Regulars here know that I dabbled in the grocery business years ago. It's one of those businesses that once it gets into your bloodstream, it's tough to get out. My favorite grocers were - and still are - the small, independent ones. I have a special affinity for IGA stores. There's just something out scrappy, independent underdog grocers that manage to hang on against the big guys. Grocery stores are the cradle of so many family traditions. People go to the grocery pushing carts of comfort. They go to the grocery to stock up on their favorite dessert, their Christmas morning breakfast, their Sunday pot roasts.
I don't go out nearly as much as I used to during this pandemic but I found myself in New Lebanon, Ohio, a tiny town west of Dayton, Ohio and we needed a few items...so when I saw Groceryland, I couldn't resist.
The store had a ton of small-town charm. It's aisles were packed on a Saturday afternoon with people pushing carts full of their favorite foods. The deli counter was steeped in the smell of freshly fried chicken. If you are a vegetarian you are probably out of luck here, but the meat department was stocked full of marbled meats, fresh cuts, and, yeah, it just reminded of a small-town grocery store frozen in the 1970s.
Groceryland does not appear to be part of a chain. Here are some photos I took while perusing the aisles:
The produce section was really nice. This wasn't a dumpy grocery store. I mean, it lacks a lot of flash, but it gets the job done.
Was happy to see Amish Wedding Foods brand here!
And Amish chicken!
I love their selection of grab and go meals.
And, apparently their "pineapple walnut delight" which is found in the deli section is "amazing." I didn't get a chance to try any of that....
Hi Kevin, if you ever get on the Westside of Columbus,Ohio, there's a small family IF A store, I took my mom there for years, I still go back once in awhile even though I live 40 min. Away. Their meats are real nice and they make the best ham salad, my other favorites are the cream filled BUN chocolate patty, and little lemon cookies. Good memories of going there with my mom thru the years......Their located on Eakin rd.
Thanks, Lisa, sounds like a neat place and I get to that area from time to time, I tried to find it on a map just now, is it the Brookshire Foodliner?
My new neighbors are Old Order, (five large families) most recently living in Southeastern Minnesota. I share your posts with them,
Amish "news" is very popular.
Many come to my home to try their luck fishing on my private lake. Few things are as dangerous as walking down my dock with kids casting in all directions. Last summer I took several of the boys "tubing" behind my ski boat...mom watched from the dock. They had a blast!!
Keep up the reporting!
THanks, John, for sharing that with me...I didn't realize there were OOMs in SE Minnesota. I gave a talk at the library once in Winona and a couple of times in Rochester...I do love that area, very picturesque!
Hello Kevin we don't have to many independent grocery stores out here in Idaho but i did work for Paul's Market in Boise and i did work for Red Apple in Ontario Oregon. The only thing that i have to say about independent stores is you kinda have to watch them they are a lot dirtier then big corporate stores I worked for Albertsons for 36 years and they are pretty clean. Ive been a baker for about 46 years still love it and i love all the recipes from the Amish people they are amazing people i try a lot of the recipes you send out. By the way i was born and raised in Ohio and im a Buckeye fan. Years ago i used to work for a grocer store back there in Columbus called Gold Circle as a baker i believe i was 18 at the time and loved it ever since, by the way what happened to Gold Circle and who bought them out.
Good to hear from you, Terry. Wow, Gold Circle...haven't thought of them in years. They had a bakery? I didn't realize that, but my memories of the place are hazy...my parents LOVED Gold Circle and my brother and I'd get dragged along often...they were eventually bought out by Federated, I don't think Gold Circle has had any stores since the mid-1980s...it's been a long time!
We moved from PA to Michigan about 3 1/2 years ago. There is a store we never heard of called "Family Fare." Have you ever heard of it? (We live in Midland, MI)
I am family with Family Fare...those are the types of grocery stores I really like, they are a small regional chain in Michigan...been years since I have been in one.
I just wanted to let you know. In Xenia, Ohio. There is/was a Groceryland The reason I say was is that now it’s missing the “d” on the sign and the sale ad also leaves it off. It’s part of the Super valu brand or was.
Interesting, perhaps it was part of the same chain as Groceryland at one point? I make it to Xenia every so often, I'll have to check out "Grocerylan" next time!
In Christopher Illinois there is a store called Bowlins which I love There used to be about four of them in and around Franklin county but all that is left is the one in our town of Christopher. It's small but clean very friendly.
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon...I had to look up Christopher on the map....turns out, I have been near there. Years and years ago - we are talking 25 years ago - I wrote an article for AAA Magazine many years ago about Rend Lake..and then I went on to a place nearby called Garden of the Gods...good memories!