More regular updates can be found on Bluesky and the Message Board.
Publix Training Video, 1985
Aside from being hilarious, this training video gives a great look at a 1985 Publix store.
A&P, Cheswick PA
You rarely find a former centennial A&P like this with its pole sign largely intact. This store is in the 1200 block of Pittsburgh Street in Cheswick PA. The whole surrounding shopping center is a little odd, as it contains a two-story building that looks like it may have housed a skating rink or a bowling alley upstairs. Underneath is a block of stores, one of which is currently a Goodwill, but feels very Kroger-like inside.
More photos after the jump.
Kwik Chek, 5201 N. Armenia Avenue, Tampa FL
In 1954:
And in 2010:
Publix #1, Winter Haven FL
This is the very first Publix store, opened in 1930 at 58 4th Street NW in Winter Haven FL. Ten years later, it moved a few blocks over to this location, the prototype for many others in the next decade or so:
More exciting stuff from my winter road trip when I return from it in a couple of days. Until then, Happy New Year!
Almost There…
Just a check-in to remind you that yer humble host is still alive and well, and will be graduating with his shiny new master’s degree in just a couple of weeks. I’ve also taken a full-time job as a digital project manager at a large state university library. The combined forces of a new job and my last semester in school have taken their toll on the site, I know, but I’m hoping to get the momentum back soon. Currently in progress: my revised history of Safeway (still), new photo galleries for most of the site, and my history of chain supermarkets in Pittsburgh. I also have articles on the way from other contributors (more soon).
In the meantime, enjoy the magazine photo above, of the Millbrae CA Safeway in 1963. It has nothing to do with this post, but it sure is pretty…
Miscellaneous Updates/Lots of Photos
Now that I have the shell of the new site done, I’m in the process of adding new content. Most of that, for now, is going to be photos, because I have too much other stuff going on right now to concentrate on writing. Look for the beginnings of my Pittsburgh section soon (Ive completed the preliminary address list) and maybe that new history of Safeway one of these days.
Today, though, I have added nice new flickr-generated photo galleries for the following:
I’m going to rework and update the old galleries like these (lots of new photos involved) first and then start adding new galleries.
Enjoy.
Thanks to Wayne Henderson for the Big Star photo above, which is of the now-demolished downtown Raleigh store.
Toronto Photos Posted
I’ve posted a section of Toronto store photos including a bunch from my trip last week. There’s not much commentary. If someone is interested in writing something, I’m very interested in letting them.
Metro (former Grand Union), 15 Ellesmere Road, Toronto ON
This is a beautiful Toronto area store that has apparently been nominated as a historic property. Located at Parkway Mall in suburban Scarborough, the store opened in 1958 as a Grand Union, and has since operated as Steinberg’s, Miracle Food Mart, Dominion, and now Metro.
A&P, 5130 Butler Street, Pittsburgh PA
This lovely storefront served as the A&P branch for my new part-time neighborhood, Pittsburgh’s Upper Lawrenceville, from at least 1925-1955. It’s presented here tonight more for symbolic purposes, as a means of announcing that I’ve begun my Pittsburgh research. I’ve compiled a first draft of addresses through 1980, but I’m still entering them into a spreadsheet. I’ve got A&P, Kroger, Giant Eagle, Loblaw’s/Del Farm, Streamline/Thorofare, Butler’s, Ondek’s, and many more.
In fact, it looks like Pittsburgh will prove to be even more interesting than San Francisco was; I’m only done with data entry through 1945, and I already have 935 addresses, as opposed to about 600 for the entire 1928-1999 period in San Francisco.
Anyway, I’ll keep you updated. It will be a while before there’s a proper new section, since I’m still working on updating the rest of the site following the move to WordPress as well. But look for some Pittsburgh photos (including some vintage ones) to start popping up here soon. And if you have anything to contribute, please let me know.
Kroger, Smithers WV
Another of the several very old Kroger locations still operating in West Virginia. This one is in a town along the Kanawha River. It’s had some (rather unfortunate) remodeling, but is still obviously a 1950s vintage store.
