Last updated on 5 May 2025.
This is a list of all chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in suburban San Diego between 1925 and 1971, 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.
Notes
- There are a lot of gaps in my data sources fro Dan Diego’s suburbs and I hope to expand this when I can.
Location list
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- No Street Listed, Carlsbad | Google Maps Link
- 1930: San Diego Chain Stores/Humpty Dumpty
- No Street Listed, Carlsbad | Google Maps Link
- 1930: San Diego Chain Stores/Humpty Dumpty
- 264 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Van’s
- 281 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Piggly Wiggly
- 1935: Piggly Wiggly
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 302 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1930: MacMarr
- 1935: MacMarr
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 306 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 1935: Safeway
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- Notes: 304 (1940).
- 435 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Safeway
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 540 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 690 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Food Basket
- 1967: Food Basket
- 1971: Food Basket
- 835 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Bradshaw
- 1971: Bradshaw
- 870 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Vons
- 1315 3rd Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- , Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Big Bear
- 500 Broadway, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mayfair
- 1971: Mayfair
- 1240 Broadway, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Pantry Pride
- 646 E, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Big Bear
- 360 F, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Alpha Beta
- 1967: Alpha Beta
- 1971: Alpha Beta
- 551 I, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: De Falco’s Food Giant
- 1967: De Falco’s Food Giant
- 1971: De Falco’s Food Giant
- 3055 Imperial Av, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Hellers
- 1930: MacMarr
- 33 Naples, Chula Vista | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mayfair
- 1971: Mayfair
- 1000 Isabella Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Safeway
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 106 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Safeway
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- Notes: 104 (1940).
- 800 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1963: Safeway
- 844 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): A&P
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): A&P
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): A&P
- 1963: A&P
- 868 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 874 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Piggly Wiggly
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 916 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1935: A&P
- 930 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Waite’s
- 1930: Safeway
- 952 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1930: San Diego Chain Stores/Humpty Dumpty
- 1935: Humpty Dumpty
- 960 Orange Av, Coronado | Google Maps Link
- 1930: MacMarr
- 1935: MacMarr
- 350 N 2nd St, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Big Bear
- 1971: Big Bear
- 540 N 2nd St, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Alpha Beta
- 1971: Alpha Beta
- 950 N 2nd St, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Safeway
- 450 E Chase Av, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 461 E Chase Av, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Alpha Beta
- 1967: Alpha Beta
- 1971: Alpha Beta
- 391 N Magnolia Av, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1963: De Falco’s Food Giant
- 1967: De Falco’s Food Giant
- 1971: De Falco’s Food Giant
- 144 E Main, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 1935: Safeway
- 525 E Main, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Safeway
- 1099 E Main, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Food Basket
- 1967: Food Basket
- 1971: Food Basket
- 1186 E Main, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mayfair
- 1971: Mayfair
- 133 W Main, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Hellers
- 1930: MacMarr
- 1935: MacMarr
- No Street Listed, El Cajon | Google Maps Link
- 1930: San Diego Chain Stores/Humpty Dumpty
- 750 13th St, Imperial Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 3702 Del Sol Blvd, Imperial Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Bradshaw
- 602 Palm Av, Imperial Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Bradshaw
- 1971: Bradshaw
- 801 Palm Av, Imperial Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Hometown
- 836 Palm Av, Imperial Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Big Bear
- 1971: Big Bear
- 3350 Palm Av, Imperial Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Alpha Beta
- 2320 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Big Bear
- 1971: Big Bear
- 2800 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Vons
- 9156 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Alpha Beta
- 1971: Alpha Beta
- 8800 Grossmont Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1967: White Front
- 1971: Pantry Pride
- 5500 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Food Basket
- 1967: Food Basket
- 1971: Food Basket
- 8277 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 1935: Safeway
- Notes: 31 E. Lookout (pre-1935). 8277 Lookout (1935).
- 8295 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1930: MacMarr
- 1935: MacMarr
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- Notes: 30 E. Lookout (pre-1935). 8295 Lookout (1935).
- 8313 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Piggly Wiggly
- 1935: Piggly Wiggly
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- Notes: 115 E. Lookout (pre-1935). 8313 Lookout (1935).
- 8693 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mesa Market
- 1971: Hometown
- 8992 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Food Basket
- 1967: Food Basket
- 1971: Food Basket
- 6120 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Thriftimart
- 1967: Thriftimart
- 1971: Thriftimart
- 6145 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mayfair
- 1971: Hometown
- 4630 Palm Av, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Safeway
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 4710 Palm Av, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 4767 Palm Av, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 5955 Severin Dr, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 5999 Severin Dr, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Safeway
- 4095 University Av, La Mesa | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Hellers
- Notes: Renamed/renumbered.
- No Street Listed, Lakeside | Google Maps Link
- 1930: MacMarr
- 1935: MacMarr
- 7203 Broadway, Lemon Grove | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Rancher’s
- 7663 Broadway, Lemon Grove | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mayfair
- 1971: Mayfair
- Broadway, Lemon Grove | Google Maps Link
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 3205 Imperial Av, Lemon Grove | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Food Basket
- 1967: Food Basket
- 1971: Food Basket
- 1805 Massachusetts, Lemon Grove | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Bradshaw
- 1967: Bradshaw
- 1971: Bradshaw
- 41 E 8th St, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Contintental
- 108 E 8th St, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Van’s
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Van’s
- 1967: Big Bear
- 1971: Big Bear
- 740 E 8th St, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 6 N Euclid Av, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1967: A&P
- 1035 Harbison Av, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Alpha Beta
- 1971: Alpha Beta
- 303 E Highland Av, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Safeway
- 1967: Safeway
- 1971: Safeway
- 1320 Highland Av, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1967: Food Basket
- 1971: Food Basket
- 1806 Highland Av, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): JC Barta
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): JC Barta
- 812 National City Blvd, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Hellers
- 1930: MacMarr
- 1935: MacMarr
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- Notes: Was National Av
- 820 National City Blvd, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Piggly Wiggly
- 1935: Piggly Wiggly
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Piggly Wiggly
- Notes: Was National Av
- 824 National City Blvd, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1935: A&P
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): A&P
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): A&P
- Notes: Was National Av
- 840 National City Blvd, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 1935: Pay’n Takit
- Notes: Was National Av
- 910 National City Blvd, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1940 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1945 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- 1948 (Missing El Cajon): Safeway
- Notes: Was National Av
- No Street Listed, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Waite’s
- 1930: San Diego Chain Stores/Humpty Dumpty
- 1000 Plaza Blvd, National City | Google Maps Link
- 1963: Mayfair
- 1967: Mayfair
- 1971: Mayfair
- No Street Listed, San Ysidro | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Safeway
- 444 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Ysidro | Google Maps Link
- 1971: Safeway
- No Street Listed, Solano Beach | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway