This is a list of all known chain grocery addresses in Indianapolis between 1926 and 2001, compiled from city directories, telephone books, and other sources. It is generated through a live Google Spreadsheet so it reflects the latest information I have.
Access and download the location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.
Notes:
- Standard Stores was purchased by National Tea in 1947. Del Farm was also a National banner.
- The Seven to Eleven (later Seven-Eleven) chain in Indianapolis was a chain of small supermarkets (several of them repurposed Kroger locations) that was NOT related to the national convenience store chain.
- Safeway and Preston Safeway were NOT related to the national chain.
- Stop & Shop was co-branded with Colonial Stores on at least some locations. These stores closed around 1964 and many were sold to Standard.
- Kroger operated a convenience store chain called “Happy Food Stores” for a short time in the mid-1970s. Those locations are not included here.
- Allied Supermarkets also had a district office in Indianapolis, perhaps for Kmart Food operations.
Store tags:
- A&P
- Del Farm (National)
- IGA
- Kroger
- Lowell’s
- Marsh
- Meijer
- Piggly Wiggly
- Preston Safeway (not affiliated with the national Safeway chain)
- Seven to Eleven
- Standard (National)
- Stop & Shop (Colonial)
- Walt’s
Peggy
February 12, 2019 at 12:32amwould love to see A&P and CUBS return.
Robert M Frederickson
August 3, 2019 at 5:10amJoe Omalia was a pretty important chain; not sure who bought them out, perhaps marsh?
Steve
September 7, 2019 at 11:09pmO’Malia’s was a high-end supermarket that began in Hamilton County (North of Indy) and expanded to about 10 locations at its peak around 1980. Marsh bought them out around 2000 but kept the O’Malia’s name on them.
John Walsh (I go by Jim my middle name)
September 29, 2019 at 10:39amA. few of the stores on Clifton St I don’t recall, I lived as a child in what is now called near northwest Indianapolis in the 1000 Block of West Eugene St from 1947 to 1952, don’t recall any super markets on Clifton St. Perhaps they left before we moved to the area.
Groceteria
September 29, 2019 at 10:47amIf you’ll give it another look, the list does show that all the chain stores on Clifton Street were gone by the late 1940s. And most of these would not have been “supermarkets” in the current sense of the word. For an overview of how small neighborhood chain stores evolved, check out this page: https://www.groceteria.com/about/a-quick-history-of-the-supermarket/
Ed
August 17, 2020 at 4:24pmHey, What about Gidone’s? He had several stores. The one I remember best was “Gidone’s Food Palace” in the center at 46th and Shadeland. It became a Preston Safeway in later years. I am aware of at least two other stores Joe Gidone built, though I’m not sure where they were. He was into real estate development as much as supermarkets and owned the centers his stores were in.
Ed
August 17, 2020 at 4:46pmGidone’s Food Palace was at 4540 Shadeland Ave and was opened about 1967. It continued under the same name after it’s ownership became Scott Lad Foods in about 1969 and it became Preston Safeway in about 1980. There was another Gidone’s built about 1969 on the south side. The Del Farms at 10th and Arlington was originally Gidone’s I think.