This is kind of sad. One of the two oldest continuously operating chain supermarkets in my hometown is closing. The Harris Teeter location at Golden Gate Shopping Center opened in 1961 as an A&P. A Kroger opened simultaneously at the other end of the center. The Kroger was replaced about 1975 with one of Greensboro’s first Food Town (now Food Lion) stores. The A&P lasted until the late 1970s and became a Bestway (local chain) and then Harris Teeter in 1988. Centers with two supermarket anchors were common at the time but are rarely seen anymore.
The view above is from 1999. Below is a 1961 “grand opening” photo from the Greensboro Daily News:
David Craft
July 8, 2011 at 10:18amAre you sure the HT location was not a movie theater first?
There was a movie theater on that end of the center.
I just cannot piece it all together in my head…..
David Craft
Groceteria
July 8, 2011 at 6:08pmActually, the current HT is both. The store expanded into the theatre space sometime after 1988. I think most of the shell of both spaces is is still original. Check it out on Google Maps.
James
July 12, 2011 at 12:40pmI’m a bit surprised that two stores co-existed for this long!
Andy
September 8, 2011 at 12:20pmThe continuing evolution of the supermarket industry.
H-T is opening stores every other month in the Washington DC metro area.
A&P closed all of its Maryland Super Fresh locations in early July 2011
How one chain, H-T thrives while the other, Great A&P wallows as a pale ghost of its prior self from just five years ago. Have times changed
Tom Perrino
January 27, 2012 at 8:04pmThis HT was very famous for its location