Scanning Around With Gene: My Dad and the Super Market

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I was recently looking through some old boxes of memorabilia from my dad and came across a bunch of company newsletters from when he worked for a chain of Southern California super markets called Market Basket. He was fairly typical of the post-war generation in that he went to work for the company in his 20s and stayed for over 25 years, working his way up from a checkout clerk to a vice president, holding many different jobs along the way. Thanks for indulging me today as I explore these newsletters and a little bit about my dad.

The company newsletters date from 1949 to 1963, and for many years my dad was a local reporter for one of the stores, contributing little news items about the employees and happenings at that particular store. At its peak, the chain had about 60 stores around Southern California and was a fixture in many neighborhoods, having first opened stores in the 1930s. Needless to say, that’s where we shopped when I was a kid. Click on any image for a larger version.

From the looks of things in the newsletter, my dad was a bit of a ham – he appeared in a number of pictures over the years for various reasons. Here he is shown (far right) with some other employees in a country-themed display they set up for Del Monte canned fruits and vegetables, posing as a cow poke. And below that are two pictures of my dad receiving gifts for various accomplishments – first a radio and then (second from the right) a coffee maker.

The thing I remember most about my dad being in the super market business was attending the various new store grand openings. Back in those days a new super market was a big deal for a neighborhood and so the openings were quite the celebration. Here is a shot of a ground-breaking for a new store and several ribbon-cutting ceremonies, complete with local mayors, county supervisors and other dignitaries.

But none of the official grand opening business was interesting to me – I was there for the rides and attractions that were usually set up. I specifically remember the Indian Chief and the balloon guy, who made animal figures and funny balloon hats for the “small fry” in attendance.

My dad, it turned out, also contributed cartoons and some artwork to the newsletter. Here’s a cartoon he did when he worked at store #17 in the drug department. I think you had to work in a market to get the humor.

Super markets were fairly new back then – most local markets were smaller and focused on specialty items like meat or produce. So a big new modern market was something to be proud of.

The newsletter is full of pictures of employees doing their job, from warehouse workers to clerks to deli workers. As you can imagine, they all look pretty happy and eager to serve customers. I actually don’t doubt that it was a good company to work for – my dad certainly liked it for most of his career.

Artwork and various other small features in the newsletter point to good behavior, proper work habits and even how to fight communism (and lots of anti-union propaganda).

Here’s a shot of checker Mrs. Bonnie Lee Haynes, who was named Queen of the Pacific Coast region in the 1963 International Checker of the Year competition. She went on to win second place overall in the finals, and won a trip to Hawaii.

In a special Christmas issue of the newsletter devoted to the children of employees, my sisters and I appeared in a spread in photos my dad took. That’s me in the middle, with my sisters Marguerite on the left and Kathleen on the right.

Eventually my dad moved up from the store level to the spacious and modern corporate offices, shown here when they opened in 1957.

Sadly, the Market Basket chain was purchased in 1963 by a larger super market company, Kroger, and many of the local executives ended up losing their jobs for one reason or another. My dad never fully recovered from that and floundered in his career as a result. But for the many years he worked there, I know he really enjoyed it and found it fulfilling. These days not many people spend 25 or more years working for the same company, but it was not unusual back then. I feel certain my dad would have gladly retired working in the super market business, but the reality of modern corporate takeovers and bottom-line practicality forced him to look elsewhere.

I’m glad I have these few reminders of my dad’s time at Market Basket and a little glimpse at his daily work life, which was mostly a mystery to me as a child.

 

Gene Gable has spent a lifetime in publishing, editing and the graphic arts and is currently a technology consultant and writer. He has spoken at events around the world and has written extensively on graphic design, intellectual-property rights, and publishing production in books and for magazines such as Print, U&lc, ID, Macworld, Graphic Exchange, AGI, and The Seybold Report. Gene's interest in graphic design history and letterpress printing resulted in his popular columns "Heavy Metal Madness" and "Scanning Around with Gene" here on CreativePro.com.
  • Anonymous says:

    Gene
    this was a fun and interesting article – it’s making me nostalgic! Where I live it was the Me Too and Eagle grocery stores that I remember from childhood; they too have passed into the pages of history. Those were the days . . . SuperWalmart just isn’t the same.

