Description: Photograph of the opening of the first Big Bear grocery store, located on West Lane Avenue in Columbus, in 1934. Big Bear was a supermarket founded by Wayne E. Brown and headquartered in Columbus. It operated stores in Ohio and West Virginia for almost 75 years. In 1934, an innovation in food retailing was introduced in Columbus when Wayne E. Brown opened the first self-service supermarket in central Ohio. The name “Big Bear” was chosen because Brown felt it was catchy and easy for people, especially children, to remember. Big Bear is responsible for many innovations in the supermarket business. They were the first to introduce motorized counters, unique store layouts placing perishable departments in the center of the store with low fixtures, and a pleasing décor. Big Bear was an instant success with consumers who liked the opportunity to select their own items and the convenience of one-stop shopping. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04062
Subjects: Businesses; Grocery stores
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1935-1940, this photograph depicts butchers at a market waiting on customers, with a note on the reverse which reads "People at work + play." This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B10F10_008_001
Subjects: Meat--Packing; Meat cutting--Pictorial works; Butchers--Ohio; Grocery stores--1930-1970.
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Shoppers in the produce section at the Big Bear supermarket on Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, June 1952. This store, opened in 1934, was the first Big Bear store and the first supermarket in central Ohio. The name “Big Bear” was chosen because Brown felt it was catchy and easy for people, especially children, to remember. Big Bear is responsible for many innovations in the supermarket business. They were the first to introduce motorized counters, unique store layouts placing perishable departments in the center of the store with low fixtures, and a pleasing décor. Big Bear was an instant success with consumers who liked the opportunity to select their own items and the convenience of one-stop shopping. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07664
Subjects: Grocery stores; Businesses
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the lift bridge at Mohawk Place along the Cincinnati Central Parkway, ca. 1920-1928. Also visible is an advertisement for the Kroger Grocery and Baking Co., founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger. The Parkway was begun in the early 1920s and partly financed by the Ohio Department of Public Works. It was constructed over the old Miami and Erie Canal bed, which was deepened to form the tube for a rapid-transit subway that was never completed. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA937AV_B01F02_031
Subjects: Transportation--Ohio--History; Ohio. Dept. of Public Works; Miami and Erie Canal (Ohio)--History; Central Parkway Area (Cincinnati, Ohio); Advertisements; Grocery stores
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: A man standing near a jockey lawn statue takes a photograph, likely during the Worthington Historical Society Flea Market along North High Street in the Worthington suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Across the busy street, booths with artwork can be seen set up outside the front of a grocery store called "Home Market." The High Street Photograph Collection is comprised of over 400 photographs of High Street in Columbus, Ohio, taken in the early 1970s. These photographs were taken primarily at street level and document people and the built environment from the Pontifical College Josephinum on North High Street in Worthington through Clintonville, the University District and Short North, Downtown and South Columbus. The photographs were used in a television photo documentary that aired on WOSU called "High Street." Photographers that were involved in this project were Alfred Clarke, Carol Hibbs Kight, Darrell Muething, Clayton K. Lowe, and Julius Foris, Jr. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV254_B14F371_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--20th century; Street photography; Flea markets; Grocery stores; Cameras;
Places: Worthington (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: A couple walks by the large Big Bear sign which sat in front of the grocery store once located at the Graceland Shopping Center. Wayne Brown founded Big Bear Stores, a regional supermarket chain, in Columbus, Ohio, in 1933. Built in 1954, Graceland Shopping Center is located on the west side of North High Street at Graceland Boulevard. The Country Hearth restaurant, a family steakhouse, is visible in the background. The High Street Photograph Collection is comprised of over 400 photographs of High Street in Columbus, Ohio, taken in the early 1970s. These photographs were taken primarily at street level and document people and the built environment from the Pontifical College Josephinum on North High Street in Worthington through Clintonville, the University District and Short North, Downtown and South Columbus. The photographs were used in a television photo documentary that aired on WOSU called "High Street." Photographers that were involved in this project were Alfred Clarke, Carol Hibbs Kight, Darrell Muething, Clayton K. Lowe, and Julius Foris, Jr. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV254_B13F335_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History; Street photography; Grocery stores; Signs and signboards; Shopping; Restaurants
