Neighborhood markets and other food pictures on Shorpy dot com

[Alex]

A recent eG forum about "Consumer Reports Best Supermarkets" got me thinking about how when I was growing up in NYC, we had a mix of regular supermarkets (though not as "super" as many of those today) and smaller, neighborhood-oriented grocery stores. Coincidentally, a picture posted today on Shorpy.com was of one of those stores.

 

For those who aren't acquainted with Shorpy, allow me an introduction. The site describes itself, accurately, as "a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s." What that quote doesn't tell you is how addictive the site is -- especially for anyone with even a remote interest in history. I've weaned myself to checking for new photos (and, sometimes, comments) only a couple of times a day. They're also associated with Vintagraph, purveyor of vintage poster reproductions -- including some that are food-related.

 

This is the 1947 grocery store picture I was looking at today. (Click on the picture for a larger image.) It's somehow reassuring to see familiar labels, like Heinz, B & M, and Hellman's. Here's another one, from 1948, this time with Planters, Sunshine, and Chef Boy-ar-dee. And a grocery store cheese display, also from 1948. (Breakstone's! Ry-Krisp! air-wick! And check out the bagels.)

 

I told you it was addictive.