Established in the San Francisco area in 1929, this chain operated at least as far south as Fresno and as far north as Fort Bragg, although most of its stores were along the coast, many of them in small towns. The owners, the Niven family, liquidated the chain in 1972 and now operate a Nothern California winery. The Fort Bragg location was still operating as the last remaining Purity store, with original signage in place, as late as 2003.
In This Section:
More Information:
Chris
May 7, 2019 at 7:35pmPurity also had stores in Fortuna and Eureka, so Eureka was the most northern store. The Purity in Fortuna is what is now Rays Food Place. Prior to being Rays it was Food Mart, but it was built as Purity. Eureka had two stores , one in Henderson center, that building which had a major remodel , is now Joanne’s Fabric. The store in downtown Eureka is currently Picky Picky Surplus on the corner of 6th and E street. It was built as a Purity, then became many other things afterward including Bonanza 88, Yellow Front and Factory To U. Seems like it was other things too, but it was built as Purity.
Greg Brown
September 2, 2019 at 11:21pmDid Purity sponsor some kind of televised home participation game show? I seem to remember something like that in the late 60s.
James
May 26, 2020 at 6:31pmPurity had a store in San Luis Obispo, CA. They also had a game where you received a horse race ticket for buying groceries. The results of the race were given just before 8pm on Saturday in a sort-of long commercial. My mother won some 50 cent pieces that she kept for over 60 years.
Patsy A. Hudspeth
July 15, 2020 at 11:24pmmy father worked for Purity stores for many many years from being a stocker, assistant manager, produce manager, troubleshooter, you name it he did it. he works at the one in Eureka when they have their big earthquake it pretty much destroyed the store we survived it I was just a baby I don’t remember the earthquake itself that I remember my crib going from one side of the room to the other and I was saying weeee. He worked at Purity in Los Gatos California Porterville California just all over Purity stores I can’t say enough about how great they were!
Kate Gonzales
November 16, 2020 at 11:37pmMy husbands grandfather worked as a butcher for Purity Stores in Hollister, CA in 1940s – a detail we found on his draft card for WWII.
KV Bunker
January 9, 2021 at 10:16amPurity in Fort Bragg continues to operate under the name as of January 2021.
Lorraine Fry
February 17, 2021 at 12:31amWere there any PURITY stores in or near San Jose, California, in the late ‘50s / early ‘60s? I have a vague memory of shopping with my Mom at an unfamiliar market when I was very young, and when I asked her the name of the store, I think she answered, “Purity.” But she doesn’t remember such a place anymore. Maybe somebody out there does?
Groceteria
February 21, 2021 at 7:58pmI think that you’ll find there is a page on the site dealing with San Jose stores:
https://www.groceteria.com/place/california/san-jose/
Burt Codispoti
March 11, 2021 at 7:29pmThe CoOp in Arcata was also a Purity, even further north than Eureka.
Alf Doten
March 29, 2021 at 1:43pmYep…….glad Burt chimed in. Purity (the new store) is the Arcata Co-op. Just adjacent on the NE corner of 9th & I Street was the original Purity with its small parking lot in the back that probably dated from 1940. It became Hensel Hardware but the building burned in the 1990’s and the present structure bares no relation to the original building. Old Purity stores are identifiable by their distinctive “quansit hut” curved roof and adjacent small parking lots that transitioned well into hardware stores and garden shops.