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Even More Stores

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of every supermarket chain ever, nor even of most of them. It is a work in progress. There is more attention to North Carolina and California, because these are the areas I know. I'm also more interested in LARGER regional and national chains and chains with some HISTORY; independents, very small chains, and those in operation only for the past decade or so will probably not be represented here.

If the store you're looking for is not listed here, it may have its own page.

Please contact me if you'd like to write a capsule for this section.

Albers

Midwestern chain acquired in 1955 by Colonial Stores. This chain was noteworthy for haveing been the first in America to register a trademerk that included the term "Super Markets".

Andronico's Park & Shop

Begun as a general-purpose chain in Berekely CA, these stores now operate as high-end gourmet markets around the Bay Area.

Andronico's Website

Basha's

Phoenix-based chain.

Basha's Website

Bi-Lo

South Carolina chain formerly owned by Ahold. Also owns Bruno's. Sold many stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers in 2005, which was the beginning of the Southern Family Markets chain.

Bi-Lo Website

Big Bear (North Carolina/Virginia)

Greensboro chain, started by George Hutchens, began operations in the early 1950s, changed its name to "Food World" about 1972 (possibly due to pressure or expansion plans which would caused conflict with the Ohio Big Bear chain), and was merged into Harris-Teeter in 1984.

Big Bear (Ohio/West Virginia)

The first real supermarket in the Midwest opened in 1934. After many years of innovation, Big Bear was acquired by Penn Traffic in 1989. The chain went under in late 2003, with stores sold to Giant Eagle and Kroger, among others.

Big Bear (Southern California)

Founded by John Mabee with his first store, Johnny's Market on 43rd Street in San Diego, in the 1940s. The chain grew to over 30 stores before being sold in the early 1990s.

Big Bear (Washington)

This chain in the Seattle area was acquired by Lucky Stores in the late 1950s or early 1960s as its entry into the region.

Big Chain

Louisina-based chain with distinctive architecture.

Big Star Foods (see Colonial Stores)

Big Y

Massachusttes chain. Originally operated as Y Cash Stores.

Big Y Website

Black's

California Central Valley chain with locations in Stockton and Fresno among others. Defunct by the late 1950s.

Bruno's

Deep south chain which operates under several names and is now owned by Bi-Lo.

Bruno's Website

Buttrey Foods (see Lucky Stores)

Canal Villere

Louisiana chain named after the location of its first store. Eventually purchased by National Stores and retooled as an economy outlet. Many National outlets in Louisiana were rebranded to this name in the 1970s.

Cardinal Stores (see Lucky Stores)

Carr's

Alaska chain now owned by Safeway.

Chatham

Former Detroit-area chain.

Cub Foods

Supervalu-owned warehouse franchise seen in various parts of the country.

Cub Foods Website

Delchamps

Louisiana and Gulf Coast chain. Sold to Winn-Dixie along with Jitney Jungle in 2001.

Dillon's

Longtime Kansas chain currently owned by Kroger.

Dillon's Website

Dixie Home Stores (see Winn-Dixie)

Dominicks

Illinois chain now owned by Safeway.

Eagle Food Centers/Eagle Country Markets (see Lucky Stores)

El Rancho

I don't know much about these stores, which apparently operated in random shopping centers in the western states. I have a suspicion it may have been a franchise operation.

FAD (Food at a Discount) (see Alpha Beta)

Farmer Jack (see A&P)

Finast (see First National Stores)

Food Bank

Originally a chain of stores in Fresno, operating from the 1940s to the early 1970s, this name was also used in the late 1970s and early 1980s on some stores owned by Save-Mart in the Stockton area.

Food-A-Rama

Baltimore area chain which grew from a corner store established in 1947. First supermarket opened in 1960. Purchased several Big Valu stores from Penn Fruit in 1976, fourteen Pantry Pride stores in 1981 from Food Fair, and ten Basics wareouse stores and two Grand Union stores in Washington. By 1985, when the company was sold to Super Rite Foods, it was the second largest chain in Baltimore, with 48 stores under the Food-A-Rama, Super Super, Cost-saver Food Warehouse, and Basics Food Warehouse names.

Food-a-Rama History Website

Food 4 Less

Franchised warehouse operation, operated by Fleming Foods in Northern California and Ralphs in Southern California. Other owners nationwide.

Food4Less Website

Food Emporium

Upscake store brand initiated by New York's Shopwell, later acquired by A&P.

