While most of us grew up with supermarkets and shopping malls already existing; some of us remember the family-run grocery stores where your options were often limited. Others might even have had the chance to grow their own food, but once general stores grew bigger and became more convenient, there was no way back. Still, the consumerist lifestyle as we know it didn't happen overnight, and we got where we are now gradually.
Bored Panda has collected a series of vintage photos that take you through different grocery stores across America in the olden days. It’s safe to say we came a long way from grocery shopping in our Sunday best to browsing the aisles in our PJs. But of course, it is only one of many ways shopping malls have changed. From wider aisles and more elegant stores to small homegrown businesses, these cool photos reflect a very vintage life. Take a look at all the interesting photos from a long time ago below and don’t forget to upvote for your favs!
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Country Store On Dirt Road. Note The Kerosene Pump On The Right And The Gasoline Pump On The Left. Brother Of Store Owner Stands In Doorway. Gordonton, North Carolina, 1939
I think the best thing about this picture is the fact that different races are getting on fine.
The Grocery Store Of The Late 19th Century, USA
1980, When Every Soft Drink Bottle On The Shelf Was Still Glass
Cashiers At The Piggly Wiggly Continental, Encino, California, 1962
I worked as a cashier (we were actally called checkers) in 1962-63. Our uniforms were ugly turquoise puckered nylon. But in 1963, Safeway opened a new store in Century City (a high-end area in Los Angeles) and recruited the most attractive women to staff that store. Their uniforns were a heavier black nylon chinese-style dress!
And incidentally, at 19-years-old, I made amost as much money as my father, a research macinest with 20 years experience, supported a family of four made on.
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Wow! For those being disparaging about this, checker could support themselves (not grandly, but decently) in those days. Now they have to have a second and maybe a third job.
Yes, but most people nowadays want to have everything RIGHT NOW and not work up to getting it... credit card debit up the wazoo so they can show-off all their “toys” on facebook/instagram/snapchat... it’s sad really!!!!
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Walmart could take some notes here, look 10 lanes and every single one has a REAL cashier, and NO SELF CHECKS..!
Wal Mart took notes & gave us jack while ruining Main St. Thanks Walton family thugs.
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Now that's what I'm talking about! A cashier available and on stand-by in EVERY lane! Yep folks, you just don't see this anymore these days. Nope! And look at how gorgeous they all look! Also, LOVE the store's sweet decor! I'd definitely by a dozen from the Buttercup Bakery there!
It is nice to see pictures of people who cared about their appearance when going to work.
Can you imagine if this went on today? The way the kids dress? Piggly Wiggly would have no employees!
Oh heaven forbid people are allowed to wear what they want!
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Look no self checkouts, all human beings interacting with human beings. Back in the good days, When people steal took pride in their work and the way they looked.
Now the stores have multiple registers and not enough clerks. Yet, all the CEOs are still maintaining a healthy stash of $$$!
And scanners were a dream , everything was done by hand , by cash register .
God help them if they gained an inch, vertically or horizontally...
I just showed my husband this picture and he said, "Oh my god, I can't believe we tolerated that." ... He's right.
Tolerated what? Seeing pretty women in nice dresses, that are covered with an apron to protect said nice dresses?
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They actually rang up all items using cash registers - no easy scanning.
I bet their feet and legs hurt at the end of the day. Those little tennis shoes are not support shoes at all.
Can you imagine if Walmart had this many cashiers and they were waiting to help you?
Inspection morning. Put that phone down, Missy, and pick up your paycheck on the way out.
"Ladies are we read to open? Now smile to all the customers and make sure you greet them and say thank you ". Cashiers of long ago. I use to work as one so this makes the job look glorious. lol.
I have never seen a Piggly Wiggly store. Would like to see a "now" pic
Most are closed. The one on Main St, Puyallup, Washington closed in 1996 and now it’s a Safeway there.
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Can you imagine going in Wally World today and seeing cashiers this dressed up and well groomed. The Walmart employees are poorly paid and overworked. Most of these women are probably "housewives" with no children, or women who haven't found "Mr. Right" yet.
Yvonne began sweating during the uniform inspection as she knew ribbed soles were so damn cool but were forbidden in the workplace
Never dressed like that in my Country: Only with a simple apron, by they did not look like a waitress.
Definitely Stepford Wives, but I like thee cleaningest of the store
The cashiers look like maids. Totally sexist. I remember this well as I was 8 yo. The world is a much better place with all of the different hues of skin color.
I can't believe people can down vote this. We live in a f***ed up time. I agree with your comment.
