More regular updates can be found on Bluesky and the Message Board.
Safeway, Visalia CA, 1982
Sent to me several years ago by Daniel, who participates on the Groceteria Message Board, this 1982 video capture is from a TV news story on the closing of a Marina Safeway in Visalia, California, just south of Fresno. It’s a nice shot of a then-intact interior from the middle to late 1960s.
Jewel, Libertyville IL, 1955
Given the opportunity, who wouldn’t want to shop in this 1955 (pardon the expression) jewel of a store from Libertyville, Illinois. For the explorers among you, it was apparently located at 130 East Cook Street.
Safeway Prototype, 1958
One of Safeway’s planned 1958 store prototypes, from “The New Way at Safeway”, a Progressive Grocer study of the chain. I’d love to have seen one of these if any were actually built.
A&P, Norway MI
Happy New Year!
As 2007 begins, I’m starting what I promised a few days ago. I plan for this journal to be more of a regularly-updated photo journal, with a picture and maybe some accompanying text every few days.
Let’s start with this lovely shot from Norway, Michigan circa 1974. You could argue that the fact that A&P was still operating outdated, tiny stores like this one well into the 1970s is probably why it’s no longer a major national player anymore.
By all logic, this store should have closed in the 1950s. It was anachronistic even thirty years ago, cobbled together as it was from two ancient storefronts midblock, without a parking lot in sight.
It’s just this kind of store, though, that first piqued my interest in vintage supermarkets back when I was a kid in the 1970s. There were one or two in my hometown, and I also remember seeing the few that remained along Peachtree Street in Atlanta when I visited as a small child. It’s a pity I never thought to take pictures of them then.
New Look
A new look for a new year. I hope you all had a great holiday. Over mine, I started yet another site overhaul. The look of the site had been modified, and I have some plans for the new year.
I really plan to concentrate more on the journal section this year, to create more of a photo journal a la Malls of America. I hope to add a new photo, with or without commentary, every couple of days. These will come from my archive (the bulk of which has not been featured on the site for one reason or another) and will also include new stuff I find and items sent in by readers. I may also use this space to alert you to interesting topics on the Message Board.
Other planned projects over the coming months include a drastically overhauled Safeway section, an expanded San Francisco/Bay Area section, and the addition of Winston-Salem NC (where I now live) and neighboring High Point to the Greensboro section, which will then become the North Carolina Triad section.
Watch this space.
More from the Road
Sorry for the delay. The last few weeks became a bit hectic, with lots of freelance work, a death in the family, and my Thanksgiving trek to the west coast to visit the in-laws.
I’m ready to continue on with those road trip photos now:
Let’s start with Indianapolis:
This Preston Safeway store at 5040 East 16th was most likely a former Standard Store. Preston Safeway is an odd little chain in Indianapolis that has successfully managed to use the Safeway name without trademark issues for quite some time. There is no connection to the more well-known chain other than the fact that Preston Safeway seems to be using the “Ingredients for Life” typeface on some of its banners.
On to Chicago:
Despite its somewhat modernized appearance, the Jewel-Osco above, located at 3531 Broadway, is in an ancient building which I suspect may have been something else to begin with — perhaps a garage, a car dealership, or even a garden variety warehouse. The store is at ground level and the second level is enclosed parking.
I suspect this was originally a Kroger. It’s at 7620 North Western.
This gorgeous former Jewel store is at 4335 West Oakton in Skokie.
And now, the Detroit suburbs:
I found this 1950s-era Kroger interesting because it had obviously been remodeled and expanded into an early 1970s superstore. There’s a 1990s version still open in the same center.
And finally, Toronto:
It’s interesting that the grocery industry is so completely consolidated in the hands of three companies (Loblaw, A&P/Metro, and Sobey’s) but still operates under so many different banners. Loblaw owns Zehr’s and No Frills, while A&P owns Dominion and Food Basics. Sobey’s also operates as Price Chopper, IGA, and more.
I was unable to find the one documented former Safeway location I’d been given in Toronto, but I found other good stuff:
A Loblaws from the 1950s at 301 Moore is still open and in relatively good repair. It seems larger than average for its era.
Probably a former Loblaws at 2187 West Bloor.
Also a probable former Loblaws, this one at 1450 East Lawrence.
The Dominion store above, at 425 West Bloor may or may now have been an A&P. It probably dates from the early 1950s. The late 1940s/early 1950s model below, at 3142 Yonge, was definitely an A&P in a previous life, if its parking signs are to be trusted.
I may try to post one or two more at some point.
Back from the Road
This Food Basics store on Yonge Street in North York, Ontario definitely gets first place in the “cool sightings from my recent road trip” contest. I’m not sure if it’s a former Dominion, A&P, or what, but I almost spit out my nifty Canadian formula Diet 7-Up when I saw it.
This was a close second. A current Red & White franchise, it was originally a Loblaw’s, and is located on Lakeshore Avenue, in (I believe) the Islington section of Toronto. The Loblaw’s label scar is even still visible on the front, although it didn’t photograph well.
Speaking of Loblaw’s, I rarely feature new stores here, but this megastore at Queens Quay Market was too amazing not to include. Keep in mind that this photo is only the produce department, which is about a third of the total floor area of the store.
I was relieved to see that one of my favorite old Kroger locations, on Tenth Street in Indianapolis, is still open. The store is all of 10,000 square feet, but it does a booming business in the surrounding (not great) neighborhood. I even got a few photos inside this time through.
More pictures and commentary tomorrow.
Road Trip
Input solicited: I’m leaving Saturday on a two-week road trip which will give me several days each in Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. Anyone have ideas about old chain stores and vintage shopping centers I should see?
I’m particularly interested in old National Tea, Jewel, A&P, and Kroger stores. I’ve also been told that Safeway had a Toronto division for a time. Location pointers would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Northern California Retail
Interesting site documenting stores from my old stomping grounds.