Last updated on 30 April 2025.
This is a list of all chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in St Catharines and Thorold between 1925 and 2019, 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
- Like many cities in Southern Ontario, St Catharines had a Vernon city directory, which means that there is no classified business directory between 1970 and 1990, so there may be missing chains during these years.
- I am not 100% certain that the listings for Thorold between about 1940 and 1980 are complete. It is unclear how reliable the coverage was for those years.
- There’s no evidence that any of the Carroll’s stores in St Catharines made the transition to Grand Union and Steinberg/Miracle Food Mart.
Location list
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- 111 4th Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1990: IGA
- 1995: IGA
- 2000: IGA
- 2005: IGA
- 2011: IGA
- 150 Bunting Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1975: Red & White (Meatland)
- 1980: Red & White (Meatland)
- 1985: Meatland
- 1990: Meatland
- 1995: Meatland
- 2000: Meatland
- 286 Bunting Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1995: Commisso’s
- 2000: Commisso’s
- 2005: Commisso’s
- 2011: Price Chopper
- 2019: FreshCo
- 366 Bunting Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Food City
- 1969: Food City
- 1975: Food City
- 1980: Food City
- 1985: Food City
- 1990: Food City
- 1995: Food City
- 2000: IGA
- 2005: IGA?
- Notes: East side, corner of Carlton. Towers Plaza.
- 125 Carlton St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: A&P
- 1960: A&P
- 1965: A&P
- 1969: A&P
- 1975: A&P
- 1980: Valdi
- 1985: Valdi
- 1990: Valdi
- 1995: Valdi
- Notes: North side, corner of Lake. (Estmated address). Valdi open 1979.
- 12 Catharine St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Boyle, E J
- 469 Central St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1990: Foodland
- 165 Church St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Vine & Sons
- 1945: Vine, Fred C
- 187 Church St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Gilmer & Thomson
- 1945: Thomson
- 1950: Thomson
- 1955: Thornton’s
- 1960: Thornton’s
- 1965: Red & White (Thornton’s)
- Notes: 187-189 (1941 on)
- 227 Church St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Loblaws
- 1960: Loblaws
- 1965: Loblaws
- 1969: Loblaws
- Notes: 227-231 (1955-1965).
- 251 Church St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Carroll, William
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1945: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1950: Carroll’s Ltd
- 384 Church St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Red & White (Bonchar)
- 1965: Red & White (Bonchar)
- Notes: Listed as 384 Linwell Rd (1965).
- 412 Church St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Dominion
- 131 Eastchester Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Red & White (Meatland Sausage)
- 1965: Red & White (Meatland Sausage)
- 1969: Red & White (Meatland)
- 52 Facer St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Superior Chain Store
- 1960: Superior Chain Store
- 1965: Superior Chain Store
- 88 Facer St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Red & White (Forray’s)
- 87 Geneva St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Carroll, William
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1945: Carroll’s Ltd
- 275 Geneva St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Dominion
- 1965: Dominion
- 1969: Dominion
- 1975: Dominion
- 1980: Dominion
- 1985: Dominion
- 1990: A&P
- 1995: A&P
- 2000: Food Basics
- 2005: Food Basics
- 2011: Food Basics
- 2019: Food Basics
- Notes: Fairview Mall. Apparently relocated or expanded in 1980. Brieftly Best for Less ca 1983-1984. A&P 1986. Food Basics 1998.
- 285 Geneva St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Loblaws
- 1969: Loblaws
- 1975: Loblaws
- 1980: Loblaws
- 1985: No Frills
- 1990: No Frills
- 1995: Zehr’s
- 2000: Zehr’s
- 2005: Zehr’s
- 2011: Zehr’s
- 2019: Zehr’s
- Notes: Fairview Mall. Expanded and rebranded as Zehrs 1991.
- 205 Glendale Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Miracle Food Mart
- 1975: Miracle Food Mart
- 1980: Miracle Food Mart
- Notes: Pen Centre. Open ca 1968. Closed ca 1982.
