Pittsburgh's historic grocers (Lebanon, Swissvale, Dormont: gym, floor, stores)

[I_Like_Spam]

There used to be a lot more grocers, back in the day. This is a list of just the chain stores, we had a lot of mom and pop outfits as well.

The advent of the automobile, and the advantages of larger stores is what killed them.

Of course most people had cars since the 20's, but it didn't become universal until after WWII and most families only had 1 vehicle until the 1970's.

Pittsburgh Chain Grocers, 1925-1975 : Groceteria.com | Supermarket History

[Goinback2011]

Wow, just looking at the list on W. Liberty and Potomac Avenues is pretty amazing, and that doesn't include the little independent grocers. Most of the chains were gone by 1955, but the independents were still around, as well as butchers and bakeries.

By the 1960's, the only chains I recall in Dormont were a small Giant Eagle on Potomac and the larger Kroger's in Banksville plaza where Kuhn's is today. There was an A&P on the Mt. Lebanon side of McFarland Rd too, but it disappeared early. The list shows it gone by 1950, but I remember it, so that can't be right.

[trotter_rej]

I remember the building at 1400 S Braddock near the Edgewood/Swissvale 376 exit, which is now a UPMC facility on the top floor and some kind of gym on the lower level, being a grocery store (Foodland I think) at one time. Was it perhaps built after 1975, as I don't see it on the list?