I remember the big bosses as I fondly called them telling my dad and mom ‘You let that baby have whatever she wants’ (I thought this included all grocery stores) I still have the charm bracelet daddy gave me as a gift though tarnished and a bit rusty that bracelet hangs in a special place, when I look at it makes me happy and sad. I own a piece of history from Purity Grocer, but better yet I am ever so grateful for this history that my dad worked long days always cheerful and courteous. He knew the grocery business 9 ways from Sunday and I carry what he taught me close to my heart. All the employees were cheerful and nice. They used to put me in a box and slide me on the chain belt and someone would yell ‘Carry Out’ someone would be outside waiting for me to roll out. Lord I miss my dad, Purity, and Eureka. I wish I knew if anyone is still with us that worked for with my dad.
Yes, I remember this store. It was located across from the Safeway store on Lincoln Street, just up from Pacific Avenue. My mother shopped there in the 1960s.
My Dad worked at the Eureka, McKinleyville, and Arcada stores in the early 60,s Also worked in Santa Rosa, Napa and Healdsburg stores. There were others that I can’t remember. He was an opening store manager then we moved on to another store. It was like being in the military. I went to 12 school in in 9 cities growing up.
“The Purity grocery store chain dissolved in the late 1970s. By then, many of the Purity stores were already closed, sold off or lost by the owner in various poker games.
Purity Stores were owned by the Niven family. When the founder passed away, the story I’m told is his son took over and some say, ran the grocery store chain into the ground. Fast cars, wine, women & various poker games were the new order of the day.
At one time, there were over 200-Purity Stores throughout Northern California, rivaling Safeway. Back then, wherever you saw a Safeway, there would usually be a Purity Store nearby.
There is one of the original Purity Stores still operating in Fort Bragg, California, on the Mendocino Coast. “
My first “real” job in 1962 was at the Purity Store at the corner of West Capitol Ave and Jefferson Blvd in West Sacramento. Safeway was immediately across West Capitol, and Farmers Market was at the back of the Purity Store. I started as a courtesy clerk (bag boy) and soon worked my way up to journeyman grocer. The union (RCIA) pay was good, and it was a fun, family-oriented business to work for. I especially remember Mary Sewell, who taught me the cash register. She was so kind yet firm in teaching me the “right” way to do my job. Another memory was knowing that we were going to run out of various milks well before our next order was delivered. Our manager called other Purity Stores, and the Auburn store could save the day. I volunteered to drive up to Auburn (~75 miles round trip) to pick up the product. My poor car was seriously overloaded, but everything worked out. Even now, 60 years later, I can remember some of the bread-and-butter everyday prices (no scanners back then).
Here’s a website with photos of former Purity stores around Northern California. These are the 1940s Art or Streamline Moderne style. I’ve also seen them called “rainbow”, and they look like Quonset Huts to me. Apparently, they were easy to heat and cool, and they maximized internal space. The site shows the former Purity store that’s now a donut shop in my hometown, Livermore. It got a Googie canopy later, probably around 1960, after Purity moved down the street. https://www.roadarch.com/deco/capurity.html
I remember the big bosses as I fondly called them telling my dad and mom ‘You let that baby have whatever she wants’ (I thought this included all grocery stores) I still have the charm bracelet daddy gave me as a gift though tarnished and a bit rusty that bracelet hangs in a special place, when I look at it makes me happy and sad. I own a piece of history from Purity Grocer, but better yet I am ever so grateful for this history that my dad worked long days always cheerful and courteous. He knew the grocery business 9 ways from Sunday and I carry what he taught me close to my heart. All the employees were cheerful and nice. They used to put me in a box and slide me on the chain belt and someone would yell ‘Carry Out’ someone would be outside waiting for me to roll out. Lord I miss my dad, Purity, and Eureka. I wish I knew if anyone is still with us that worked for with my dad.
My father worked for the Santa Cruz Purity store until it closed.
Yes, I remember this store. It was located across from the Safeway store on Lincoln Street, just up from Pacific Avenue. My mother shopped there in the 1960s.
My Dad worked at the Eureka, McKinleyville, and Arcada stores in the early 60,s Also worked in Santa Rosa, Napa and Healdsburg stores. There were others that I can’t remember. He was an opening store manager then we moved on to another store. It was like being in the military. I went to 12 school in in 9 cities growing up.
Looking for some information on the Lakeport Purity, the location of which has been a parking lot for many years.
“The Purity grocery store chain dissolved in the late 1970s. By then, many of the Purity stores were already closed, sold off or lost by the owner in various poker games.
Purity Stores were owned by the Niven family. When the founder passed away, the story I’m told is his son took over and some say, ran the grocery store chain into the ground. Fast cars, wine, women & various poker games were the new order of the day.
At one time, there were over 200-Purity Stores throughout Northern California, rivaling Safeway. Back then, wherever you saw a Safeway, there would usually be a Purity Store nearby.
There is one of the original Purity Stores still operating in Fort Bragg, California, on the Mendocino Coast. “
My first “real” job in 1962 was at the Purity Store at the corner of West Capitol Ave and Jefferson Blvd in West Sacramento. Safeway was immediately across West Capitol, and Farmers Market was at the back of the Purity Store. I started as a courtesy clerk (bag boy) and soon worked my way up to journeyman grocer. The union (RCIA) pay was good, and it was a fun, family-oriented business to work for. I especially remember Mary Sewell, who taught me the cash register. She was so kind yet firm in teaching me the “right” way to do my job. Another memory was knowing that we were going to run out of various milks well before our next order was delivered. Our manager called other Purity Stores, and the Auburn store could save the day. I volunteered to drive up to Auburn (~75 miles round trip) to pick up the product. My poor car was seriously overloaded, but everything worked out. Even now, 60 years later, I can remember some of the bread-and-butter everyday prices (no scanners back then).
I remember my Mom shopping in the Purity store in Antioch when I was a kid. She preferred it to the nearby Safeway store.
Here’s a website with photos of former Purity stores around Northern California. These are the 1940s Art or Streamline Moderne style. I’ve also seen them called “rainbow”, and they look like Quonset Huts to me. Apparently, they were easy to heat and cool, and they maximized internal space. The site shows the former Purity store that’s now a donut shop in my hometown, Livermore. It got a Googie canopy later, probably around 1960, after Purity moved down the street.
https://www.roadarch.com/deco/capurity.html