were saddened for a minute when one day we looked up and old Food World was gone, and some new people called Harris Teeter had their name on the store.
They upscaled the place, but it never had the same feel as the old Food World did.
JAMES BAILES
November 20, 2020 at 11:58amSHOPPED AT LITTLES BI-RITE FOR SO MANY YEARS
MR. LITTLE USED TO SELL A LOT OF OUR CORN MEAL AND OTHER PRODUCTS (BAILES OLD MILL /OAK RIDGE NC)
THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES !
EVER WISH YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME ?
GREAT WEB SITE ! KEEP THE MEMORIES FLOWING !
JAMES BAILES, MD
FORMER OWNER OF BAILES OLD MILL IN OAK RIDGE , NC
CURRENTLY 20 YEARS IN PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC……GREAT PLACE TO LIVE !
Lisa Muratori
October 2, 2022 at 3:48pmCan anyone give me the histor g of the Top Value Store that was in Golden Gate? I have a box that was delivered there in Fecember of 1972 with the original merchandise still inside. Thanks..
Brenda Adams
July 21, 2023 at 2:32amI worked at Bi Rite on Liberty Road/421 in Greensboro in 1977-1978. I loved it. My first job as a teenager – cashier. The store was robbed at gun point in fall of 1978. I happened to be working that night. My Mom made me quit and I cried and cried! I was 17 years old. The old store still stands today with a few changes and is a Dollar General Store.
Roger C.
March 10, 2024 at 8:14amThere used to be a sewing shop in the Zaire shopping Center at the corner of Holden and high point Road. Does anyone know what the name of that store was and did it move to another location and other details about that store?
Groceteria
March 10, 2024 at 10:02amPiece Goods Shop. It was a chain based in Winston Salem and they’ve been out of business for decades.