Vintage Supermarket/Grocery Store Pictures

[launderess]

*roller conveyors *

Oh my goodness, that does take me back! Haven't seen those for ages.

Growing up however a few of the supermarkets my parents and others we knew shopped at had those roller conveyors that lead to outside.

Of course us kids were always thinking "hmmmm, wonder what it would be like to get a ride to outside". Look on Mom's or Dad's face was "don't even think about it". So never got to experience that particular thrill. *LOL*

 

[rp2813]

What kid didn't lust after those roller conveyors?  Only a few offbeat stores around here had them.

 

I can't speak for the above mentioned Co-Op but the ones in the east bay (primarily Berkeley) and Palo Alto were real co-ops, part of the largest such operation in the nation's history with over 100K members.  I shopped at the Co-Op supermarket on Shattuck & Cedar in Berkeley with my sister once or twice (across from the only Peet's Coffee in existence at the time -- Mr. Peet himself would often wait on customers).  The Co-Op cashiers would always ask, "Are you a member?" and I presume applied some sort of discount if you were.  It all collapsed in the late '80s due to a board of directors that had been polarized for nearly 20 years.

 

When I first met Dave, he would often shop for groceries at Gemco, which was a discount store like Target but with a much more complete, full service grocery section with its own team of cashiers, likely operated by Lucky because both stores shared the same parent company.  You could advise the cashier that you wanted to pick up your groceries, and they would send your bagged order to the rear of the store.  We'd drive around back and they'd load them into the car.

 

Back in the olden days, most stores (department stores in particular) were only open one night a week, and that was always Thursday.  Otherwise they closed at 6 PM.  Sears was one of the last to start staying open late every weeknight.  It wasn't until around 1970 that stores were open on Sunday, and those hours were abbreviated.   It sounds quaint, particularly at this time of year when everybody remains open until Midnight, every night, through the bitter end of the holiday shopping frenzy.

 

[launderess]

@mrboilwash

Hahaha!

Those weren't dressing gowns, but standard sleeveless frocks and tops that were height of fashion for 1960's and part of 1970's. Nearly every well dressed (or whatever) suburban or city housewife or single woman had them.

If you've seen Bewitched you'd know Sam had them in spades.

Besides dresses there were sleeveless tops one could wear with skirts, slacks or petal pushers.

Dresses came in everything from day or evening formal (often with a matching coat), to simple frocks one wore about the house or maybe when going into town.

Even maternity frocks came sleeveless: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net...arge-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120530070055

 

[mrboilwash]

I said I`m missing dressing gowns and cigarettes (to make for an even better picture), haven`t said they`re wearing them.

 

[iowabear]

Drive through grocery loading was common with the higher-end stores when I was growing up.  They had the conveyors and covered areas for loading for protection from the elements.

 

They no longer exist here, the stores that offered it have either been rebuilt without it or closed down.  Covered drive through still exists for the pharmacies though.

 

Not sure what ended this, cost or liability, but it was certainly convenient and a lot of people used it.  When people complained that the new stores didn't have it, the management was quick to point out that they would gladly help you push your cart out to the parking lot and load if you asked.  But most people won't ask for that help.