Food Lion

Established in Salisbury NC as Food Town, and pioneered the "every day low price" concept. Stores renamed in the 1970s to avoid competition with existing Food Town chains in new market areas. Purchased Hannaford Brothers in 1998.

Food Lion Website

Food Town (NC, see Food Lion)

Food World (North Carolina)

New name for Big Bear (North Carolina) as of 1972. Acquired by Harris-Teeter in 1984.

Food World (Deep South) (see Bruno's)

Foodland

I believe this is a franchise concept, as I've seen locations scattered around the country, all with the same (or similar) logo, but all with a rather "independent" feel. There are several locations in Fresno, most of them in locations originally operated by other chains.

Foodland (PA)

Chain of small stores usually in either run-down urban areas, or in small towns.  Acquired remants of Thorofare chain in 1982 based out of Pittsburgh.  Known to operate in PA, MD, and WV.

FoodsCo

Warehouse stores operated by Ralphs in northern California. Many were former Food4Less franchises.

Fred Meyer

Innovative Portland chain which spread across the Pacific northwest with combination stores. Acquired Ralphs in 1998 and was acquired by Kroger the same year.

Fred Meyer Website

Fry's

Originated in the San Francisco Bay area, and spread to Arizona and Nevada, among other places. Acquired by Kroger in the 1980s. Northern California stores sold to Save-Mart in 1989. Other stores remain in operation. Fry's Electronics stores were started by the same family and use a similar logo, but are now unrelated otherwise.

More to come.

Fry's Website

Furr's

Texas and New Mexico chain, established 1929 and recently acquired by Fleming Foods.

Gemco (see Lucky Stores)

Gelson's

Southern California chain which also operates the only remaining Mayfair Market.

Gelson's Website

Genuardi's

Pennsylvania chain owned by Safeway.

Genuardi's Website

Giant (Pennsylvania)

Based in Carlisle, PA with a strong presence around the capital area of PA.  Purchased Martin's Food Markets in 1960's and purchased by Ahold in 1980.  Martin's and Giant comprise over 150 stores throughout 4 states, which penetrate into Philadelphia and Baltimore trade areas. Giant stores of Maryland are a separate division of Ahold, purchased in 1998.

Giant Website

Giant Eagle

Pittsburgh chain established in 1931, which has spread into Ohio and Maryland.

Giant Eagle Website

Great Scott

Former Detroit-area chain.

H-E-B

Stands for H.E. Butt Grocery Co. Large Texas chain.

H-E-B Website

H.G. Hill

Longtime Nashville chain.

H.G. Hill Website

Hannaford

New England and southeastern chain with roots dating to 1883. Currently a part of Delhaize, which also owns Food Lion.

Hannaford Website

Hy-Vee

Midwestern chain, centered in Iowa.

Hy-Vee Website

Hughes Markets

Southern California chain eventually purchased by Ralphs.

Ingles

Established 1963, centered in the Carolinas and Georgia. Built distinctive, yet gaudy yellow and orange fronted stores throughout 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.  Ingles is now redefining itself, building bigger stores in bigger areas including expansion to the Atlanta Metro, and becoming more of a big-city type player.

Ingles Website

Jewel Tea Company

Established in Chicago, late 1800s. Acquired by American Stores in 1984, by Albertsons in 1998 and by Supervalu in 2006. Currently operates many Jewel-Osco combination stores.

Jewel Website

Jim Dandy Markets (see Lucky Stores)

Jitney Jungle

Deep south chain purchased by Winn-Dixie.

King Kullen

Supermarket pioneer. Widely regarded as America's first volume supermarket. Chain still operates in the northeast.

King Kullen Website

King Soopers

Denver-based chain owned by Kroger.

King Soopers Website

Kohl's

Former Wisconsin chain owned by A&P in its final years.

Kwik-Chek (see Winn-Dixie)

MacMarr/Mutual/Modern Stores (see Safeway)

Margaret Ann Stores (see Winn-Dixie)

Market Basket

Southern california chain owned by Kroger Stores. Disappeared in the 1970s or 1980s. Not to be confused with the currently-operating Texas chain of the same name, nor with the defunct Seattle chain.

Martha Washington Stores

West coast chain of the 1920s.

McMillan's

Fresno chain of the 1950s and 1960s, purchased by Save-Mart.

Meijer

Family-owned midwestern superstore chain.

Meijer Website

Memco (see Lucky Stores)

Nob Hill Foods (see Raley's)

P&C Foods

Upstate New York chain established in 1942. Good history section on their website.

