This is a list of all chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in Phoenix between 1925 and 1960, compiled from city directories, telephone books, and other sources. There may be some omissions due to incomplete or missing data, etc. and I welcome suggestions and corrections. Please read about my methodology for more information about what I do and do not include.
View and download a copy of this location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.
Notes:
- Safeway purchased the ten-year-old Pay’n Takit chain in 1928 and used the brand in other regions during the 1930s. It was Safeway’s only brand in Phoenix until 1939, when the stores were rebranded as Safeway.
- A few new stores branded Pay’n Takit opened starting in 1946. These seem to be unrelated to the Safeway-owned chain that was defunct by 1939.
- Safeway/Pay’n Takit individual locations do not appear in directories between 1938 and 1947. The 1941 locations are assembled from other sources, including newspaper ads..
- It appears that several Bayless stores were sold to Pay’n Takit (Safeway) between 1930 and 1935, although some of the addresses are not 100% certain.
- Basha’s seems to have briefly disappeared from Phoenix proper (but not the suburbs) sometime between 1953 and 1956, but returned to the city with a new store at 7th and Osborn by 1957.
Store tags:
- Alpha Beta
- Basha’s
- AJ Bayless
- El Rancho/Low Cost
- Fry’s
- Furr’s
- Lucky
- Pay’n Takit
- Piggly Wiggly
- Safeway
- Smitty’s
Updated on 26 November 2022
Paul Dong
July 2, 2020 at 12:22pmI don’t see Foodarama, Tang’s Market, or my dad’s store, Paul’s Budget Market, on your list. I guess it’s just major chain stores.
Gregory Mccoy
March 28, 2024 at 12:29pmWhat grocery was at 19th ave and Indian school before food city
Cheryl
September 22, 2024 at 12:46amWhat grocery store was at 27th Avenue and Montebello in the 50s and 60s
Groceteria
September 22, 2024 at 9:14amThe list on this very page shows a local chain called Put & Take in 1960, which means it probably opened in the 1950s.