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And you going to cry about something from 1962??? Really? Use your energy for things you can change
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Grocery Shopping, 1960s
This was when we had to be PERFECTLY groomed for the lord and master to get home
Publix Supermarkets Showcased Their Wide Aisles And A Self-Service Dairy Case By Driving A Shopper Around A New Store In A Tiny Car, Circa 1957
In Spain, it was a SEAT 600. It was a small car, to the spanish people was like the Ford-T to de US-citizens, our first car!!. My mom had got one. We went to the beach, two moms and 4 kids inside, with all the beach materials!. It´s true! I swear
A Large Sign Reading "I Am An American" Placed In The Window Of A Store, On December 8, The Day After Pearl Harbor. The Business Was Owned By The Matsuda Family. The Store Was Closed Following Orders To Persons Of Japanese Descent To Evacuate From Certain West Coast Areas
Interior Of The Original Piggly Wiggly Self-Service Grocery Store, Memphis, Tennessee. The First Self Service Grocery Store, Opened 1916. Picture From 1918
I've shopped there, it's still open in the same location, but modernized of course
Publix Market In Sarasota, Florida, 1961
Two Women Shopping In An American Supermarket, Circa 1970
Shopping In Coop Store, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1938
My Great Great Grandparents At The Counter Of Their Grocery Store In Bremerton, Washington (1925)
James Dean Shopping For Groceries In Marfa, TX, 1955
Jitney Jungle Checkout Clerk Billy Barineau In Tallahassee, 1962
My Great Grandfather Standing In His Grocery Store, Evansville, IN, 1960
Man And Dogs In Front Of Grocery Store, Robinson, Illinois, 1940
Children In Front Of Grocery Store, Chicago, Illinois, 1941
Jayne Mansfield Grocery Shopping In Las Vegas, 1959
Where to start here? Traumatized Chihuahuas, girl in bathing suit and... what did Jayne buy?
Supermarket In 1960s
Working Mother Jennie Magill Shopping With Her Children At The Super Market, 1956
My 2nd Great Grandmother Opening Her Store In Cincinnati, Ohio
Oh, look, Tide ! No one knew about it`s nutritional value back then :D
Home Turned Into Grocery Store, Omaha, Nebraska, 1938
The Super Giant Supermarket In Rockville, Maryland, 1964
Shopping In Coop Store, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1938
Working At A General Store, 1973
Tulip Town Market, Grove Center By James Edward Westcott, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, July 4, 1945
Buying Groceries In Store At Blankenship, Indiana, 1938
Food Shopping And Mini-Skirts, 1970
Three Women Talking In Frozen Food Aisle Of Supermarket, 1950s
Mayfair Supermarket Cookie Display, 1950s
Proprietor Of Small Grocery Store, Jeanerette, Louisiana, 1938
Kroger Grocery Store, Lexington Kentucky, 1947, By Lafayette Studio
1920 Interior View Of A Chicago Grocery
Shopping In The Cooperative Grocery Store, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1942 (Colorized)
Kings Supermarket, 1950s
Interior Of A Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store, 1959
Box-Boy In A Small Rural Grocery Store In Southeast Idaho, 1972
Dairy Counter At Clark's, A Grocery, Drug, Sundries, And Department Store And Lunch Counter, Charlotte, NC, 1962 Or 1963
Scene In The Cooperative Store At Irwinville Farms, Georgia, 1938
Man looks like he’s saying “How dare you people charge 28 cents for this box of aspirin?!” ..... “Well, sir I just work here”
Grocery Store Parking Lot, West Covina, CA, 1959
At Nixon, Wife Of VP, Grocery Shopping With Her Daughters Julie And Tricia, 1958
Grocery Cart, 1974
Vintage Trade Ad With Ruffles Potato Chips, Flings, Etc. At A Checkout
Delivery Vans, 1942 Style, Line Up Outside A Greenbelt, Maryland, Grocery Store Awaiting Customers
They had something to do, they learned to work and have fun with friends... unlike your spoiled rotten kids who are glued to thier phones and video games 24/7... so to hell with your child labor BS
Interior Of Northland Foods, Thief River Falls, MN, In The 70's
Grand Grocery Company, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942
Ralph's Supermarket, Los Angeles, 1942
U-Pak Kmart No Frills Supermarket Pontiac, Michigan, 1979
Duke's Mayonnaise Jars Assembled In A Display At Cozart's Grocery Store, 1965
Sunkist Grocery Store Display, 1940s
Grocery Store Window, Dubuque, Iowa, 1940
At The Grocery Store, 1950s
Kroger Grocery Store, Lexington, Kentucky, 1947
Cooperative Store At Greenbelt, Maryland, 1938
Store Operated By John Zabala Until 1979
Cigarette And Cigar Displays (Camel, L&M, Etc...) At Clark's, A Grocery, Drug, Sundries, And Department Store And Lunch Counter, Charlotte, NC, 1962 Or 1963
Boy On Porch Of General Store, Roseland, Virginia, 1938
Rear Of Grocery Store, Baltimore, Maryland, 1938
My Dad Doing Groceries During His High School Exchange Year In Michigan, 1962
Houchens Grocery Store, Kentucky, C. 1950s
Interior View Of A Ralphs Grocery Store At An Unknown Location In Los Angeles In November 1943, Showing The Check-Out Counter And Cash Register
The CPI Inflation calculator says that $.67 in November 1943 is $9.69 in today's money. WOW!