P&C Website

Pathmark

New York City chain, also operates in Philadelphia.

Pathmark Website

Pavilions (see Vons)

Price Chopper

Upstate New York chain that started under the name Central Markets.

Price Chopper Website

Public Food

Chain which existed in San Francisco and Northern California prior to 1930. Some stores purchased by Safeway.

Purity Stores (Massachusettes)

Quality Food Centers (QFC)

Pacific Northwest chain currently owned by Kroger.

QFC Website

Raley's

Northern California and Nevada chain. Also owns Bel-Air and Nob Hill Foods, as of the 1990s.

Raley's Website

Randall's

Texas chain currently owned by Safeway. Also operates Tom Thumb stores.

Randall's Website

Red & White

Voluntary chain established by independent grocers to compete more efficiently with large chains.

Sanitary Stores (see Safeway)

Save-A-Lot (see SuperValu)

Schnuck's

St. Louis based family-owned chain founded in 1939. Currently owns 102 stores in the Midwest and South. Merged with Bettendorf-Ropp in 1968. Bought out the St. Louis area National stores in 1995. Bought Memephis area Sessel's from Albertson's in 2002 (since renamed Schnucks). Merged with Logli's (Rockford IL) in 2003.

Thanks to Chip Strahl.

Schnuck's Website

Schwegmann's

Former New Orleans retailer.

Shaw's

New England chain owned by Albertsons.

Shaw's Website

Shop-Rite

Shop-Rite Website

Shop & Save (see SuperValu)

Skaggs Cash Stores (see Safeway)

Skaggs Alpha Beta (see Alpha Beta)

Smith's Food and Drug

Southwestern chain owned by Kroger. Stores in Southern California were originally known as Food Giant, and later Smith's Food King. Sold out to Albertsons in the 1980s, and then tried, unsuccessfully, to re-enter Southern California market in the 1990s. Currently based in Salt Lake City.

Official Smith's Website

Standard Supermarkets

Midwestern chain, based in Indiana. Eventually became a part of National Tea.

Stater Brothers

Los Angeles-based chain founded by Cleo and Leo Stater in Yucaipa, California in the mid 30's, now headquarted in Colton, California, has around 100 or so stores.

Official Stater Brothers Website

Supervalu

Grocery distributor and operator of branded stores in the upper midwest. Also operates Cub Foods, Shop & Save, and Save-A-Lot stores, among others. Some stores are franchised. Purchased the majority of Albertsons assets in 2006, including Jewel, Acme, and Shaw's.

Supervalu Website

Super Saver (see Lucky Stores)

Table Supply Stores (see Winn-Dixie)

Thriftimart

Southern California chain dating back to at least the 1940s. Purchased Smart & Final Wholesale in 1953. Liqiudated or merged its remaining stores into Smart & Final in 1984.

Thorofare

Chain centered around Pittsburgh and Youngstown OH. Eventually expanded to Cincinnati.  Also operated under trade names of Evans and Pennyfare.  Dismantled by 1982, remainder of Pittsburgh stores sold to Foodland.  Small stores even by standards of the day.

There's a good collection of Thorofare photos and memorabilia at the Ohio Grocery site.

Tom Thumb (see Randall's)

Tradewell Stores

Washington state chain which no longer exists.

Warehouse Economy Outlet (WEO) (see A&P)

Top's Friendly Markets

Midwestern chain owned by Ahold. Operates many former First National stores.

Official Top's Website

Wegman's

Large northeastern chain.

Official Wegman's Website

Waldbaum's (see A&P)

Weis

Based in Sunbury, PA with stores in 6 states.  Chain dates to 1912, and operates stores under the King's, Mr. Z's, and Cressler's banners.  Chain also over 150 stores, proving dominant in capital area of PA.  Tried expanding to DC and Baltimore in 1980's but the division has recently collapsed.  Operates in PA, MD, WV, VA, NY and NJ.

Weis History Site

Western States

Early San Francisco and California chain. Disappeared by 1930.

White Front

Western discount and grocery retailer which disappeared in the 1970s. Few details. Some stores may have had Safeway locations attached or within. Stores liquidated in 1973 so parent company could concentrate on its other chain: Toys-R-Us.

Winco

Employee-owned west coast discounter.

Winn & Lovett (see Winn-Dixie)

Wrigley's

Former Detroit-area chain which also operated stors in Texas. Owned by Allied Stores, which also briefly used the name on several rebranded Kmart Foods outlets in 1976. Eventually sold out to Kroger.