    I always appreciate your blog with it’s visual snapshots of our national cultural history – it’s one of my favorites! Keep up the good work : )

  • Anonymous says:

    Awsome! Not to much out there on grocery retailing! (I make grocery circulars for a living)

  • Anonymous says:

    Gene –

    I really enjoyed this article, what an interesting look at careers in America during the postwar era. Thanks for sharing your Dad’s story as well.

    Tyler Watkins

  • Anonymous says:

    If it’s Friday, then it’s Scanning Around With Gene. Another great blog post, Gene.

  • Anonymous says:

    Thank you, Gene! This was so much fun to read, as usual. I love ending my week with your articles!

  • Anonymous says:

    After I saw this post I realized that Market Basket is still around. I work for a label converter in st. louis and we print labels for the Market Basket store brand products.

  • Anonymous says:

    Thank you for sharing your memories of Market Basket. My grandfather, Richard Doleshal, was one of the founders. He owned a chain of meat markets with his brother called Doleshal Bros. Meat Markets in the Pasadena/Altadena area. He merged with a produce guy and a grocery guy to form Market Bastket-or so goes the story. He passed away in 1952 but the family still has film of Rose Parades of the late 40’s, early 50’s of Market Basket floats in different parades. My family use to shop at the Market Basket on Rosemead and Foothill and for years you could see the old properties on Lake Ave, Fair Oaks and Lincoln Avenues in Altadena. Great memories. Thanks!

  • Anonymous says:

    isn’t that first Market Basket photo the one in Seal Beach? (or was!) love your stuff!

  • Anonymous says:

    I thoroughly enjoyed the humor, history and artwork in your story. Keep writing.

  • Anonymous says:

    Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your family history Gene, as always very interesting and fun. I like how happy your Dad looked as he was awarded that Cory coffee machine, I’d love to have one myself. I also like the photo of the man in front of the sign that reads ‘a good business reputation… is rooted in the solid ground of customer satisfaction.’

  • Jay J Nelson says:

    Wow, Gene! I knew we had a lot in common, but didn’t know this. My dad worked for the Ralphs and Alpha Beta grocery stores in the L.A. area his entire life. He was a meat cutter, and raised a family of four kids, weathering union strikes and other economic madness. I’m so proud of him!

  • Terri Stone says:

    I have no connection to the Market Basket, southern California, or grocery stores in general, but this was a great read regardless—as always!

    Thank you for another entertaining article, Gene.

    Terri Stone

  • Anonymous says:

    Gene, thank you for your uplifting story about your Dad and how it was then. So many young people today and some not so young, will never experience the times you wrote about.
    Stasha Novak

  • Dottie Maier says:

    It was great to read your blog about Market Basket and all the interesting history. I starting working at the Redondo Beach store in May 1971 and retired in Oct 2005. I worked at several stores through the years but spent 25 years at the store in Hawaiian Gardens. Kroger owned the chain when I started but in 1982 we became Vons. I had a great career with the grocery business. In those days it was a really good job. Plus I met and married the love of my life at Market Basket. So going down memory lane was pretty special. Thank you Gene!

  • Dianne Ferris says:

    Thanks for the pics! I worked at Market Basket stores in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Palm Desert in 1977 through 1982. The State of California went after the company for illegal business practices (I don’t remember the specifics) and they were kicked out of the state for 7 years. Kroger sold the Market Basket name to Boys Markets. Vons ended up moving into all three locations in the desert and hiring many of the employees.

    Finally, after 7 years, in 1989, Boys started using the Market Basket name. Shortly afterwards, the Boys Markets were sold, they ended up being purchased by Yucaipa? I’m not sure if it transferred hands again before that.

  • a little bit of the history. i had wondred who they were? the name seemed to largely disappear. perhaps more of their history will re-emerge, who founded it, who the owners were? dan l shacelford

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