On Saturday, April 5, 1986, Irving Weber’s weekly remembrance took his readers back to 1933, as the whole nation was in the throes of The Great Depression. His article was entitled, When Ma and Pa minded the store, and it’s a wonderful jaunt through Weber’s remembrances of Iowa City neighborhood grocery shopping in the 1930’s.
According to Weber’s report, our community of 15,000 residents had 41 different grocers to choose from! Come check out these Ma and Pa shops with us, and be sure to bring your shopping bag!
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I didn’t notice National Tea Co listed as one of the downtown groceries. It was located on west side of South Clinton St between Washington and College, very near the A&P. It may not have been there in 1933.
This article brought back many memories, especially of Ben Whitebook, Means Brothers’, Gump’s Good Grocery, Koza’s, Hummer’s (my Uncle Burke worked there while in law school), A&P, and the store in 800 block of South Summit. My Grandmother Carson did a lot of business with Whitebook’s, as she could phone in an order in the morning, and it would be delivered that afternoon. Other stores also provided this service, which I think was free, but don’t quote me on that; known as Union Delivery, I believe.
love these memories David. I did some checking – the National Tea Co. opened (according to Press Citizen) on Aug 6, 1936 at 131 S. Dubuque (replacing Red Ball) so that’s why Weber didn’t list it in 1933. Isn’t it amazing the “service” provided for customers! WOW!