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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!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
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
Chris Pitch 7 years ago
I think the best thing about this picture is the fact that different races are getting on fine.
RELATED:
#2
The Grocery Store Of The Late 19th Century, USA
Vicky Zar 7 years ago
Those people would get a heart attack if they were transported into our time
Mimis Nachbarin 7 years ago
Everybody born before 1900 would get a heart attack if transported into our time...
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Hisseefit 7 years ago
It's Nels. Harriet is just out of the picture telling Caroline that brown eggs aren't worth as much as white eggs.
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Dusty Brown 7 years ago
I remember stores like that. The storekeeper or clerk went and got you everything, you just stood there and waited, or they would bring it to your house. Those stores smelled great.
Marnee DeRider 7 years ago
I SO WISH I could just show up to a store with a list, and have everything handed to me. I despise wandering stores trying to find things. (But I also don't like shopping for most things online.)
Pattie Kelly 7 years ago
"I'll get a loaf of bread, flour, nuts and a can of been and please put in on my tab".
Marvin Doolin - Poppa 7 years ago
Except for the clothes, it looks a lot like Nagel's (sp?) store in Renault, IL shortly after WWII.
Charlie 7 years ago
When I visited Perth, Australia in 1990, I was shocked at how small the grocery stores were and how far and wide they were placed, The fact was they have such a limited selection on everything that it made me realize, as an American, we are so spoiled for choices and prices! Instead of having just 3 kinds of toothpaste to choose from like they do, we have a whole aisle to chose over 30 brands and even types of toothpaste! (just one example).
Mishte Tine 7 years ago
The Dime Store where I grew up looked exactly like this, well taken care of. It was mainly a pharmacy if I recall - candy, cheap toys, greeting cards, OCT medicine, beauty products, etc. This looks like a druggist’s shop to me...
Christina Sersif 7 years ago
Thanks to Piggly Wiggly for changing the grocery store concept. Rather than go inside and tell the merchant what they wanted they could go aisle to aisle to do it.
Aprilmarie Ladora 7 years ago
ur right so passeive they were but at least they had a store right
Bored Office Girl 7 years ago
I wish that the guys at the counters nowadays had mustaches like that....
Molly Block 7 years ago
You can SEE the goods, but no ma'am, you absolutely may NOT touch them until you purchase them.
#3
1980, When Every Soft Drink Bottle On The Shelf Was Still Glass
#4
Cashiers At The Piggly Wiggly Continental, Encino, California, 1962
#5
Grocery Shopping, 1960s
Tricia F- S 7 years ago
This was when we had to be PERFECTLY groomed for the lord and master to get home
#6
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
Víctor Alfonso García Olmo 7 years ago
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
#7
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
#8
Interior Of The Original Piggly Wiggly Self-Service Grocery Store, Memphis, Tennessee. The First Self Service Grocery Store, Opened 1916. Picture From 1918
Randomcthulu 7 years ago
I've shopped there, it's still open in the same location, but modernized of course
#9
Publix Market In Sarasota, Florida, 1961
#10
Two Women Shopping In An American Supermarket, Circa 1970
#11
Shopping In Coop Store, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1938
#12
My Great Great Grandparents At The Counter Of Their Grocery Store In Bremerton, Washington (1925)
#13
James Dean Shopping For Groceries In Marfa, TX, 1955
#14
Jitney Jungle Checkout Clerk Billy Barineau In Tallahassee, 1962
#15
My Great Grandfather Standing In His Grocery Store, Evansville, IN, 1960
#16
Man And Dogs In Front Of Grocery Store, Robinson, Illinois, 1940
#17
Children In Front Of Grocery Store, Chicago, Illinois, 1941
#18
Jayne Mansfield Grocery Shopping In Las Vegas, 1959
Phoebe Bean 7 years ago
Where to start here? Traumatized Chihuahuas, girl in bathing suit and... what did Jayne buy?