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph collected by the Ohio Federal Writers' Project shows Herrman & McLean, a grocery store located 621-619 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. Employees pose outside the two-story brick building. Signs on the building read: Canned Goods, Garden & Field Seeds, Our Specialty the Standard Flour, Finest Teas Coffees and Spices, Foreign & Domestic Fruits and Vegetables. Directory listing for the grocery reads as follows: "Herrman-McLean Co., The. D. E. McLean, Pres. and Treas.; Chas. O. Hirsching, Sec.; Grocers, 619-621 Lorain and 1817 Pearl, also Flour and Feed, 608 to 612 Lorain and 837 to 841 Pearl." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F08_13_01
Subjects: Cleveland (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Grocers United States; Grocery stores
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: Shoppers and volunteers are pictured in an aisle with bulk food items at the Olentangy Cooperative Grocery, located at 2647 North High Street in Columbus, Ohio. Grocery or food cooperatives (or co-ops) are generally non-profit storefronts where shoppers can purchase membership and volunteer monthly hours in exchange for food and other products at discounted prices. This photograph was taken for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper by photographer Allen Zak. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F14_02
Subjects: Businesses; Grocery stores; Shopping; Social movements;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Shoppers browse and weigh bulk food items at the Olentangy Cooperative Grocery, located at 2647 North High Street in Columbus, Ohio. Grocery or food cooperatives (or co-ops) are generally non-profit storefronts where shoppers can purchase membership and volunteer monthly hours in exchange for food and other products at discounted prices. This photograph was taken for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper by photographer Allen Zak. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F14_01
Subjects: Businesses; Grocery stores; Shopping; Social movements;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1935-1940, this photograph shows Carmassie's Fruit Store in Urbana, Ohio. A popcorn machine sits outside next to the storefront window in which advertisements hang for fireworks and Philip Morris tobacco products. Carmazzie's Fruit store was opened in 1893 by Sam Bainchi. It was named Bainchi Fruit Store until 1931 when Frank Carmazzie and Sam Bainchi's niece took over the operations. Generations of families have bought candy in this small store in the oldest building in Urbana. The store is located in downtown Urbana on Monument Square. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B01F09_001
Subjects: Storefronts; Grocery stores; Urbana (Ohio); Advertisements
Places: Urbana (Ohio) Champaign County (ohio)
 

Description: Bud Bowman and Big Bear standing outside the Buckeye Premium Stamp Redemption Center, Big Bear Store #1, Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. The Lane Avenue store, which opened in 1934, was the first Big Bear store and the first self-service supermarket in central Ohio. In 1934, an innovation in food retailing was introduced in Columbus when Wayne E. Brown opened the first self-service supermarket in central Ohio. The name “Big Bear” was chosen because Brown felt it was catchy and easy for people, especially children, to remember. Big Bear is responsible for many innovations in the supermarket business. They were the first to introduce motorized counters, unique store layouts placing perishable departments in the center of the store with low fixtures, and a pleasing décor. Big Bear was an instant success with consumers who liked the opportunity to select their own items and the convenience of one-stop shopping. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05213
Subjects: Grocery stores; Businesses
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: An older man in a suit smiles for a portrait outside of Big Bear at 1101 North High Street, in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. The High Street Photograph Collection is comprised of over 400 photographs of High Street in Columbus, Ohio, taken in the early 1970s. These photographs were taken primarily at street level and document people and the built environment from the Pontifical College Josephinum on North High Street in Worthington through Clintonville, the University District and Short North, Downtown and South Columbus. The photographs were used in a television photo documentary that aired on WOSU called "High Street." Photographers that were involved in this project were Alfred Clarke, Carol Hibbs Kight, Darrell Muething, Clayton K. Lowe, and Julius Foris, Jr. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV254_B08F215_01
Subjects: Street photography; Men; Portrait photography; Grocery stores;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)