Balducci’s is leaving. Sprouts is arriving. Big Y is nearly 1 1/2 years old. Stop & Shop has been here a long time.
Before all those supermarkets and grocery stores — plus Trader Joe’s, Fresh Market and Wholes Foods, of course — Westporters’ shopping choices were different.
A&P, First National, Gristede’s — those were the go-to spots.
They were downtown, or close to it. The Westport Food Center was smack in the middle, on Main Street.
In 1948, Westport artist Stevan Dohanos painted this scene there.
Do you recognize anyone? Do you have any memories of the Westport Food Center — or any other long-gone grocery store?
If you were born long after: What seems different — and the same — about today’s shopping experience?
Click “Comments” below. (Hat tip: Anthony Dohanos)
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Mac’s Market was a meat market at the corner Maple Avenue and the post Road. I believe it opened in the late 40’s.
Do you remember about 100 or so feet behind the store there was a little shack that was about the size of a place you’d keep a lawnmower in? Somebody lived in there and I don’t think it had a bathroom or running water. Anyone remember who lived in there? I know he was really old.
I remember Mac’s had five cent popsicles right by the door. I remember walking by Mac’s when I went to Long Lots, and stopped by for a popsicle sometimes.
Definitely remember The Westport Food Center. My mother knew all of the great butchers and kept them busy. The produce people were very nice and I sort of remember that they may have lived above the store.
Don’t forget Food Fair, which was across the Post Road from First National, and Grand Union. I used to buy my mom’s cigarettes there! And Manero’s butcher shop. I miss their hamburger…
Andrea Harrison Botelho
I recall that the grocery shopping scene in 1975’s “The Stepford Wives was shot at Waldbaum’s in Post Plaza. Photos of it abound online.
Did you buy vegetables from A&P? If you did, they came from Backiel’s farm because we stocked that store with much of their produce. ( I’m talking before 1953.)
My father’s house was on Crescent Road, a very short walking distance to Grand Union, so of course we frequented that store. We also went to First National where, as a little kid, I loved the little toys/knick knacks you could get at those vending-machine-type of dispensers in the entryway. Ever the bargain hunter, my father frequented all the stores in town for whoever had the best price on what he was buying, including venturing over the border for Stew Leonard’s. What little kid didn’t love that place?! (in the 70’s it was a lot less hyper and gimmicky than it is now…it still had a farm-y feeling about it then…being able to watch the milk get bottled was The Best!)
What about Charles Market ? First hamburger patty maker around. Our family’s go to store
Also, don’t forget about Peter’s Bridge Market in Bridge Square which was a Saugatuck grocery store for many years. They had a great butcher shop and for its relatively small size carried all the basics and then some. Very nice folks worked there too.
My Mom shopped at First National and often went down to Franklin Simon to buy clothes. I’d hang out in between at Compo Acres Pharmacy and look at the magazines and paperback books.
You left out Food Fair which was in the same shopping center as Brooks Hirsch and across the street from First National and down the hill from A&P.
The young, blond woman in the painting might be Deborah Reynolds. She and her family lived on Whitney Street in an 18?? house. She appeared on the many women’s magazine covers in the 1940/’50s. She was well known for her beautiful face.
I second Anne Pfeiffer re: Mac’s Meat Market. I still have the can/bottle opener from Mac’s, Unfortunately most of the printing has been worn off but I do so fondly remember going there with my mom.
I remember Mac’s too. Sawdust on the floor. And Mac (McCarthy) gave kids slices of bologna.
The building (corner of Post Road and Maple Avenue North) is now occupied by a dry cleaner, I think.
We were Mac’s meat market family as well. His cat gave birth to several white kittens in his shop, and we took one home and named her Meggie. We had her for some years. The bologna slices were greatly loved.
I used to buy a can of Coke and a bag of Fritos for lunch at the Food Center when I worked across the street at Selective Eye. I think it cost 50 cents back then (1977)
Agree ,going to Macs’ with my mom for the slices of bologna..:-)
My first job when I moved to Westport in 1952, was at the First National occupied the spot where Trader Joes is now. Moved onto Gristede’s in 53 and part time until I graduated Staples in June of that year. Nobody has mentioned Economy Food Store and adjoining Economy Liquor, only a couple of doors away from Westport Food Center. That was owned by the Friedson family. Charles Market was a very popular meat market. Ben Franklin store had a great lunch counter and my bride of 67 years worked at Hart’s 5&10. My Mom, my Mother-in-law, cousin Ginny and yours truly all worked at Klein’s at one time or another. All the grocery stores on Main Street were friendly competitors. If John Eickhoff ran out of an item at Gristede’s, he would send one of us down to the Food Center or Economy who would happily pass along the item. Dorain’s Pharmacy and Colgan’s Pharmacy were friendly places. I purchased my bride’s engagement ring from Mac McMillan and paid for it, a couple of bucks a week until done. No paper work. Mac just told me to pay what I could afford. Draft beer was a dime at the Townly and the Ships when I became old enough to drink legally, The Good Old Days!!!