My Sepia Sat. contribution for this week is Stores. One that I worked at.
For about five years, from my senior year in high school till the time I took a less paying summer job, (1972-1977) I worked for a local grocery store chain.
This first picture (probably from the mid 50's) is the store I started in and worked at the most. It was also my favorite. The store is just behind the tree, right next to the marching band. This photo and the last one are both before my time working there.
The store is now part of Lindenwood College and used as an art studio.
The building that says Clay St. Motors was a 9-0-5 liquor store when I was growing up.
This would have been my first real job.
I enjoyed working in the produce department the most, but was only in that position for a short time.
I worked at this building till it closed and then moved between the chains other three stores.
Once the older store closed down. I never really enjoyed working in the business any more. This store was much smaller than most and had a very nice neighborhood atmosphere. The chain is longer in business.
This first picture is also the store where I rode this elephant as a child. If you remember I posted that story here. It was back when you went to the store near your home, not across town.
The picture is from the early 60's and I only worked at this store a few times to fill in for the produce managers vacations. It is now a gym that I go to a few times a week.
How fun - riding an elephant - and right in the neighborhood, too! And I suppose if a store had to be turned into something else, a gym is a pretty good deal. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThe one where the elephant ride is now part of the college, which is even better. An art studio.
DeleteI am sure thousands have ridden an elephant, but as a kid it seemed rare.
Children used to be able to ride on the elephants at the zoo, but that certainly doesn't happen now, and I'm not sure if I ever rode on one there, without checking my mother's old photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's never to late.
DeleteTo ride ir to check? Definitely too late to ride, unless I go somewhere like India or Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteTo ride of course. Next time the circus comes to town.
DeleteIsn't it amazine how we can find images on the net that so mirror our own experiences, partially making up for the gaps in our own photographic records.
ReplyDeleteAh, social media.
DeleteI never worked in a grocery store, but every time I shop I think I could be good at stocking the shelves. I'm forever straightening a crooked can or box, or moving an item that some other shopper returned to the wrong spot.
ReplyDeleteYou would never rest because it would be endless. Each night the rows looked great. By the next moring your task was undone.
DeleteThe photographs are wonderful, so full of information. And we seem to both have been reflecting this week on how stores have moved over time.
ReplyDeleteI miss the smaller more personal stores. Even if they provided the variety.
DeleteWhow, not only riding the elephant, but children being pulled by one. But back to the stores and your other life (adventures?)...great that you had that start in merchandizing as I'm sure it's influenced you throughout your life.
ReplyDeleteYes it did. I never wanted to do retail again!
DeleteNot many stores around today that resort to marching bands and elephants to promote their sales. Too homogenized for nationwide marketing, I guess.
ReplyDeleteThe elephants would have been a promotion, but the marching band would have been some event parade.
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