A&P was still a pretty big deal when I was growing up, although it wasn't the grocery store we normally shopped at (we were Winn-Dixie folk). After many years of financial problems, the chain finally went out of business in 2015. You can read about the rise, decline and fall here.
I can't say that I remember this grocery chain, Paco. Then again, where I was raised was kinda sorta out in the sticks.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the case these days. But back when, definitely so.
Jeff: I can still remember, back in my home town (when I was a little feller), that the only groceries were mom & pop independents. Now there's nothing but chains: Food Lion, Harris Teeter, and so forth. Plus numerous convenience stores.
ReplyDeleteI should point out, when I refer to my home town, I mean the town where I was born, and where my grandparents lived (Albemarle); I used to spend summers with them. The town where I did most of my growing up (Cary) did have chain grocery stores from as far back as I can remember.
ReplyDeleteWe had them here, when I was very young. Like, less than ten years old, probably. I vaguely remember going there with my mom, but it wasn't her main grocery store, so not very many times. The thing I remember most is that my dad had an aunt named Pearn, and someone (I forget who it was) told me one day that Aunt Pearn was once married to a man named Amos, and that A&P stood for 'Amos & Pearn'. I believed it for a while, till my mom laughed at me when I asked her about it. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat story!
ReplyDeleteMy Aunt E in Pennsylvania shopped at A&P. I'd go with her, and still vividly remember a very large old coffee grinder in the front of store as you walked in, and the wonderful scent of freshly ground coffee.
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