Tag: Dominion

Established in Toronto in 1919, Dominion Stores at its peak were found in most of Canada. Dominion was acquired by A&P Canada in 1985, though some of its stores, particularly those west of Ontario, were sold to Safeway, Loblaws, and others in the years preceding this transaction. A&P ultimately reduced the brand’s footprint to the Greater Toronto Area, and A&P Canada itself was acquired by Metro in 2005, and the Dominion name was retired in 2009.

On Groceteria.com

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  • Coming soon.

This is a list of all chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in Calgary between 1930 and 1991, 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. I was not able to access city directories between 1953 and 1968; the 1960 listings are from newspaper ads and some chains may not be represented.

Access and download the location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.

Store tags:

  • Calgary Co-op
  • Dominion
  • Empress
  • Food City
  • Jenkins Groceteria
  • Loblaws/L-Mart
  • Piggly Wiggly
  • Red & White
  • Safeway
  • Shoprite
  • Super Valu
  • Woodward’s

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This is a beautiful  Toronto area store that has apparently been nominated as a historic property. Located at Parkway Mall in suburban Scarborough, the store opened in 1958 as a Grand Union, and has since operated as Steinberg’s, Miracle Food Mart, Dominion, and now Metro.

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Sorry for the delay. The last few weeks became a bit hectic, with lots of freelance work, a death in the family, and my Thanksgiving trek to the west coast to visit the in-laws.

I’m ready to continue on with those road trip photos now:

Let’s start with Indianapolis:

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This Preston Safeway store at 5040 East 16th was most likely a former Standard Store. Preston Safeway is an odd little chain in Indianapolis that has successfully managed to use the Safeway name without trademark issues for quite some time. There is no connection to the more well-known chain other than the fact that Preston Safeway seems to be using the “Ingredients for Life” typeface on some of its banners.

On to Chicago:

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Despite its somewhat modernized appearance, the Jewel-Osco above, located at 3531 Broadway, is in an ancient building which I suspect may have been something else to begin with — perhaps a garage, a car dealership, or even a garden variety warehouse. The store is at ground level and the second level is enclosed parking.

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I suspect this was originally a Kroger. It’s at 7620 North Western.

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This gorgeous former Jewel store is at 4335 West Oakton in Skokie.

And now, the Detroit suburbs:

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I found this 1950s-era Kroger interesting because it had obviously been remodeled and expanded into an early 1970s superstore. There’s a 1990s version still open in the same center.

And finally, Toronto:

It’s interesting that the grocery industry is so completely consolidated in the hands of three companies (Loblaw, A&P/Metro, and Sobey’s) but still operates under so many different banners. Loblaw owns Zehr’s and No Frills, while A&P owns Dominion and Food Basics. Sobey’s also operates as Price Chopper, IGA, and more.

I was unable to find the one documented former Safeway location I’d been given in Toronto, but I found other good stuff:

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A Loblaws from the 1950s at 301 Moore is still open and in relatively good repair. It seems larger than average for its era.

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Probably a former Loblaws at 2187 West Bloor.

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Also a probable former Loblaws, this one at 1450 East Lawrence.

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The Dominion store above, at 425 West Bloor may or may now have been an A&P. It probably dates from the early 1950s. The late 1940s/early 1950s model below, at 3142 Yonge, was definitely an A&P in a previous life, if its parking signs are to be trusted.

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I may try to post one or two more at some point.

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This Food Basics store on Yonge Street in North York, Ontario definitely gets first place in the “cool sightings from my recent road trip” contest. I’m not sure if it’s a former Dominion, A&P, or what, but I almost spit out my nifty Canadian formula Diet 7-Up when I saw it.

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This was a close second. A current Red & White franchise, it was originally a Loblaw’s, and is located on Lakeshore Avenue, in (I believe) the Islington section of Toronto. The Loblaw’s label scar is even still visible on the front, although it didn’t photograph well.

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Speaking of Loblaw’s, I rarely feature new stores here, but this megastore at Queens Quay Market was too amazing not to include. Keep in mind that this photo is only the produce department, which is about a third of the total floor area of the store.

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I was relieved to see that one of my favorite old Kroger locations, on Tenth Street in Indianapolis, is still open. The store is all of 10,000 square feet, but it does a booming business in the surrounding (not great) neighborhood. I even got a few photos inside this time through.

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More pictures and commentary tomorrow.