This week's theme is grocery stores and food, based on a photo provided by Alan Burnett, the host of this blog hop, which you can view here: http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.ca/. (Follow the links on his page to view the contributions of other participants. It's great fun!) While I actually have no photos of grocery stores in my collection, and almost no photos of interest featuring food, I do have the following store interior shot I'd like to share:
While today I might walk into a Gap or a similar store to buy menswear, one hundred years ago I would have come to this establishment to buy a new shirt, new collars or collar studs, or perhaps even a new tie for 69 cents! This particular store is very neat and organized, and the tin ceiling looks immaculate. From the football pennant hanging in the background I'd guess that the store's name was Stein and Callen, and I believe the date on it is 1917. Interesting is the fact that the store clerk is wearing low-cut trousers and a belt, which became more popular after World War I as men became accustomed to uniforms and began to move away from high-cut trousers with suspenders.
I scoured my collection for something food related, and found this happy-looking fellow:
If I'm reading his insignia correctly, he was a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and if I had to guess, he got some very good news about a new addition at home. I'd say his buddies detailed him to "dig up" some chow for the new mouth to feed, hence the package of Pillsbury's Enriched Farina and the clever visual pun!
That's funny, it was very clever, and he looks very happy about it too. I do enjoy looking inside these great old stores. There's always something that was necessary, but many times out of date now, but every now and again you'll see something and you wonder what in the world is it! Not at all like shopping at Gap, right! :) Nice post, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe men's store reminds me of Rogers, the men's store where I used to shop as a kid for my dad for Christmas. Back then a tie was cheap, and I'd buy it as a little extra something. Now ties are so expensive that they ARE the gift (as if any man really wants one as a gift!). Rogers remained in business until about 10 years ago. I miss that shop.
ReplyDeleteMust have been a wonderful place, Wendy. They have such a special atmosphere. You're right about the cost of ties today, too!!
DeleteYou're probably right about the meaning of that second picture but it's pretty unusual. I wonder why the old stores always looks so gloomy, even though they were impeccably laid out with well-trained staff who knew their stock and their customers.
ReplyDeleteThe store is impeccable, isn't it? I suppose the gloominess is a matter of lighting.... By the way, love your post this week. Folks, check it out: http://hangingonmyword.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/from-fish-stalls-to-fiestas.html
DeleteThanks for the plug Michael!
DeleteBack in the 1950s we had two men's stores very similar to the one you've shown, but staffed by men in suits. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for looking in, Bob.
DeleteGreat choices for today! In the first one, it is such a long, dark and narrow space. Only windows at the end. It was probably a great store, but I'm not sure that I would enjoy working there. The guy in the second picture is so cute and happy.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
Thanks, Kathy. He does look delighted, doesn't he?
DeleteMaybe the guy with the box of farina was the baby model for the cereal. He and the baby look remarkably similar.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! That never occurred to me! Good one, Kristin!
DeleteIt is wonderful having you on board Sepia Saturday. I can just about remember old shops where the clothing was still kept in glass fronted cabinets and the like rather than been hung from ubiquitous rails. Less efficient, I would imagine, but life was led at a more leisurely pace back then.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan. I'm very glad I discovered Sepia Saturday, and I'm already looking forward to the next one!
DeleteI can easily imagine being in that shop, hearing footsteps clunking across the wooden boards, the darkness in corners where little light shines. There is an old hardware store nearby that reminds me of this.
ReplyDeleteTwo great photos. The shop has the tin ceiling panels which can still be found as the last relic of past times in today's remodeled retail and office spaces. The quantity of merchandise may have been small, but I'd bet a successful shopkeeper would always know the sizes of his clientele and how many of each to keep on hand.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos this week. I've always liked the old glass display cases that apppear in the first image. Reminds of several stores here in town who have vintage glass display cases that came from a early 1900s restaurant here in town that closed long ago. I like to see old items repurposed.
ReplyDeleteI can remember stores like that - though not as far back as 1917, I hasten to add! It reminds me of a men's wear store in Lytham, Lancashire - the lighting is much better now, but it still retains the air of solid wooden drawers and cupboards. It could also be the Co-op store in the 1970's in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. How retailing has changed! A great choice of photo for the theme.
ReplyDeleteHe sure looked happy about the news, but I believe babies are quite content with their mother's milk in the beginning. I hope the expiration date wasn't too soon...
ReplyDelete;)~
HUGZ