Search found 689 matches

by Andrew T.
17 Oct 2016 21:34
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Stores in Springfield, Missouri?
Replies: 23
Views: 17942

Re: Stores in Springfield, Missouri?

I checked the Missouri newspaper archives that I have access to, and confirmed that Safeway operated in Springfield through at least the late 1970s. I couldn't find any addresses, though. I've driven through Springfield before, and don't remember seeing much in the way of good retail artifacts other...
by Andrew T.
17 Oct 2016 10:41
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Stores in Springfield, Missouri?
Replies: 23
Views: 17942

Stores in Springfield, Missouri?

Hello all, I plan to take a trip out to Springfield, Missouri in a few weeks. Are there any good supermarket relics there that would be worth checking out and photographing? I'd be particularly interested in any remnants of Safeway, National, or Kroger that might exist...if those chains ever operate...
by Andrew T.
01 Oct 2016 18:13
Forum: History: Restaurant Chains
Topic: Mystery restaurant with frying pan-shaped sign
Replies: 10
Views: 9908

Mystery restaurant with frying pan-shaped sign

I photographed this abandoned restaurant is on U.S. 52 in Bluewell, West Virginia during my final trip there in the spring of 2013. The most notable feature is a gigantic, angled signpost seemingly shaped like a frying pan:
wv-abandonment.jpg
Does anyone recognize what this once was?
by Andrew T.
01 Oct 2016 12:17
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Family Bargain Centers (New York)
Replies: 8
Views: 14758

Re: Family Bargain Centers (New York)

And, to answer my old question...here is the former FBC store in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania (blurry image from Google Maps). It opened on May 18, 1972; it has stripey exterior walls identical to the Collinsville, VA and Princeton, WV stores, and it evidently still stands today.
by Andrew T.
01 Oct 2016 12:11
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Family Bargain Centers (New York)
Replies: 8
Views: 14758

Re: Family Bargain Centers (New York)

Here are some additional FBC store locations I've been able to confirm: * 394 Slab Run Rd, Falls Creek, PA. Opened May 18, 1972. Location also given as DuBois, PA (the towns kind of run together). * Fort Madison, IA. Opened April 25, 1972. Address described vaguely as "shopping center on the so...
by Andrew T.
28 Sep 2016 15:54
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Kroger in Weirton West Virginia
Replies: 8
Views: 10729

Re: Kroger in Weirton West Virginia

This is an old thread...but for the sake of interest, I'd like to update it with some bits of information I've uncovered. First, a date: The store opened on June 5, 1956. Second, here are photos of the store that appeared in local newspaper ads of that period. Judging from this, the store originally...
by Andrew T.
27 Sep 2016 14:13
Forum: History: USA Southwest and Hawaii (Excluding California)
Topic: New location list: Oklahoma City, 1930-1955
Replies: 1
Views: 6104

Re: New location list: Oklahoma City, 1930-1955

2038 NE 23rd Street is a must-see: It's an intact Safeway pylon store from the early 1950s with the exacting ridged brick details near the entrance. Nothing else sticks out to me on the list, though...
by Andrew T.
26 Sep 2016 23:16
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: List of Missouri and Illinois Kroger stores from 1979
Replies: 7
Views: 10363

Re: List of Missouri and Illinois Kroger stores from 1979

Here are the locations included in the list as well as their building styles and current statuses, as deduced by a couple hours poking around on Google Maps: MISSOURI 12750 Manchester, Des Peres, MO --Unclear where to place this one. It's possible that it was part of the West County Center mall, whi...
by Andrew T.
26 Sep 2016 23:09
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: List of Missouri and Illinois Kroger stores from 1979
Replies: 7
Views: 10363

List of Missouri and Illinois Kroger stores from 1979

While browsing newspaper archives from 1979, I found an advertising supplement containing something extremely interesting: A list of addresses for Kroger stores in Missouri and downstate Illinois. The list isn't exhaustive: It's limited to stores that were in the distribution areas of the six smalle...
by Andrew T.
26 Sep 2016 19:43
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: A&P's closures and market withdrawals of the late 1970s and early 1980s
Replies: 19
Views: 18029

Re: A&P's closures and market withdrawals of the late 1970s and early 1980s

Interesting information, everyone!

It would be fascinating to plot out A&P's trade area on a map at 10-year intervals from 1965 to 2015. I imagine it being a tentacled, blob-like overlay that progressively shrinks, shifts, breaks into exclaves and appendages, then diminishes into a speck.
by Andrew T.
23 Sep 2016 19:56
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: A&P's closures and market withdrawals of the late 1970s and early 1980s
Replies: 19
Views: 18029

A&P's closures and market withdrawals of the late 1970s and early 1980s

I came upon this page when I was browsing West Virginia newspaper archives from December 1981, and found it interesting. This was the end of A&P's presence there; at least in the southern part of the state: ap-wv-81.jpg I've been under the impression that A&P's 1972-75 closures were a piecem...
by Andrew T.
16 Sep 2016 21:48
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Interesting Kroger and A&P stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Replies: 3
Views: 4004

Re: Interesting Kroger and A&P stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana

img_6303c.jpg img_6305c.jpg img_6306c.jpg Finally, here's yet another Kroger; this time an operational specimen in nearby New Haven at 821 Lincoln Highway West. I was in a hurry and didn't go inside this one, but I suspect it's a renovated superstore: The adjacent shopping-center pillars still have...
by Andrew T.
16 Sep 2016 21:42
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Interesting Kroger and A&P stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Replies: 3
Views: 4004

Re: Interesting Kroger and A&P stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana

img_6317b.jpg This one is located on 2021 Broadway, and was listed in a 1972 directory as a Kroger store. It's also still selling groceries today, and has housed George's International Market since 2001 . Just imagine the building without the gigantic colorful sign over the walkway, and you'd proba...
by Andrew T.
16 Sep 2016 21:39
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Interesting Kroger and A&P stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Replies: 3
Views: 4004

Interesting Kroger and A&P stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana

This last July, I spent a week in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I was there for reasons other than supermarkets, but I still managed to take the time to find a few... img_6310a.jpg This attractive, well-maintained A&P Centennial store is on 4135 Hessen Cassel Road. It's still selling groceries as a Mexic...
by Andrew T.
10 Sep 2016 18:08
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: An unusual and unlocatable Kroger store (Beckley, WV)
Replies: 12
Views: 11145

Re: An unusual and unlocatable Kroger store (Beckley, WV)

Thanks for checking the directories! I suspect that you've found the building: The Dollar General has the same barrel roof visible in the vintage pictures, and the same angled alignment with the street. It looks like it's been built onto on the front and side, though this may not be new: The configu...