Macon Georgia area History (Colonial-a&p and others)
Posted: 10 Apr 2006 02:11
Macon Georgia Grocery history as I know so far. And it is a long and detailed history.
Over the past 50 years, the primary chains to operate in the Macon/Warner Robins area were: Piggly Wiggly, Winn-Dixie, Kroger, Food Lion, A&P, Colonial/Big Star, FoodMax and Red Apple. Long time independent (neighborhood) groceries include Bateman & Wade, Rocky Creek Foods, C&J and Macon Food Fair.
Newer chains include Publix, Save-a-lot and 7 (count them...SEVEN) Wal-Mart Supercenters. and Southern Family Markets operating under the names "Southern Family Market" and "Piggly Wiggly".
I should count that there are two Ingles stores just outside and North of Macon and two Harvey's stores south of Macon.
COLONIAL-BIG STAR HISTORY (incomplete)
Definite confirmation of former Colonial store locations
Ingleside village, Ingleside Avenue. Was Colonial during the 1950's and 1960s. closed in 1968 as a supermarket. Spent years as a drugstore/pharmacy and was divided over the years. the original building contains a couple of small restaurants and antique shops
Rocky Creek and Bloomfield Roads. Was Colonial until 1970's. Has been independant Rocky Creek Foods for over 20 years. Unknown whether this store made it to the "Big Star" phase.
Bloomfield Drive Across from Macon Mall: Was BIG Star supermarket in 1970's. Became Michael's (arts and crafts) store in 1990's and a BIG LOTS store in 2002
Possible Colonial/Big Star locations but not confimed:
Riverside Drive and third Street Downtown-now occupied by medical clinic
Gray Hwy-now occupied by furnature store
Vineville Ave near Vista Circle, now occupied by CHI-Chesters Pharmacy.
Shurling Drive-Possible 1970's Big Star Now occupied by Advance Auto Parts next to Rose's discount store
Pio Nono Avenue- Possible 1970's Big Star Now occupied by Citi Trends clothing store next to Rose's discount store
Still looking for information on other Colonial/Big star locations in Macon, Georgia
SAVE-A-LOT has a distruibution warehouse in Macon.
Their Retail stores are:
MACON; Napier Avenue in former (1940's vintage) PIGGLY WIGGLY. Opened in 2002
WARNER ROBINS: North Houston Rd in former PIGGLY WIGGLY building, opened in 2000
MILLEDGEVILLE: North Columbia Street in former A&P (1970's vintage) building next to Milledgeville mall.
AMERICUS: Downtown area off Prince St, possible former 1970's A&P (Closed in 2005)
A&P: Probably did not have a large presence in Macon. The only locations I can confirm in Macon was on Riverside Drive. This store was closed as a Supermarket in the early 1970s and has been a fabric store for decades. The shopping center was remodoled several times but retains the shape of the centennial style A&P.
In Warner Robins, there was an A&P located at the corner of Watson Blvd and North Houston Road. The store was closed and moved to a new FAMILY MART location at North Houston Rd and Green Street. That location closed in 1999 when A&P closed all of its Georgia Stores.
The old building at Watson and N. Houston was a (local) Shaheen Office Supply store for years and was demolished and a (2003) Walgreens now sits at the location.
Other known A&P locations around Central Georgia include
Dublin (Now Video rental store)
Milledgeville (now auto repair shop) 2nd location now Save-A-Lot
Thomaston (now fitness center)
Americus (now office supply store) 2nd lcoation was Save-a-lot now vacant
PUBLIX: Original stores in Macon and Warner Robins opened in 1994 after a very successful debut in the Atlanta area. Met with great opposition from local unions. The stores were picketed for several months after opening.
Publix opened their second store in Warner Robins in August, 2005. All Publix stores have SUN TRUST bank branches inside. The Warner Robins locations have a dining area.
Macon residents protested plans to build smaller neighborhood Publix locations inside historic residential districts, thus Publix has failed to open additional stores there. It is long rumored that Kroger union employees and their families have led the protests.
Publx locations
MACON: Tom Hill Sr. Blvd next to Regal Cinemas and across from Kroger
WARNER ROBINS: Russell Pkwy next to Kroger
WARNER ROBINS: GA 96 & Lake Joy Rd, New development and first store in area. Closest store is a Winn=Dixie 3 miles east.
OTHER STORES, CURRENT OPERATIONS
FOOD LION, entered the Macon market in 1990's with stores in suburban areas not originally covered by other chains. They have since scaled back their hours and closed one location (Gray Georgia) None of these stores have pharmacies and none of these stores are open 24 hours.
Food Lion Locations still open:
Thomaston Road (1993) first supermarket in area-closest store is 5 miles away
Hartley Bridge Road (1994) first supermarket in area
Watson Blvd-Warner Robins (1991, remodeled in 1999 pending new Kroger across the street and new Super Wal-Mart to the east) Still open but hours were reduced.