- 221 Glendale Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Dominion
- 1969: Dominion
- 1975: Dominion
- 1980: Dominion
- 1985: Dominion
- Notes: Pen Centre. Closed 1986.
- 221 Glendale Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Loblaws
- 1969: Loblaws
- 1975: Loblaws
- 1980: Loblaws
- Notes: Pen Centre.
- 221 Glendale Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1995: Zehr’s
- 2000: Zehr’s
- 2005: Zehr’s
- 2011: Zehr’s
- 2019: Zehr’s
- Notes: Pen Centre. Open ca 1995, new construction.
- 221 Glendale Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1985: Valdi
- 1990: Valdi
- Notes: Pen Centre.
- 224 Glenridge Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: A&P
- 1969: A&P
- 1975: A&P
- 1980: IGA
- 1985: IGA
- 1990: IGA
- 1995: IGA
- 2000: Tradition
- Notes: West side.
- 486 Grantham Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Dominion
- 1969: Dominion
- 1975: Dominion
- 1980: Dominion
- 1985: IGA
- 1990: IGA
- Notes: Linwell Plaza. Dominion closed 1983.
- 149 Hartzel Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1990: A&P
- 1995: A&P
- 2000: Food Basics
- 2005: Food Basics
- 2011: Food Basics
- 2019: Food Basics
- Notes: 149-153 (1990-1995).
- 135 Hartzell Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: IGA (Lincoln Foodliner)
- 1965: IGA (Lincoln Foodliner)
- 15 James St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1930: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1935: Sherwood, Geoge H
- Notes: 15-17 (1935).
- 50 James St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1930: A&P
- 1935: A&P
- Notes: 142 1/2
- 90 James St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1945: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1950: Sherwood’s
- Notes: 90-92 (1941 on).
- 84 King St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Dominion
- 1930: Dominion
- 100 King St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1945: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1950: Carroll’s Ltd
- 94 Lake St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Lucky Dollar (Lawson’s)
- 118 Lake St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Vine & Sons
- 1945: Vine Bros
- 1950: Vine Food Market
- 118 Lake St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: IGA (Boyce)
- 134 Lake St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1950: Red & White (Lake St)
- Notes: 134 1/2
- 142 Lake St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Carroll, William
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1945: Red & White
- 581 Lake St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 2005: No Frills (Mark’s)
- 2011: No Frills (Mark’s)
- 2019: No Frills (Mark’s)
- 101 Lakeshore Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1975: A&P
- 1980: A&P
- 1985: A&P
- 1990: A&P
- 1995: A&P
- 2000: A&P
- 2005: A&P
- 2011: Metro
- 2019: Metro
- 411 Louth St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 2011: Real Canadian Superstore
- 2019: Real Canadian Superstore
- 77 Main St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: IGA (Super)
- 109 Martindale Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Red & White (Bridgman)
- 1960: Red & White (Martindale)
- Notes: West side.
- 76 Merritt St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Lucky Dollar (Mibelli’s)
- 116 Merritt St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 128 Merritt St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Dominion
- 360 Merritt St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Red & White (Hunniford’s)
- 90 Niagara St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 198 Niagara St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1950: Red & White (Niagara)
- 1960: Red & White (Gasbarini)
- 316 Ontario St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1985: Commisso’s
- 1990: Food Terminal
- 1995: Food Terminal
- 2000: Food Terminal
- 2005: Commisso’s
- 2011: Price Chopper
- 2019: FreshCo
- 333 Ontario St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1980: Dominion
- Notes: Kmart adjacent. Rebranded as Best for Less 1983 and closed 1984.
- 13 Queen St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Eaton Groceteria
- 1935: Eaton Groceteria
- Notes: 11-13 (1930).
