Halifax and Dartmouth Chain Grocery/Supermarket Locations, 1925-2000

This is a list of all chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in Halifax and Dartmouth between 1925 and 2000, 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:

  • Where to begin? Basically every address in Halifax was renumbered between 1960 and 1965. The “new” system is one of the oddest I’ve ever seen anywhere, but fortunately there is documentation that allowed me either to match addresses directly or to offer a reasonable approximation. The approximations are italicized.
  • Acadia Stores were associated with the Hopgood family for most (if not all) of their existence. There were stores operated under the Hopgood name as well.
  • The Teasdale Stores in Dartmouth were apparently affiliated with the larger Superior Chain Stores in 1935 as they were listed under both names. Superior did not appear in the 1930 or 1940 directories.
  • Yes, Sobeys apparently did operate two stores across from each other on Mumford Road for a number of years. One was connected to a mall while the other was part of a separate centre across the street. The same arrangement currently exists in Dieppe NB, though one of those stores was originally a Dominion.
  • I am missing definitive data for Capitol Stores, 1940. I was able to extrapolate stores that stayed open throughout the period but the others are marked with question marks.

Store tags:

  • Acadia Stores/Hopgood’s
  • Atlantic Superstore/Save-Easy
  • Capitol Stores
  • Community Stores
  • Dominion
  • Foodland
  • IGA
  • International Provision Co.
  • Sobeys/LoFood
Updated on 26 November 2022

One thought on “Halifax and Dartmouth Chain Grocery/Supermarket Locations, 1925-2000

  1. George

    June 18, 2019 at 8:35pm

    Great work on putting the history together. Out of curiosity, do you know what happened to Capitol? Was it purchased by Loblaws or another player?

    Thanks!

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author
    • Kelly

      November 6, 2024 at 9:38am

      Norman H. Newman sold the company to Atlantic Superstore in 1986.

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  2. George Hopgood

    August 26, 2020 at 7:56am

    Looking for historical information about Hopgood family stores. Hope you can provide guidance.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  3. Author

    Groceteria

    August 26, 2020 at 7:09pm

    Pretty much what you see here is all the information I have.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  4. Roger

    March 18, 2023 at 10:18am

    The chart shows a capital store at 610 Portland st. Do you when that store opened and when it closed?
    Thanks,
    Roger

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Groceteria

      March 18, 2023 at 5:14pm

      What you see on the list is all I have, so I can pretty much only say that it was listed in the city directory as being open in 1985.

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply

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