Defunct Food Stores..

[megoat]

Growing up in California we went to Alpha Beta.

[torgospizza]

For the Saint Louis MO and the immediate surrounding area I want to say Kroger's. I had thought that they were all dried up. I think they are some still farther South and I do remember seeing one on a trip through IL some time ago. Not sure of their current status though.

They're huge. In fact, they're the biggest grocery store chain in the States, and one of the top five retailers (based on sales) on the planet. The thing is, they go by lots of different names: Kroger, Fred Myers, King Soopers, Fry's, Baker's, City Market, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Dillons...here in town, the Dillons stores are called Gerbes. In the mid-late 80s, they left the St. Louis market (they still have a strong presence in Jefferson City, Columbia, and Springfield), as well as a few others like Houston, northern Michigan, Florida, and Chattanooga.

[vintage spideyfan]

A&P, Foodland, Great Scotts

[livnxxxl]

They're huge. In fact, they're the biggest grocery store chain in the States, and one of the top five retailers (based on sales) on the planet. The thing is, they go by lots of different names: Kroger, Fred Myers, King Soopers, Fry's, Baker's, City Market, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Dillons...here in town, the Dillons stores are called Gerbes. In the mid-late 80s, they left the St. Louis market (they still have a strong presence in Jefferson City, Columbia, and Springfield), as well as a few others like Houston, northern Michigan, Florida, and Chattanooga.

Thanks for the update. I did not realize that they were still around as much let alone that big of a grocery store chain. I figured some chain like Dierberg's or Schnuck's would have been much larger. That shows how little I know about the top retailers.

[jwyblejr]

Grand Union and Acme

Grand Union is still around,just not as big.

[torgospizza]

Thanks for the update. I did not realize that they were still around as much let alone that big of a grocery store chain. I figured some chain like Dierberg's or Schnuck's would have been much larger. That shows how little I know about the top retailers.

Dierberg's and Schnuck's rock St. Louis. Schnuck's even moved into the central MO area, but it's not working out for them they way they'd hoped. They want out. Honestly, I think people here are too cheap for them--Schnuck's goes for a higher class clientele and really has great customer service and good quality, and it's all about price here. People here would buy a sack of crap if they thought it came from Wal-Mart because they have it in their heads that cheap equals better. That's rarely a truism when it comes to the meal solutions industry (i.e., groceries).

I'll try to use less "sack of crap" analogies in the future, but I'm kind of tired right now.

[livnxxxl]

I think people here are too cheap for them--Schnuck's goes for a higher class clientele and really has great customer service and good quality, and it's all about price here. People here would buy a sack of crap if they thought it came from Wal-Mart because they have it in their heads that cheap equals better.

I totally agree. That is why Wal-Mart is putting a bit of a hurt on Dieberg's and Schnuck's. The vast majority of people are to quick to pick quanity of quality. IMO.

[Mikey]

Grand Union is still around,just not as big.

Really ?

After our local one close around 1985-ish I never seen another one

[jwyblejr]

Here's the link to their web site:

http://www.gufamilymarkets.com/Default.aspx

[spacecaps]

Just like the A&P, the Acme store is also still around here. I only shop there when I'm looking for giant rockets or oversized anvils though....