Gerald,
While I agree that independent stores were far more prominent in the
time period before and immediately after WWII, in Downers Grove where
I grew up, chain stores were already a common fixture. In our town,
we had A&P Tea Co. (Atlantic & Pacific, at the time the largest
retail company in the world), National Tea Co, Jewel Tea Co. (a
Chicago based chain that now days, owns Osco Drugs), F. W Woolworth 5
& Dime, Sears Roebuck & Co, Western Auto, Montgomery Ward Co. plus
several chain gas stations. We also had local grocery stores, one of
which was affiliated with Certified Grocers Distribution and another
affiliated with IGA (Independent Grocers Assn.). Downers had a team
track in downtown area south of the depot and another about eight
west of downtown. All of the above chain stores were in operation
prior to WWII.
Bill Barber
Gravois Mills, MO
On Jan 11, 2011, at 2:51 AM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> Re: team track - groceries
> Posted by: "Gerald Edgar" vje68@hotmail.com gaedgar66
> Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:49 am (PST)
>
>
>
>
> IC reefers would also be found on team tracks with bananas. Indeed
> "grocers" and food wholsealers are commonly listed on RR 'industry'
> lists well in to the 50's (and famously the Q's line to Lead/
> Deadwood, SD went right thru a major grocery store parking lot
> passing within a few feet of the storefront). The grocery business
> did not significantly 'centralize til post-WWII with many local
> independents only loosely affiliated with buyer groups. Local
> distributors would wholesale fruit, vegtables & meat to local
> grocers. I'm sure all on the list over 50 or so can well remember
> when there were small grocers in every neighborhood (and far more
> hardware stores and the like). Indeed it was not the introduction
> of fluoridated water in the 50's that alone eased tooth decay but
> the decline of neighborhood grocers we could stop at to/from school
> to buy candy! (and yo-yo's & pea shooters without parents eyeing us!)
>
> Gerald
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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