Updated 10 December 2025 (Originally published 2 October 2016)
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.
Location list
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- 1665 17th Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1964-65: Fairway
- 1969-71: Fairway
- 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?
- 1210 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 2003: New Leaf Community Market
- 2010: New Leaf Community Market
- 2015: New Leaf Community Market
- 2020: New Leaf Community Market
- 2025: New Leaf Community Market
- 1475 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1985-86: Alpha Beta
- 2003: Albertsons
- 2010: Save Mart
- 2015: Save Mart
- 2020: Lucky
- 2025: Lucky
- Notes: Probably Lucky (ca 1989), Albertsons (1999).
- 1601 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Alpha Beta
- 1980: Alpha Beta
- 1710 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1969-71: Albertsons
- 1975-1976: Albertsons
- 1980: Albertsons
- 1985-86: Albertsons
- 2015: Whole Foods
- 2020: Whole Foods
- 2025: Whole Foods
- 1955 41st Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1980: Lucky
- 1985-86: Lucky
- Notes: Capitola Mall. Open 1978, closed before 1990.
- 2650 41st Av, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 1985-86: Safeway
- 2003: Safeway
- Notes: 2640 (2003).
- 2720 41st Av, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 2010: Safeway
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 2851 41st Av, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Johnny’s
- 161 Aptos Village Wt, Aptos | Google Maps Link
- 2025: New Leaf Community Market
- 809 Bay Av, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 1969-71: Disco
- 1980: Nob Hill
- 1985-86: Nob Hill
- 2003: Nob Hill
- 2010: Nob Hill
- 2015: Nob Hill
- 2020: Nob Hill
- 2025: Nob Hill
- Notes: Open 1980.
- 3555 Clares St, Capitola | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Trader Joe’s
- 2010: Trader Joe’s
- 2015: Trader Joe’s
- 2020: Trader Joe’s
- 2025: Trader Joe’s
- 1101 Fair Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 2015: New Leaf Community Market
- 2020: New Leaf Community Market
- 2025: New Leaf Community Market
- 1424 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 1964-65: Lucky
- 1969-71: Lucky
- 1975-1976: Lucky
- 1980: Lucky
- 1985-86: Tropicana
- 1437 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1985-86: Lucky
- 2010: Mi Pueblo
- 2015: Mi Pueblo
- 2020: Mi Pueblo
- 2025: Cardenas
- Notes: Closed as Alberstsons in 2001. Mi Pueblo at least by 2004.
- 1702 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 2025: Vallarta
- Notes: Was Kmart.
- 1923 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 1969-71: Freedom Food Center
- 1975-1976: Freedom Food Center
- 1980: Freedom Food Center
- 1985-86: Freedom Food Center
- 1986 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Albertsons
- 1980: Albertsons
- 1985-86: Albertsons
- 2003: Albertsons
- 2010 Freedom Blvd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Safeway
- 2010: Safeway
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 700 Front St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1969-71: Albertsons
- 1975-1976: Albertsons
- 1980: Albertsons
- 1985-86: Albertsons
- 2003: Trader Joe’s
- 2010: Trader Joe’s
- 2015: Trader Joe’s
- 2020: Trader Joe’s
- 2025: Trader Joe’s
- 6255 Graham Hill Rd, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Safeway
- 2010: Safeway
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 6240 Hwy 9, Freedom | Google Maps Link
- 2003: New Leaf Community Market
- 2010: New Leaf Community Market
- 2015: New Leaf Community Market
- 2020: Wild Roots
- 2025: Wild Roots
- 13159 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek | Google Maps Link
- 2003: New Leaf Community Market
- 2010: New Leaf Community Market
- 2015: New Leaf Community Market
- 2020: Wild Roots
- 2025: Wild Roots
- 24 E Lake Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 133 E Lake Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1964-65: Purity
- 1969-71: Freedom Food Center
- 1975-1976: Freedom Food Center
- 1980: Freedom Food Center
- 1985-86: Freedom Food Center
- 2003: Del Sol Market
- 201 E Lake Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway
- 112 Lincoln St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Purity
- 1955: Purity
- 1960: Purity
- 1964-65: Purity
- 119 Lincoln St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Safeway
- 1955: Safeway
- 1960: Safeway
- 1964-65: Safeway
- 251 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Bettencourt
- 404 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Purity
- 439 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Piggly Wiggly
- 1930: Piggly Wiggly
- 516 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Espindola’s
- 1930: Espindola’s
- 516 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Thrift
- 1948: Thrift
- 559 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Purity
- 1955: Purity
- 1960: Purity
- 600 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Safeway
- 1964-65: Safeway
- Notes: Listed as 600 Hwy 1. 620 (1964).
