Although I doubt that there will ever be a show at the Historical Society, or brochures at the Visitors Bureau, perhaps nothing encapsulates the history of Allentown more than the corner grocery stores. Allentown proper, is mostly comprised of rowhouses built between 1870 and 1920, long before the era of automobiles and suburban supermarkets. Most of the corner markets were built as stores, and over the years many were converted into apartments. Up until the late 1940's, there may have been well over a hundred operating in Allentown. Some specialized in ethnic food. The bodega at 9th and Liberty was formally an Italian market. Live and fresh killed chickens were sold at 8th and Linden, currently H & R Block Tax Service. A kosher meat market is now a hair salon on 19th Street. The original era for these markets died with the advent of the supermarket. In the early 50's some corner stores attempted to "brand" themselves as a "chain", as shown in the Economy Store sign above. That market is at 4th and Turner, and has been continually operating since the turn of the last century. Ironically, as the social-economic level of center city has decreased, the corner stores have seen a revival. Most of these new merchants, many Hispanic and some Asian, know little of the former history of their stores, but like their predecessors, work long, hard hours.
above reprinted from March 2012
ADDENDUM: The enamel Economy Stores sign has been removed. I hope that the owner sold it, because it was valuable. As for the A-Treat sign, the era of painted signs on brick buildings is long over, although some ghost images still remain in Allentown.
I believe that the Yost's Market pictured in this post was located at 761 S. Main Street in Phillipsburg, NJ, directly across the street from the still existing Steve's Cafe, the meeting place of our local railroad historians
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ReplyDeleteCorner of 22nd and Liberty was an A&P grocery store in the 40s and is now a Jewish restaurant, Syb's, owned by an Irish woman.
ReplyDeleteanon@5:53; thank you for your input. I have confirmed that it was indeed Yost's Market in Phillipsburg. as I have stated before, when it comes to history, the rail buffs know the most.
ReplyDeleteI can remember 3 "corner stores" when I live on Hall street.Griffies,Deronerson 7th, and another one near Griffies going to Fountain Park on the street going to the city steps.
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