When I look at these it hits me how different Europe was back then. My grandparents and parents struggled so much in Poland whilst Americans (not only, of course) had all this and more... I can still remember harsh times when I was a kid in the 80 and 90. This is heartbreaking to me. Not mentioning that there are still nations that are suffering up till day.
There’s a n old joke: An American, a Russian, and a Czech are asked “What is your opinion of the meat shortage?” The Russian says, “What’s an opinion?” The Czech says “What is meat?” The American says “What’s a shortage?”
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When supermarkets were first introduced in the UK shoppers kept on asking permission to take things from the shelves, they assumed they were all on display.
I remember the 1st Supermarket grocery store in my little town - they had a delivery system as people didnt have cars back then. Your shopping and on getting home 15 minutes later it was waiting on your doorstep
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What a neat list! It's probably weird, but when I travel to a different country (sometimes state, even!) I like to go to the grocery store to compare/contrast with my grocery at home.
All those made me wonder, if anyone looking now at them here recognizes themselves or their family... :)
The American body has changed quite a bit. I couldn't spot any obesity in the photos.
Yeah well, I'm pretty sure there is a correlation between over consumption of cheap food and obesity. The kids in the top photo are probably not as slim as they used to be...
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I love these pics! So refreshing from the Buzzfeed type ‘remember 1999 or 2004’ bs. This is nastalgia at its best for us people 40+. WE ARE NOT THAT OLD!
Maybe it`s me, but i see Softdrinks, Cookies, Cereals in the Food Carts, but almost no overweight people. What happenned? Also i see little packaging and no plastic bags. It is possible to avoid trash while shopping. Ah! Good old times!
First of all - food was food back then - made in big batches, yes, but from all natural ingredients - no sugar added to your sausages as today... no soy flour in meat, no added fructose syrup, or millions of e-something s**t. And back then even pasta boxes were about design. We used less processed foods, and less plastic. And we had healthier planet to live.
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In Curaçao there is still an grocery store with the old Miami Vice style front!! Looked so awesome. The outside never changed in all those years
WHY do some people feel like they can't appreciate these pictures without putting down how we live today? And no, I'm not a millenial, I'm 45 years old, I remember some of this s**t and I can assure you, life was no better then.....just different.
These old pictures truly capture a slice of history, showcasing the evolution of shopping experiences over the years. It's incredible to see how much has changed, yet some aspects remain timeless. https://www.kuponkloud.com/call-on-doc-promo-code
It was a pleasure to view these old pictures of grocery stores, so thank you very much for sharing them. I was reflecting on the fact that most people now shop online due to the large number of fantastic online stores. I always purchase at Target because of the incredible quality and exceptional customer service; further recently, I learned about their excellent policy. I recently stumbled over this blog, which explains how students can receive "Target Student Discount" on their purchases. It really is great. Read it if you can. Here is a link to the blog: https://www.aintpayingfull.com/target-student-discount/
Is it true one effect of the ending of WW2 was the introduction of supermarkets in such diverse countries, both Allies & the enemy, in countries like France, Britain, Germany, Japan, Italy, Netherlands & Korea? If true, something good came out.
sad that only a few pics show the proud african americans that were the backbone of america...just pure white just like the bread....sad
Man, these take me back. I got my driver's license in the late 60's and my mom made me go grocery shopping when I did. Oh well, saved her having to drag us kids out, or me having to baby sit them (6 of us), and I got to drive the pink and white Rambler Station Wagon, lol. Much preferred the Suburban my dad got later on, though I put the first dent in it.
My husbands grandparents had a Ben Franklin store in Elkin, NC during the 60's and 70's. He still remembers working there during the summer.