Moody Road-Warner Robins (My neighborhood store)(early 1990's) Very traditional small and simple Food Lion. Closest stores are 3 miles away.
Food Lion stores in towns south and east of Macon/Warner Robins were converted into Harvey's
RED APPLE FOODS: This was a grocery store in the 1960's. I have no history on them but found a listing for one in an old Warner Robins Phone directory. Their location confirmed an old (1960's) supermarket building in the 1700 block of Watson Blvd. Nothing exciting about the archeticture of this location.
C&J is an independently owned grocery store with a gas station. They had a couple rural locations. There are two locations in Macon. These are small mini supermarkets with a meat department and are at least a few miles from the closest full sized supermarket.
Jeffersonville Road at Okmulgee East Blvd
Shurling Drive and Joycliff Road
BATEMAN AND WADE was also an independent neighborhood grocer with a produce and meat section. Residents cried foul with the family business closed after 60 years. It is operated as a convenence store today.
ROCKY CREEK FOODS is an independently owned supermarket in a former Colonial building in a low income and high crime area of SW Macon not served by any other "chain" markets.
FOOD FAIR/FINE FAIR: This 1930's vintage store has sinage as a FOOD FAIR super market. It is unknown about its relation to the FOOD FAIR chain. However this store was open as Food Fair until a few years ago. It is a very small store in downtown Macon Georgia. Again, another store that served a low income area that had no other grocery store.
GIANT FOODS: there is a chain of small town supermarkets called GIANT FOODS that had few locations from Atlanta (Bankhead Hwy) to Warner Robins. This is no relation to the GIANT supermarket chains in the Mid-Atlantic States
Still in operation: 530 N. Davis Drive Warner Robins, HWY 49 in Byron, Georgia and College Street in Barnesville, Georgia. Each of these stores are in low income areas not served by other chains.
WALMART SUPERCENTER: Just to mention that in 1994 when I moved to this area, there were 2 regular Wal-marts in Macon, 1 in Forsyth, GA and 1 in Warner Robins. Since 1996, Every major "town" in Georgia has gained at least one Walmart Supercenter. The victims of these Super Walmarts have been Winn-Dixie, (Brunos) Foodmax/Piggly Wiggly and Food Lion/Harveys.
The Supercenter count in Central Geogia: Macon=3, Warner Robins=2, Perry=1 Eastman=1, Cordele=1, Milledgeville=1 and 2 pending (Gray and Warner Robins)
And that is all I have for MACON GEORGIA HISTORY at this time.
Photos to follow when I have a chance.
Over the past 50 years, the primary chains to operate in the Macon/Warner Robins area were: Piggly Wiggly, Winn-Dixie, Kroger, Food Lion, A&P, Colonial/Big Star, FoodMax and Red Apple. Long time independent (neighborhood) groceries include Bateman & Wade, Rocky Creek Foods, C&J and Macon Food Fair.
Newer chains include Publix, Save-a-lot and 7 (count them...SEVEN) Wal-Mart Supercenters. and Southern Family Markets operating under the names "Southern Family Market" and "Piggly Wiggly".
I should count that there are two Ingles stores just outside and North of Macon and two Harvey's stores south of Macon.
COLONIAL-BIG STAR HISTORY (incomplete)
Definite confirmation of former Colonial store locations
Ingleside village, Ingleside Avenue. Was Colonial during the 1950's and 1960s. closed in 1968 as a supermarket. Spent years as a drugstore/pharmacy and was divided over the years. the original building contains a couple of small restaurants and antique shops
Rocky Creek and Bloomfield Roads. Was Colonial until 1970's. Has been independant Rocky Creek Foods for over 20 years. Unknown whether this store made it to the "Big Star" phase.
Bloomfield Drive Across from Macon Mall: Was BIG Star supermarket in 1970's. Became Michael's (arts and crafts) store in 1990's and a BIG LOTS store in 2002
Possible Colonial/Big Star locations but not confimed:
Riverside Drive and third Street Downtown-now occupied by medical clinic
Gray Hwy-now occupied by furnature store
Vineville Ave near Vista Circle, now occupied by CHI-Chesters Pharmacy.
Shurling Drive-Possible 1970's Big Star Now occupied by Advance Auto Parts next to Rose's discount store
Pio Nono Avenue- Possible 1970's Big Star Now occupied by Citi Trends clothing store next to Rose's discount store
Still looking for information on other Colonial/Big star locations in Macon, Georgia
SAVE-A-LOT has a distruibution warehouse in Macon.
Their Retail stores are:
MACON; Napier Avenue in former (1940's vintage) PIGGLY WIGGLY. Opened in 2002
WARNER ROBINS: North Houston Rd in former PIGGLY WIGGLY building, opened in 2000
MILLEDGEVILLE: North Columbia Street in former A&P (1970's vintage) building next to Milledgeville mall.
