This page was last updated on 13 May 2025.
This is a list of all chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in Santa Cruz County between 1925 and 1980, 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
- Watsonville listings after 1965 may be incomplete.
Location list
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- 7722 Soquel Dr, Aptos | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Safeway
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 1601 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Alpha Beta
- 1980: Alpha Beta
- 1710 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Albertsons
- 1975-1976: Albertsons
- 1980: Albertsons
- 1424 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 1964-1965: Lucky
- 1969: Lucky
- 1975-1976: Lucky
- 1923 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Freedom Food Center
- 1975-1976: Freedom Food Center
- 1986 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Albertsons
- 1665 17th Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1964-1965: Fairway
- 1969: Fairway
- 809 Bay Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Disco
- 1650 Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Fairway
- 700 Front, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Albertsons
- 1975-1976: Albertsons
- 1980: Albertsons
- 112 Lincoln, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Purity
- 1955: Purity
- 1960: Purity
- 1964-1965: Purity
- 119 Lincoln, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Safeway
- 1955: Safeway
- 1960: Safeway
- 1964-1965: Safeway
- 2111 Mission, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1964-1965: Safeway
- 1969: Safeway
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 117 Morrissey Blvd, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 218 Ocean, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Bettencourt
- 1930: Bettencourt
- 1938: Bettencourt
- Notes: 220 (1930 on).
- 530 Ocean, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Bettencourt
- 1964-1965: Bettencourt
- 535 Ocean, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Bettencourt
- 1955: Bettencourt
- 1118 Ocean, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Foodland
- 1960: Foodland
- 1964-1965: Foodland
- 1969: Foodland
- 1975-1976: Foodland
- 12 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Espindola’s
- 41 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Purity
- 56 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Purity
- 167 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Piggly Wiggly
- 1930: Piggly Wiggly / MacMarr
- 288 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway
- 414 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Safeway
- 1532 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Purity
- 1955: Purity
- 3791 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1964-1965: El Rancho
- 1969: El Rancho
- 259 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Espindola’s
- 399 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway
- 911 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Alpha Beta
- 1980: Alpha Beta
- 1130 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Safeway
- 1266 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Safeway
- 1960: Safeway
- 1964-1965: Safeway
- 1969: Safeway
- 1423 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Lucky
- 1964-1965: Lucky
- 1969: Lucky
- 18 Walnut Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 1938: Purity
- 354 Washington, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Johnny’s
- 1964-1965: Johnny’s
- 189 Water, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway
- 2650 41st Av, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 2851 41st Av, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Johnny’s
- 3940 Soquel Dr, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Johnny’s
- 1964-1965: Johnny’s
- 11 3rd St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Espindola’s
- 1930: Espindola’s
- Notes: Beach St?
- 29 3rd St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Safeway
- Notes: Beach St?
- 24 E Lake Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 133 E Lake Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1964-1965: Purity
- 1969: Freedom Food Center
- 201 E Lake Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway
- 251 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Bettencourt
- 404 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Purity
- 439 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Piggly Wiggly
- 1930: Piggly Wiggly
- 516 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Espindola’s
- 1930: Espindola’s
- 516 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Thrift
- 1948: Thrift
- 559 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Purity
- 1960: Purity
- 600 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1964-1965: Safeway
- Notes: Listed as 600 Hwy 1
- 620 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Safeway
- Notes: Listed as 620 Hwy 1
- 1006 Main, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Espindola’s
- 16 Peck, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway