The Market Report

Yesterday we saw the independent grocers of eastern Worcester -- some going back decades -- and now it's time to see a few buildings that once were grocery stores but no longer are. A note on historical sources:  To get past stores in each location, I've consulted Worcester city directories going back to the 1910s. Here in the city, I'm drawing from  1916, 1922, 1927, 1931, 1937, 1943, 1959, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1991, 2000, 2009, and 2017.  Also of note: this is far from an exhaustive listing of all grocery stores that have been in this area, although I'll probably eventually post the full thing, this is just what I've been able to photograph. Reading the captions:  A caption such as the following...          |  John Smith (1926-1937) > Joe Jones (1955-1982) ...means that John Smith appears in the directories in 1926 and 1937, and Joe Jones appears in all directories I consulted between 1955 and 1982. That doesn'...

We're going to take a look at some (almost all) of the independent grocers in the southeastern part of Worcester -- we'll be starting in the Green Island/Canal District area, then Union Hill, Franklin Plantation, Vernon Hill, and finally way out to Grafton Hill. There's a lot of little grocery stores here, ranging from ethnic markets to convenience stores to produce markets, so let's check them out! A note on historical sources:  To get "past stores" in each location, I've consulted Worcester city directories going back to the 1910s. Here in the city, I'm drawing from  1916, 1922, 1927, 1931, 1937, 1943, 1959, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1991, 2000, 2009, and 2017.  Also of note: this is far from an exhaustive listing of all grocery stores that have been in this area, although I'll probably eventually post the full thing, this is just what I've been able to photograph. Reading the captions:  A caption such as the following...     ...

Original Grocery Tenant: Iandoli Super Market Address: 725 Grafton St, Union Hill, Worcester, MA Opened:  bet. 1962 and 1969 Closed:  bet. 1973 and 1985 Later Tenants:  Food World Warehouse (open by 1985) > subdivided Photographed:  October 4, 2020 This was definitely Iandoli's home turf! The 20,000 square foot store opened at some point in the 1960s, then closed at some point in the mid- to late-70s or early 80s. By 1985, Iandoli converted the store to Food World Warehouse, their discount banner. It was closed by 1991, and subdivided. Two big-chain supermarkets remain in this neighborhood -- one about a third of a mile southwest and the other one half a mile southeast. We'll be touring the smaller one tomorrow!

Original Grocery Tenant: A&P Address:  500 Grafton St, Union Hill, Worcester, MA Opened:  bet. 1952 and 1957 Closed:  bet. 1969 and 1973 Later Tenants:  assorted non-grocery tenants Photographed:  November 4, 2018 As soon as I saw the back of this building, I knew it had been a supermarket! The brick building with distinctive columns was built as an A&P in the 1950s -- it seems just before the centennial era -- then closed around 1970. I'm not positive what occupied the space after A&P, but I don't believe there was another supermarket. The store is around 10,000 square feet, although I'm not sure how much space there is in the basement. Tomorrow we're going a little farther out east on Grafton Street for another former supermarket!

Original Grocery Tenant: A&P Address: 337 Grafton St, Union Hill, Worcester, MA Opened:  bet. 1937 and 1943 Closed:  bet. 1949 and 1957 Later Tenants:  Iandoli Super Markets (open by 1957, closed bet. 1969 and 1973) Photographed:  November 7, 2020 We've discussed Iandoli's previously, and now it's time to see another of their former locations. This store was built around the late 1970s and, at just 7600 square feet, it's pretty small. It replaced an even older store dating back to the 1930s when A&P built a store closer to the street. Iandoli's later moved into the space in the 1950s, replacing the store about 20 years later. Here's a look at the A&P-turned-Iandoli's , along with some background on the chain. The Iandolis also owned the Austin Liquors and Honey Farms chains of liquor stores and convenience stores, respectively, but have sold both. This amazing sign remains, probably from opening day in the 70s! I spotted this while using the AT...

  Moving to the east of downtown, we're going to pass through Green Island and the Canal District to then cross route 290 and head up into the hilly parts of the city -- Union Hill, Vernon Hill, and Grafton Hill between downtown and Shrewsbury to the east. There aren't a whole lot of supermarkets in this area -- and an incredibly short-lived Shaw's was demolished right next to route 290 after only two years. But the various Hills have lots of former grocery stores and there are a few chain stores out by the Shrewsbury border that we'll be taking a look at. On Monday, we're starting with a former grocer right outside of downtown! And here's another last-minute post on a closing Stop & Shop location on Long Island!