- 16 Queen St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1945: Loblaws
- 1950: Loblaws
- 1955: Loblaws
- 1960: Loblaws
- 1965: Loblaws
- 1969: Loblaws
- 26 Queen St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Gilmer & Thomson
- 1945: Thomson
- 358 Queenston Rd, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Red & White (Foxton’s)
- 1960: Lucky Dollar (English’s)
- 148 Russell Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: Red & White (Robertson)
- 350 Scott St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1980: Safeway
- 1990: Food City
- 1995: Commisso’s
- 2000: Commisso’s
- Notes: Open 1976, closed as Food Barn late 1984. Food City by 1987.
- 400 Scott St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1960: A&P
- 1965: A&P
- 1969: A&P
- 1975: A&P
- 1980: A&P
- 1985: A&P
- 1990: A&P
- 1995: A&P
- 2000: Food Basics
- 2005: Commisso’s
- 2011: Sobeys
- 2019: Sobeys
- Notes: South side, corner Niagara. Grantham Shopping Plaza.
- 68 South Dr, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Red & White (Bellamy)
- 153 St Paul Cres, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1945: Red & White
- 1950: Red & White
- 1955: Red & White (Crompton’s)
- 1960: Red & White (Crompton’s)
- 1965: Red & White (Crompton’s)
- Notes: 151-153 (1950 on). 151 (1965).
- 45 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Loblaws
- 1930: Loblaws
- 68 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Carroll, William
- 1930: Carroll, William
- 81 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Loblaws
- 1941: Loblaws
- 92 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 193 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Carroll, William
- 1930: Carroll, William
- 225 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Loblaws
- 260 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Dominion
- 1945: Dominion
- 1950: Dominion
- 1955: Dominion
- 1960: Dominion
- 1965: Dominion
- 1969: Dominion
- 309 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Dominion
- 353 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Loblaws
- 1941: Loblaws
- 1945: Loblaws
- 1950: Loblaws
- 1955: Loblaws
- Notes: 351-353 (1950 on).
- 379 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 421 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1941: A&P
- 1945: A&P
- 1950: A&P
- 1955: A&P
- 1960: A&P
- 1965: A&P
- Notes: 421-431 (1941 on).
- 443 St Paul St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1935: A&P
- 15 Town Line E, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1965: Red & White (Kerr’s)
- 106 Town Line W, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1969: Red & White (Morrison’s)
- 1975: Red & White (Morrison’s)
- 1980: Red & White (Morrison’s)
- 100 Welland Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Boyle, E J
- 104 Welland Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1969: A&P
- 1975: A&P
- 1980: A&P
- 1985: A&P
- 1990: A&P
- 1995: A&P
- 2000: A&P
- 2005: A&P
- 2011: A&P
- Notes: South side at Court. Midtown Plaza. 126 (1995 on),
- 525 Welland Av, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1975: Loblaws
- 1980: Loblaws
- 1985: No Frills?
- 1990: No Frills?
- 1995: No Frills?
- 2000: No Frills
- 2005: No Frills
- 2011: No Frills
- 2019: No Frills (Dennis)
- Notes: Lincoln Mall. 495 (1969). Loblaws closed late 1982. No Frills definitely by 1998.
- 92 York St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1930: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1935: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1941: Sherwood, Geoge H
- 1945: Sherwood, Geoge H
- Notes: 92 1/2
- 112 York St, St Catharines | Google Maps Link
- 1955: Red & White (York)
- 1960: Red & White (Howe’s)
- 1965: Red & White (Howe’s)
- 1969: Red & White (Howe’s)
- 12 Front St N, Thorold | Google Maps Link
- 1941: Gilmer & Thomson
- 11 Front St S, Thorold | Google Maps Link
- 1930: Carroll, William
- 1935: Carroll’s Ltd
- 1941: Carroll’s Ltd
- 12 Front St S, Thorold | Google Maps Link
- 1925: Dominion
- 1930: Dominion
- 1935: Dominion
- 38 Front St S, Thorold | Google Maps Link
- 1935: A&P
- 9 Pine St N, Thorold | Google Maps Link
- 1995: IGA
- 2000: IGA
- 2005: IGA
- 2011: IGA
- 2019: Foodland