Tag: National

This is a list of all known chain grocery addresses in Little Rock and North Little Rock between 1925 and 2021, 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.

View and download a copy of this location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.

Notes:

  • Kroger apparently entered Little Rock through the purchase of Cox Cash Stores. They also did several swaps with Black & White Stores.
  • Safeway owned Little Rock’s Piggly Wiggly stores by at least 1930. Some stores were listed as “Safeway” in 1935 but may actually have operated as Piggly Wiggly stores.
  • Model Markets was a franchise/co-op. Black & White may have been as well.
  • National Tea was in and out in less than a decade.
  • Harvest Foods was the name given to Safeway stores when they were purchased ca. 1987 as part of Safeway’s exit from the market. Based on the directory information, there is some question about whether some stores may have closed for a time between owners. Harvest went bankrupt in 1995 and things got confusing after that with stores being listed under multiple banners (Harvest, City Market, and Food Giant). Edwards Food Giant seems to be the survivor of that lineage today.
  • Kroger ended up purchasing several Harvest locations and now operates at least one stores that was probably built as a Safeway and another than started as Skaggs-Albertsons (later Skaggs-Alpha Beta).

Store tags:

  • Black & White
  • Cox Cash Stores
  • Harvest Foods/City Market/Edwards Food Giant
  • IGA
  • Kroger
  • Model Markets
  • National
  • Piggly Wiggly
  • Safeway
  • Weingarten

This is a list of all known chain grocery addresses in Rock Island and Moline (including East Moline, Milan, and Silvis) between 1925 and 2021, 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.

See the page for Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa.

View and download a copy of this location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.

Store tags:

  • A&P
  • Eagle
  • Geifman’s
  • Hy-Vee
  • Jewel
  • Kroger
  • National
  • Randall’s
  • Super Valu
  • Tri-City

This is a list of all known chain grocery addresses in Davenport and Bettendorf between 1925 and 2021, 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.

See the page for Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

View and download a copy of this location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.

Notes:

  • Red Ball and Piggly Wiggly were under the same ownership and when the company converted to supermarkets, it used the Thrift Way (later Thriftway) name. Safeway acquired Thriftway in 1958 and operated severa converted stores for a number of years, which was unusual for them at that time.
  • Des Moines has been largely abandoned by large national or regional chains since Safeway pulled out in the early 1980s, with the exception of Hy-Vee, which is based in West Des Moines.
  • The numbered streets and directional indicators in Des Moines are just plain nuts. There, I said it…
  • I will add 2005-2015 within the next few months.

Store tags:

  • A&P
  • Eagle
  • Geifman’s
  • Hy-Vee
  • Jewel
  • National
  • Randall’s
  • Super Valu

Posted on

Input solicited: I’m leaving Saturday on a two-week road trip which will give me several days each in Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. Anyone have ideas about old chain stores and vintage shopping centers I should see?

I’m particularly interested in old National Tea, Jewel, A&P, and Kroger stores. I’ve also been told that Safeway had a Toronto division for a time. Location pointers would be much appreciated.

Thanks!