- 1000 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 2015: Grocery Outlet
- 2020: Grocery Outlet
- 2025: Grocery Outlet
- 1006 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Espindola’s
- 1465 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Albertsons
- 2010: Save Mart
- 2015: Foodmaxx
- 2020: Foodmaxx
- 2025: Foodmaxx
- 1912 Main St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1985-86: Nob Hill
- 2003: Nob Hill
- 2010: Nob Hill
- 2015: Nob Hill
- 2020: Nob Hill
- 2025: Nob Hill
- 20 Mariposa Av, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Del Sol Market
- 2010: Del Sol Market
- 2111 Mission St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1964-65: Safeway
- 1969-71: Safeway
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 1985-86: Safeway
- 2003: Safeway
- 2010: Safeway
- 2203 Mission St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 2351 Mission St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 2003: New Leaf Community Market
- 2010: New Leaf Community Market
- 117 Morrissey Blvd, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 1985-86: Safeway
- 2003: Safeway
- 2010: Safeway
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 120 Morrissey Blvd, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 2020: Grocery Outlet
- 2025: Grocery Outlet
- 222 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Nob Hill
- 2010: Nob Hill
- 2015: Nob Hill
- 2020: Nob Hill
- 2025: Nob Hill
- 253 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Safeway
- 2010: Safeway
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 218 Ocean St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Bettencourt
- 1930: Bettencourt
- 1938: Bettencourt
- Notes: 220 (1930 on).
- 530 Ocean St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Bettencourt
- 1964-65: Bettencourt
- 535 Ocean St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Bettencourt
- 1955: Bettencourt
- 1118 Ocean St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Foodland
- 1960: Foodland
- 1964-65: Foodland
- 1969-71: 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
- 1134 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 2003: New Leaf Community Market
- 2010: New Leaf Community Market
- 2015: New Leaf Community Market
- 2020: New Leaf Community Market
- 1532 Pacific Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Purity
- 1955: Purity
- 16 Peck St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway
- 3791 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1964-65: El Rancho
- 1969-71: El Rancho
- 16 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Safeway
- 2010: Safeway
- 2015: Safeway
- 2020: Safeway
- 2025: Safeway
- 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
- 1985-86: Alpha Beta
- 2003: Albertsons
- 2010: Whole Foods
- 2015: Whole Foods
- 2020: Whole Foods
- 2025: Whole Foods
- Notes: Probably Lucky (ca 1989), Albertsons (1999).
- 1130 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1948: Safeway
- 1266 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Safeway
- 1960: Safeway
- 1964-65: Safeway
- 1969-71: Safeway
- 1423 Soquel Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Lucky
- 1964-65: Lucky
- 1969-71: Lucky
- 1975-1976: Lucky
- Notes: Relocated to Capitola Mall 1978.
- 3940 Soquel Dr, Soquel | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Johnny’s
- 1964-65: Johnny’s
- 7722 Soquel Dr, Aptos | Google Maps Link
- 1969-71: Safeway
- 1975-1976: Safeway
- 1980: Safeway
- 1985-86: Safeway
- 100 Union St, Watsonville | Google Maps Link
- 2003: Del Sol Market
- 2010: Del Sol Market
- 18 Walnut Av, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Safeway
- 1938: Purity
- 354 Washington, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Johnny’s
- 1964-65: Johnny’s
- 189 Water St, Santa Cruz | Google Maps Link
- 1938: Safeway