WIMMER: The old neighborhood grocery

When Patricia and I moved here from El Dorado in 1966, we were surprised to find the major grocery stores closed on Sundays.

Later, we discovered Moore’s IGA in Cedar Village was open on Sundays, as well as Charlsen’s Market at First and Kansas.

Their selections were rather limited, so we did not patronize them often. One thing in Charlsen’s favor was their tasty ham loaf spread — it made great sandwiches.

Thumbing through past city directories, I found there were 18 grocers listed in 1955. You can imagine many were of the neighborhood variety.

In 1963, the number had shrunk to 12. The 1971 grocery listings totaled 13, but that included five quick-shop-type stores. They would not be considered the same as the regular grocery store, of which only eight were left.

I chose 1963 as a sample year to get some history of grocery stores in Newton. Of the 12 listed, Dillon’s No. 24 is the only one still in essentially the same location, although it has been rebuilt and expanded. Dillon’s and Safeway were the major chain stores. Many of the rest might be classified as neighborhood stores.

Going alphabetically, the 1971 survivors were B & L IGA at 214 S. Poplar, Charlsen’s Market at First and Kansas, Farrell’s Super Market at 201 W. First, J & B Grocery at 528 E. Eighth , Nemer’s IGA at 112 W. Broadway and Safeway at 204 W. Broadway.

They were the only ones still listed in the 1971 directory, not including the two Dillon’s stores.

Charlsen’s later became Boese Grocery. A 2006 Kansan article tells that Boese Grocery was Newton’s last independent grocer when it closed in 1991.

In 1955, there was a Stucky and Son’s No. 1 at 2401 N. Main, later occupied by Bannman’s IGA in the 1963 directory. A Stucky and Son’s No. 2 at Cedar Village later was occupied by Moore’s IGA in the 1963 listing.

Farrell’s Super Market was listed from 1955 thru ‘71 at 201 W. First. When Farrell’s was built (pre-Dillon’s and Safeway), it was the largest grocery store in Newton, hence the name Farrell’s Super Market.

In the 1955 listing, Kroger’s occupied 112 W. Broadway (now Kroger’s owns the Dillon’s stores). The building at 112 W. Broadway was Tarr’s Food Market in 1963. Walker’s Inc. was the lone listing on the far west edge of town, at 400 Meridian, but only in 1963.

A young man by the name of Roger Gillispie worked for Ralph Farrell in Farrell’s meat market, where he learned the meat-cutting trade. At that time, Bob Schroeder also worked there. Bob once operated B & L market at 214 S. Poplar.

Roger is the last of the breed now. He bought Farrell’s Market in 1976 and operated it for more than a decade before closing it to pursue other interests. He opened his own meat market in 1997 at 420 E. Broadway.

Roger gave me some insight into prices back at Farrell’s. Hamburger was 3 pounds for $1, Longhorn cheese 99 cents a pound, minute steaks 25 cents each, nice filets were only $1 each, and canned goods such as Libby’s corn or green beans sold at 3 cans for a $1.

Convenience store-type markets appeared in the 1971 directory. A to Z Express and Champlain had a position at 12th and Main St. Pic Quik No. 3 operated from 600 E. Broadway, while Pic Quik No. 1 held the fort at 1804 W. Fourth. A Quick Mart at 1700 N. Main and a Shopeze Food Store at 308 W. Broadway rounded out the list.

When I was in grade school (in Coffeyville) during the mid ‘40s, the boys in our neighborhood had three mom-and-pop grocery stores within a few blocks of home. We would hop on our bikes and peddle around to these and to others farther afield just to see and sample the different kinds of soda pop, candy and ice cream treats that were available. The limited space in these small stores dictated how much variety each one could carry. They weren’t like the mega stores of today.

Almost all had Coke, Baby Ruth and Butterfingers. From there it was a different selection at different stores. Some had Vess Cola and Vess flavors, others had Nehi Cola and flavors. Some had Pepsi, some RC Cola. Some had the little bottles of Grapette. A few places had a drink called Delaware Punch. 7-UP was widely available.

Most had Popsicles and ice cream bars. Some also had ice cream sandwiches and a fancy cake cone of vanilla dunked in chocolate and sprinkled with nuts called a Drumstick. Fudgesicles also were a favorite. Finding pineapple- or banana-flavored popsicles was not always easy.

I’ll bet Newton and other small towns this size were much the same. Kids probably circulated among the different neighborhood stores looking for new treats just like we used to.

Oh, yes, some time back Ted Ice told me Mr. Plumb, of Plumb’s Grocery at 421 Pine, kept him supplied with bubble gum when it was scarce around the World War II years.

Those were some good old days!