40 Vintage Photos Bring Back Supermarket Memories Through Decades

   

Supermarkets proliferated across Canada and the United States with the growth of automobile ownership and suburban development after World War II.

 
 
Inside supermarkets through decades
 
Most North American supermarkets are located in suburban strip shopping centers as an anchor store along. Kroger is perhaps the most nationally oriented supermarket chain in the United States but it has preserved most of its regional brands, including Ralphs, City Market, King Soopers, Fry’s, Smith’s, and QFC.
 
In Canada, the largest such company is Loblaw, which operates stores under a variety of banners targeted to different segments and regions, including Fortinos, Zehrs, No Frills, the Real Canadian Superstore, and Loblaws, the foundation of the company. Sobeys is Canada’s second largest supermarket with locations across the country.
 
Take a look at these vintage photos to see what the food shopping experience looked like back from the 1950s to 1980s.
 
 
Woolworths Department Store, Main St, Southbridge, circa 1953

 

 
Woolworths Department Store, Main St, Southbridge, circa 1953

 

 
Cracker section, 1955

 

 
Kroger and strip mall, 1955

 

 
Mother shopping with daughter at Piggly Wiggly, circa 1960s

 

 
Shopping with mom, 1960

 

 
Young boy paying for groceries, circa mid-1960s

 

 
Picking out oranges, 1962

 

 
Dallas Kroger’s, 1965

 

 
Family shopping, 1966

 

 
Pudding aisle, 1966

 

 
Space age shopping, 1967

 

 
Food shopping, 1968

 

 
Kroger grocery store, 1968

 

Couple in dairy section, 1969

 

Happy Foods parade, circa late 1960s

 

Food shopping and mini-skirts, 1970

 

Graceland shopping center, circa 1970s

 

Grocery shopping small girl with mom, circa 1970s

 

Shopping with grandma (Bazooka Gum!). Also original “Kung Fu” TV Show poster in background, circa 1970s

 

Checkout lane, 1972

 

Checkout lane, 1972

 

Checkout lane, 1972

 

Checkout lane, 1972

 

Ice cream section, 1973

 

Food shopping in 1974

 

Alpha Beta supermarket, 1975

 

Shopping for groceries, 1975

 

Kohl's supermarket, 1976

 

Shopping in wine section, circa 1976

 

Supermarket checkout lanes, 1976

 

Shopping for peaches in a halter top, 1977

 

Finast supermarket, circa 1980s

 

Supermarket cashiers, 1980

 

Check out lane, 1981

 

 
Fruit section, 1981

 

 
Shopping for pop, 1982

 

Stocking Tylenol, 1983

 

“Total Discounts Everyday!”, 1984

 

 
Safeway, 1989