AMERICUS: Downtown area off Prince St, possible former 1970's A&P (Closed in 2005)
A&P: Probably did not have a large presence in Macon. The only locations I can confirm in Macon was on Riverside Drive. This store was closed as a Supermarket in the early 1970s and has been a fabric store for decades. The shopping center was remodoled several times but retains the shape of the centennial style A&P.
In Warner Robins, there was an A&P located at the corner of Watson Blvd and North Houston Road. The store was closed and moved to a new FAMILY MART location at North Houston Rd and Green Street. That location closed in 1999 when A&P closed all of its Georgia Stores.
The old building at Watson and N. Houston was a (local) Shaheen Office Supply store for years and was demolished and a (2003) Walgreens now sits at the location.
Other known A&P locations around Central Georgia include
Dublin (Now Video rental store)
Milledgeville (now auto repair shop) 2nd location now Save-A-Lot
Thomaston (now fitness center)
Americus (now office supply store) 2nd lcoation was Save-a-lot now vacant
PUBLIX: Original stores in Macon and Warner Robins opened in 1994 after a very successful debut in the Atlanta area. Met with great opposition from local unions. The stores were picketed for several months after opening.
Publix opened their second store in Warner Robins in August, 2005. All Publix stores have SUN TRUST bank branches inside. The Warner Robins locations have a dining area.
Macon residents protested plans to build smaller neighborhood Publix locations inside historic residential districts, thus Publix has failed to open additional stores there. It is long rumored that Kroger union employees and their families have led the protests.
Publx locations
MACON: Tom Hill Sr. Blvd next to Regal Cinemas and across from Kroger
WARNER ROBINS: Russell Pkwy next to Kroger
WARNER ROBINS: GA 96 & Lake Joy Rd, New development and first store in area. Closest store is a Winn=Dixie 3 miles east.
OTHER STORES, CURRENT OPERATIONS
FOOD LION, entered the Macon market in 1990's with stores in suburban areas not originally covered by other chains. They have since scaled back their hours and closed one location (Gray Georgia) None of these stores have pharmacies and none of these stores are open 24 hours.
Food Lion Locations still open:
Thomaston Road (1993) first supermarket in area-closest store is 5 miles away
Hartley Bridge Road (1994) first supermarket in area
Watson Blvd-Warner Robins (1991, remodeled in 1999 pending new Kroger across the street and new Super Wal-Mart to the east) Still open but hours were reduced.
Moody Road-Warner Robins (My neighborhood store)(early 1990's) Very traditional small and simple Food Lion. Closest stores are 3 miles away.
Food Lion stores in towns south and east of Macon/Warner Robins were converted into Harvey's
RED APPLE FOODS: This was a grocery store in the 1960's. I have no history on them but found a listing for one in an old Warner Robins Phone directory. Their location confirmed an old (1960's) supermarket building in the 1700 block of Watson Blvd. Nothing exciting about the archeticture of this location.
C&J is an independently owned grocery store with a gas station. They had a couple rural locations. There are two locations in Macon. These are small mini supermarkets with a meat department and are at least a few miles from the closest full sized supermarket.
Jeffersonville Road at Okmulgee East Blvd
Shurling Drive and Joycliff Road
BATEMAN AND WADE was also an independent neighborhood grocer with a produce and meat section. Residents cried foul with the family business closed after 60 years. It is operated as a convenence store today.
ROCKY CREEK FOODS is an independently owned supermarket in a former Colonial building in a low income and high crime area of SW Macon not served by any other "chain" markets.
FOOD FAIR/FINE FAIR: This 1930's vintage store has sinage as a FOOD FAIR super market. It is unknown about its relation to the FOOD FAIR chain. However this store was open as Food Fair until a few years ago. It is a very small store in downtown Macon Georgia. Again, another store that served a low income area that had no other grocery store.
GIANT FOODS: there is a chain of small town supermarkets called GIANT FOODS that had few locations from Atlanta (Bankhead Hwy) to Warner Robins. This is no relation to the GIANT supermarket chains in the Mid-Atlantic States
Still in operation: 530 N. Davis Drive Warner Robins, HWY 49 in Byron, Georgia and College Street in Barnesville, Georgia. Each of these stores are in low income areas not served by other chains.
WALMART SUPERCENTER: Just to mention that in 1994 when I moved to this area, there were 2 regular Wal-marts in Macon, 1 in Forsyth, GA and 1 in Warner Robins. Since 1996, Every major "town" in Georgia has gained at least one Walmart Supercenter. The victims of these Super Walmarts have been Winn-Dixie, (Brunos) Foodmax/Piggly Wiggly and Food Lion/Harveys.
The Supercenter count in Central Geogia: Macon=3, Warner Robins=2, Perry=1 Eastman=1, Cordele=1, Milledgeville=1 and 2 pending (Gray and Warner Robins)
And that is all I have for MACON GEORGIA HISTORY at this time.
Photos to follow when I have a chance.