THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE

Although we know the people of New Solum first walked to St. Hilaire and carried flour home on their backs, we do know that later, as discussed in a earlier post, they did have a find grocery store for many years.

Today I would like you to think about the market in your neighborhood. You know the one I am talking about, it is the place your mother sent you for something or you went for a candy bar or a cold soda, (pop).

I was telling Shirley about a market I found in Thief River Falls only because my grandparents bought and remodeled a house near there. The Mom and Pop Stores were everywhere. If you lived in an established neighborhood, there was probably one within a block or two.


From 1018 North Main, it was just a few doors down to Noper's where Greg stole candy and the owners put it on the charge.

Across from the Zion Lutheran Church, where a florist is now, there was a market. The candy Greg brought home was bought with his Sunday School offering but he told my parents he got candy for being good. That was owned by Solheim. Later it would be razed and a furniture store which sold Early American would be built.

From Oakland Park Road, there was River side Grocery where the groceries were bought over the phone and delivered. How different is that than me ordering ours on the computer and having them delivered in the dead of a snowy, cold winter day?

On Arnold Ave the closest place was Sustad's, later to be Flom's. I went there often for a frozen treat when I stayed with Grandma Mae.

On Kneale Avenue, there was Third Street Grocery. It was just off the boulevard on Kneale Avenue.

St. Paul Grocery is where Frank went. It also had the biggest icicle in town.

Danny's was on First Street near Kendall Avenue. That later became Liden's Lefse. Mother walked to Danny's every day to buy cigarettes for the day. She said that gave her some exercise and she smoked less if she only bought enough for one day. She also was known to smoke a lot of butts!

On Eighth Street, there was a bigger market on the corner of 8th St and Main Avenue it was called Froseth's.

Certainly I have missed several. What I could never understand is how these markets could survive selling candy bars, rotting bananas, and pop. Was the merchandise delivered or did the owner's go to a bigger store and buy the products? Most did not have fresh meat, although Riverside Grocery did. I only know that because I was in there and it smelled of animal fat and rotting potatoes. Milk and dairy products were delivered to homes.

If you look at the old phone directories in the library, you will see how many markets there were downtown TRF before the trend to go to the neighborhood began. Not only food, but meat markets as well.

Did they live on the property? We know they did in Rosewood. How much did they have to sell in product to make the rent and utilities. Was the mark up greater than 33% as it was in the early sixties?

On Eighth Street farther east, their was Eighth Street Grocery.

First Street had a market near the bridge.

The name of the market by by grandparents house remains unnamed. It was a brown stucco building with awnings and steps. Does anyone know?

We gotta eat, right?

e