I remember going to my grandmothers in Texas , which seemed like it took two years to get there to this small kid (me), she would have a big glass bottle of Dr Pepper in her frig, not to mention the glass bottle of Prell shampoo sitting on the tub, good times lol :) .. simple, life was.......
I wonder how they manage the supply chain, replenishment, merchandising, best seller articles, slow & fast moving product, etc.. without an excellent software and powerful database server.
Human mind, paper and pencils, calculating skills.
Load More Replies... When I look at these it hits me how different Europe was back then. My grandparents and parents struggled so much in Poland whilst Americans (not only, of course) had all this and more... I can still remember harsh times when I was a kid in the 80 and 90. This is heartbreaking to me. Not mentioning that there are still nations that are suffering up till day.
There’s a n old joke: An American, a Russian, and a Czech are asked “What is your opinion of the meat shortage?” The Russian says, “What’s an opinion?” The Czech says “What is meat?” The American says “What’s a shortage?”
Load More Replies... When supermarkets were first introduced in the UK shoppers kept on asking permission to take things from the shelves, they assumed they were all on display.
I remember the 1st Supermarket grocery store in my little town - they had a delivery system as people didnt have cars back then. Your shopping and on getting home 15 minutes later it was waiting on your doorstep
Load More Replies... What a neat list! It's probably weird, but when I travel to a different country (sometimes state, even!) I like to go to the grocery store to compare/contrast with my grocery at home.
All those made me wonder, if anyone looking now at them here recognizes themselves or their family... :)
The American body has changed quite a bit. I couldn't spot any obesity in the photos.
Yeah well, I'm pretty sure there is a correlation between over consumption of cheap food and obesity. The kids in the top photo are probably not as slim as they used to be...
Load More Replies... I love these pics! So refreshing from the Buzzfeed type ‘remember 1999 or 2004’ bs. This is nastalgia at its best for us people 40+. WE ARE NOT THAT OLD!
Maybe it`s me, but i see Softdrinks, Cookies, Cereals in the Food Carts, but almost no overweight people. What happenned? Also i see little packaging and no plastic bags. It is possible to avoid trash while shopping. Ah! Good old times!
First of all - food was food back then - made in big batches, yes, but from all natural ingredients - no sugar added to your sausages as today... no soy flour in meat, no added fructose syrup, or millions of e-something s**t. And back then even pasta boxes were about design. We used less processed foods, and less plastic. And we had healthier planet to live.
Load More Replies... In Curaçao there is still an grocery store with the old Miami Vice style front!! Looked so awesome. The outside never changed in all those years
WHY do some people feel like they can't appreciate these pictures without putting down how we live today? And no, I'm not a millenial, I'm 45 years old, I remember some of this s**t and I can assure you, life was no better then.....just different.
These old pictures truly capture a slice of history, showcasing the evolution of shopping experiences over the years. It's incredible to see how much has changed, yet some aspects remain timeless. https://www.kuponkloud.com/call-on-doc-promo-code
It was a pleasure to view these old pictures of grocery stores, so thank you very much for sharing them. I was reflecting on the fact that most people now shop online due to the large number of fantastic online stores. I always purchase at Target because of the incredible quality and exceptional customer service; further recently, I learned about their excellent policy. I recently stumbled over this blog, which explains how students can receive "Target Student Discount" on their purchases. It really is great. Read it if you can. Here is a link to the blog: https://www.aintpayingfull.com/target-student-discount/
Is it true one effect of the ending of WW2 was the introduction of supermarkets in such diverse countries, both Allies & the enemy, in countries like France, Britain, Germany, Japan, Italy, Netherlands & Korea? If true, something good came out.
sad that only a few pics show the proud african americans that were the backbone of america...just pure white just like the bread....sad
Man, these take me back. I got my driver's license in the late 60's and my mom made me go grocery shopping when I did. Oh well, saved her having to drag us kids out, or me having to baby sit them (6 of us), and I got to drive the pink and white Rambler Station Wagon, lol. Much preferred the Suburban my dad got later on, though I put the first dent in it.
My husbands grandparents had a Ben Franklin store in Elkin, NC during the 60's and 70's. He still remembers working there during the summer.
I remember going to my grandmothers in Texas , which seemed like it took two years to get there to this small kid (me), she would have a big glass bottle of Dr Pepper in her frig, not to mention the glass bottle of Prell shampoo sitting on the tub, good times lol :) .. simple, life was.......
I wonder how they manage the supply chain, replenishment, merchandising, best seller articles, slow & fast moving product, etc.. without an excellent software and powerful database server.
Human mind, paper and pencils, calculating skills.
Load More Replies...