Talking about grocery stores is fun; if only shopping could be!
We heard earlier this week that the SaveSmart on Route 74 on Dover Township is closing.
That reminded me that I’d asked recently about your grocery-store memories, such as when that same SaveSmart location was a Spangler’s grocery store, and more recently a Shur-Fine.
So I was very interested in what you’d have to say.
Bill Landes writes, “My Grandmother’s choice was always Kline’s in Pleasureville,” and adds, “For us it was Sechrists on South George Street.”
Meanwhile, says John Loeper, “My mother would always want to shop … at the Safeway on W. Market street in West York. It later became a discount shoe store of some sort.” That’s now Super Shoes, which ALSO used to be somewhere else, I think?
Newer commenter Jack Bupp tried out our new Ask Joan feature and asked me a question about Bupp’s Grocery, which I’m going to in turn ask you. He writes, “Does anybody remember a grocery store out in Dog Town in West York? It was located at 1473 Salem Road. My Dad owned that store. Mom would cook meals for the guys that stopped by that worked at Zinn’s Quarry at noon time. Dad passed away in 1958 and the store was opened under another name.” Jack is seeking any information you have, so while you’re free to post comments, you can also reply to him directly at bupp1@earthlink.net; I know he would appreciate it.
Commenter Scott C. brings up one I didn’t know, though my mom remembered it.
Scott says, “I remember going grocery shopping with my mom when I was very little at the Weis Markets on Bannister Street across from what is now the West York Middle School. The Weis later moved to its current White Street location and Wellspan now owns the old Weis. Sometimes we would go to the Giant near the fairgrounds, which is now referred to as ‘the Ghetto Giant.’ I also remember going to Jay’s on Maryland Avenue to get a cake for my grandpa’s birthday. The cashier dropped the cake so we had to get another one. Now we mainly do our grocery shopping at the Giant at Delco.” (Scott – maybe I’ll run into you there!)
Jo writes, “There was the grocery store in Shiloh that I cannot remember the name, across from what used to be Hamme’s garage. The owners lived in an apartment above the store and I remember a daughter being in the store sometimes. My mother would make me walk down there to get something needed for dinner that evening. The store sold mostly Shurfine products which can still be found in some stores today. That building now houses a dry cleaning business on one side and another business on the other side. The former grocery store took up both sides.” (I’m sure this is before my time, and probably before my mom came to York County in 1976? Neither of us can place this one!)
Back on the other end of town, commenter Skipper says, “I remember Streavig’s Grocery Store in the 400 block of East Main St. in Dallastown. Unfortunately a fire leveled the store. Turkey Hill built on the site but closed and is now Sal’s of Little Italy. I also remember Fife’s Grocery Store on the square in Dallastown. It now is Roma’s Pizza. Much earlier, like the 40’s was Ryer’s Grocery Store on northwest corner of Main and Park Sts in Dallastown. I believe James Tyson took the ownership in the 50s.”
An always-fun commenter, Ben Lightner, says, “I remember going the Giant on Market St. across for the fairgrounds when I was a little boy. My great grandmother was a seamstress and actually made the uniforms for the York High band in the 20’s and 30’s. Anyway she made me a Superman cape and I remember flying through the Giant like Superman. Everyone looked at me as if there was something wrong with me. I didn’t care I was having fun. I just thought I would share that.” I’ve said it before… Ben sounds like he was a TON of fun as a kid!
John Woltman says, “Does anybody remember the AG store on Reynolds Mill Road (now Romberger’s Appliance store)? I see the large sign on the side of the building (going west) every day. Also, I grew up living one street behind Meckley’s Grocery Store (2400 block of South Queen Street) in Spry. Ran up to that store for my Mom more times than I can remember. Russ and Mary were wonderful people. And, Snyder’s was just a few blocks south (now, Anna’s Upholstery).”
Brother-in-law Mike writes, “I also remember the Food Fair on South George St. My grandmother lived right outside the back door on Boundary Ave. I also remember always going to Carl’s Newsstand for the paper, milk, and bread. I grew up on Cleveland Ave. and South Beaver St. so I have many memories of those blocks from Carl’s Newsstand south to York Hospital including Sechrist’s and Dimelow’s gas station on South George St.” (And Bill L. chimed back in on that note, saying, “Carl’s Newstand was run by Carl Cassle or Cassel and his son Eddie — they would come to your car on the curb and sell you the Dispatch, a Baltimore paper, or whatever paper you wanted. Their store couldn’t have been more than 20 feet wide.”)
Back to groceries, I have to thank my mother again, who also came up with a couple others… she says that somewhere, there was an A&P… we also talked about Agway, not for groceries but for animal feed, which we used to need for our pigs, chickens and other various livestock!
Do you remember any or all of these? Please do let me know!
