Littleman Stores

littleman

San Francisco chain which operated from 1937 to 1965. Began operations as Little-Mann Groceteria at 22nd and Geary. The chain was acquired by Cala Foods (now a division of Kroger Co.) in 1965, upon retirement of Littleman founder Leon Miller. Many of the former Littleman stores were still operating as Cala units when Kroger sold off most of that chain in 2006.

Updated on 26 November 2022

One thought on “Littleman Stores

  1. Katya Miller

    February 24, 2023 at 7:28pm

    Thanks for keeping records. I am from the Miller Family, Abe Miller’s daughter, Leon Miller’s neice. I want to get as much history as possible so all these years later, I can put together a chronology. Katya Miller, author of Lady Freedom – Heart of a Nation

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  2. Janet Watt

    March 29, 2023 at 5:30am

    I grew up walking to Littleman’s to pick up milk, etc.for my mom. I am now 70 years old and suddenly reminisced and looked up Littleman’s. Such great memories. I love the pictures. I can’t remember what I wore yesterday, but remember Littleman’s !!
    I met my best friend (to this day) walking to Littleman’s and found her and her bike at the bottom of the hill (Faxin? Sp?)
    I rescued her, so to speak, at the age of 8 or 9. She had broken her arm.
    And that’s all folks! Thanks for the memories!

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  3. Rod

    April 22, 2023 at 11:15pm

    I lived up on Collingwood, beyond 21st st, near the top. One day my mom had gone to Littleman’s, buying groceries, including a watermelon. She carried the bagged groceries up the stairs from the basement garage and had me bring the watermellon. I’m sure she told me to be careful with it. Well, I dropped it on the stairs. I was probably 13. She made me walk down those more than three long San Francisco blocks and buy another watermelon and heft it home.

    What got me landed on this site was that I was trying to come up with the name of the ice cream store from the ’60s that was kitty-corner from Littleman’s on 18th and Collingwood, where El Capitan Taqueria is now?.

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    • Stephanie

      June 20, 2023 at 1:02am

      If you are on Facebook, join the ‘San Francisco Remembered” page and post your question. The usual response is great with lots of memories that lead to more memories….you may meet some friends from the past as well.

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    • Fritz guerr

      January 25, 2024 at 1:49pm

      Hi, I lived on castro near the corner of 19th. Across from George’s corner market and a block and a half from that little man’s market. Chipped my front tooth on the handrail going up from the underground garage into the store. I’ll always remember the butcher (I later became one) would give me a hotdogs. Went to Douglas elementary school on Collingwood st. I too am 70 yo…..hey ex niegbhor!

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  4. Diane

    August 19, 2023 at 4:05pm

    My grandmother lived just up the hill from Little Man Market. As a child I used to help her carry her groceries up the hill for her. I am close to 70 now. What I remember best was the conveyer belt with all the little roller skate type wheels on it that they would unload the supply trucks on to. I always wished I could ride on it too.

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