#19
Supermarket In 1960s
#20
Working Mother Jennie Magill Shopping With Her Children At The Super Market, 1956
#21
My 2nd Great Grandmother Opening Her Store In Cincinnati, Ohio
Chyppa Homer 7 years ago
Oh, look, Tide ! No one knew about it`s nutritional value back then :D
#22
Home Turned Into Grocery Store, Omaha, Nebraska, 1938
#23
The Super Giant Supermarket In Rockville, Maryland, 1964
#24
Shopping In Coop Store, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1938
#25
Working At A General Store, 1973
#26
Tulip Town Market, Grove Center By James Edward Westcott, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, July 4, 1945
#27
Buying Groceries In Store At Blankenship, Indiana, 1938
#28
Food Shopping And Mini-Skirts, 1970
#29
Three Women Talking In Frozen Food Aisle Of Supermarket, 1950s
#30
Mayfair Supermarket Cookie Display, 1950s
#31
Proprietor Of Small Grocery Store, Jeanerette, Louisiana, 1938
#32
Kroger Grocery Store, Lexington Kentucky, 1947, By Lafayette Studio
#33
1920 Interior View Of A Chicago Grocery
#34
Shopping In The Cooperative Grocery Store, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1942 (Colorized)
#35
Kings Supermarket, 1950s
#36
Interior Of A Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store, 1959
#37
Box-Boy In A Small Rural Grocery Store In Southeast Idaho, 1972
#38
Dairy Counter At Clark's, A Grocery, Drug, Sundries, And Department Store And Lunch Counter, Charlotte, NC, 1962 Or 1963
#39
Scene In The Cooperative Store At Irwinville Farms, Georgia, 1938
Debra Lewis 7 years ago
Man looks like he’s saying “How dare you people charge 28 cents for this box of aspirin?!” ..... “Well, sir I just work here”
#40
Grocery Store Parking Lot, West Covina, CA, 1959
#41
At Nixon, Wife Of VP, Grocery Shopping With Her Daughters Julie And Tricia, 1958
#42
Grocery Cart, 1974
#43
Vintage Trade Ad With Ruffles Potato Chips, Flings, Etc. At A Checkout
#44
Delivery Vans, 1942 Style, Line Up Outside A Greenbelt, Maryland, Grocery Store Awaiting Customers
spirit wolf 7 years ago
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
#45
Interior Of Northland Foods, Thief River Falls, MN, In The 70's
#46
Grand Grocery Company, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942
#47
Ralph's Supermarket, Los Angeles, 1942
#48
U-Pak Kmart No Frills Supermarket Pontiac, Michigan, 1979
#49
Duke's Mayonnaise Jars Assembled In A Display At Cozart's Grocery Store, 1965
#50
Sunkist Grocery Store Display, 1940s
#51
Grocery Store Window, Dubuque, Iowa, 1940
#52
At The Grocery Store, 1950s
#53
Kroger Grocery Store, Lexington, Kentucky, 1947
#54
Cooperative Store At Greenbelt, Maryland, 1938
#55
Store Operated By John Zabala Until 1979
#56
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
#57
Boy On Porch Of General Store, Roseland, Virginia, 1938
#58
Rear Of Grocery Store, Baltimore, Maryland, 1938
#59
My Dad Doing Groceries During His High School Exchange Year In Michigan, 1962
#60
Houchens Grocery Store, Kentucky, C. 1950s
#61
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
Rich Auntie Skeleton 7 years ago
The CPI Inflation calculator says that $.67 in November 1943 is $9.69 in today's money. WOW!
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What do you think ?
Asia 7 years ago
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.
Ian Harac 7 years ago
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...
stellermatt 7 years ago
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.
diane a 7 years ago
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...
Cathy Jo Baker 7 years ago
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.
Alusair Alustriel 7 years ago
All those made me wonder, if anyone looking now at them here recognizes themselves or their family... :)
Dan Z 7 years ago
The American body has changed quite a bit. I couldn't spot any obesity in the photos.
bob 7 years ago
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...
Calypso poet 7 years ago
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!
Meike Wingelsdorf 7 years ago
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!
Isabella 7 years ago
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...
Leonie Spierings 7 years ago
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
Anna Greens 1 year ago
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
huelsabigale@gmail.com 2 years ago (edited)
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/
jose ortiz 5 years ago
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.
Peter Weir 5 years ago
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
Ruth Beaty 7 years ago
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.
Carol Emory 7 years ago
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.
WellSea7 7 years ago
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.......
Diqy Maxamed 7 years ago
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.
Caroline Espenschied 7 years ago
Human mind, paper and pencils, calculating skills.
Load More Replies... Asia 7 years ago
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.
Ian Harac 7 years ago
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... stellermatt 7 years ago
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.
diane a 7 years ago
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... Cathy Jo Baker 7 years ago
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.
Alusair Alustriel 7 years ago
All those made me wonder, if anyone looking now at them here recognizes themselves or their family... :)
Dan Z 7 years ago
The American body has changed quite a bit. I couldn't spot any obesity in the photos.
bob 7 years ago
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... Calypso poet 7 years ago
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!
Meike Wingelsdorf 7 years ago
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!
Isabella 7 years ago
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... Leonie Spierings 7 years ago
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
Anna Greens 1 year ago
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
huelsabigale@gmail.com 2 years ago (edited)
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/
jose ortiz 5 years ago
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.
Peter Weir 5 years ago
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
Ruth Beaty 7 years ago
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.
Carol Emory 7 years ago
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.
WellSea7 7 years ago
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.......
Diqy Maxamed 7 years ago
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.
Caroline Espenschied 7 years ago
Human mind, paper and pencils, calculating skills.
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