The Stardust section of the NOvember 11th issue lists the following grocery stores in Miles City:

Arnolds
Kearney's
Lincoln Grocery
Matthew's Cash Market
Montana Market
Piggly Wiggley
Harold rorvik
Safeway Stores
Sawyer's
Wilson Brothers Grocery.

To have so many choices today would be wonderful!

It said that In respect for Armistice Day the stores would all be closed. Today any special day seems to just be an excuse for a sale at the stores.

[This message has been edited by Kacey (11/14/2010)]

You have to remember that those stores had much, much, much smaller selection than today's stores. So, while there were more stores, there was less choice in merchandise. And people drove less and walked more, which also accounted for lots of little stores.

There was a Piggly Wiggly? Awesome!

Anyone know where the Piggly Wiggly was located?

Was located at 703 Main in 1935, I believe.

Back then they had less selection but people didn't expect a huge selection. When I was growing up we bought our entire weekly grocery supplies at Lincoln Grocery. They carried everything you needed.

Piggly Wiggly in the Foster Drug building?

The store here in our village isn't a whole lot larger than Lincoln Grocery was. But that makes shopping easy, you don't have to pick & choose from numerous brands of . . . say . . . canned tomato soup. You buy the brand they stock - and of course you pay though the nose for it : -) : -) Last time I paid attention, a can of condensed soup was going for around $2.70.

Prices notwithstanding, the store can supply you with everything you need to survive. They keep basic groceries, household staples, and some dry goods, clothing & hardware items in stock. They also stock firearms, ammunition, beer & booze, and sell fuel. If you want to pay the freight they'll order in furniture, appliances, consumer electronic, small boats & motors, 4-wheelers, and cars & trucks.

They'll also buy your furs & pelts ; -)

I used to go to both Sawyers and Safeway when I was little. They also were full grocery stores. I would imagine all of them carried everything as many were neighborhood stores. I really miss them.

I think IGA/Safeway was in that arched building off Main Street, after you took the turn. It was converted into a car parts store or something. I remember the Coke machine from going there as a child. The other places, there were a bunch of them. Candy was cheap at each.

When I was a kid Safeway was located at N 7th and Palmer St. where Blue Rock Distributing is today. I suspect this may be the Safeway location Larry remembers.

The arched roof building on east Main Street where A&T Supply used to be and where Carquest/Valley Motor Supply is today used to be "Jack's IGA" I believe but that was before my time.

When I was a kid, Safeway was where the Miles City Saddlery now is. My folks raised chickens, geese, turkeys, etc. and took them there to sell, or maybe trade for groceries. Piggly Wiggly was where Star Printing Co. now is (in the old building that used to be there)when I was in high school in the 40's. That was before it became Reynolds Grocery.

Do you remeber Burgees by the tracks on Woodbury or Bickels store across from the Garfield school, next to the big house on the corner to the S.W. My dad built the house at 920 woodbury

I remember Linstead's Grocery on the corner of South Montana and Pearl St. We used to get Popcycles for 5 cents and Fudgecycles for a dime.
That would have been in the '50's.

Sawyer's, Safeway and Piggly Wiggly were the beginning of chain grocery stores.

Neighborhood grocery stores also specialized. There were two across the street from each other on Riverside at one time. One was general and one carried pasta and tomato paste and other exotic ingredients for Italian families so they weren't actually in competition.

Can you imagine telling a modern shopper there is one brand of soda cracker and no option as whether they get low fat, unsalted top, whole wheat or regular? We are a spoiled people.

When I was a Kid, Burgees on Woodbury was called Frisbees. Young Jim Frisbee and I went to school together. Late 30's

Jim Davis

Wasn't there a grocery store across from the Sacred Heart Parish on Phillips (?) and another one over on Riverside. My mom used to live by the old Roosevelt school when she was in grade school. She told me the building on the corner of Riverside and Merriam used to be a grocery store. It is now an apartment building.

So the store on South Montana and Pearl was what later became Clouds' Laundry.

I remember LaGrangers on main street. We lived across the road from there and my folks had an account which Mr LaGranger would keep an eye on and wouldn't allow us to spend too much. We had the phone number for the pay phone outside the store and would call it to see if anyone would pick it up.
After LaGrangers Bills Minute Market came in. I know my parents really miss the little grocery store across the road as now they have to drive to get the little things like milk and bread.

Wasn't it Clouds' Cleaners? I remember the little store on the corner.

This discussion has come up before... even before I was posting here.

http://milescity.com/foru...=all#25168

Does anyone know where Arnold's Grocery was? We were working in a basement and found a neat little metal sign for Arnold's Grocery.

My dad owned and operated Cloud Cleaners for about 25 years from 1947 to 1972. It was located at 18 So. 8th. I believe it is a clothing store now.

The first Arnold's grocery was in the Arnold Block i.e. the late Cellar Casino building. The second Arnold's grocery was in the building that later housed Coast to Coast and burned.

Not such good luck for their buildings, I'm afraid.

when Bill Kransky sold the minute mart did he stick around Miles?

My favorite little grocery store was Herb's Superette on Batchelor and Cottage. Herb and Betty Crone opened it up in 1959 and he retired in 1978. Herb was also one of our best mayors.

Regarding Bill Kransky: He left Miles City about 25-30 yrs. ago. He and Sheryl moved to North Dakota. Just recently they have moved back to Miles City. It's nice to have them back in our community.

The Kransky's did come back in the mid 80's because I went to school with his daughters and he bought the store back. I know this because I remember that I thought it was cool that "Bill" was back, oh, and I owned the store too!

I remember Herb's and going there when I was very little. It was on the walk home from Lincoln School. The Crones were friends of my father's too.

[This message has been edited by Cory Cutting (12/11/2010)]

Didnt Herb also run a small store on 7th street right north of the safeways. I used to get my papers for my paper route at Herbss superette my route was over in that area.

Anyone remember Andy's grocery on the northside? Banana popsicles and penny candy galore made me a regular customer.

Does anyone remember the name of the little corner grocery on Missouri street, maybe a block or so from the Four Square church? When I was a kid we lived in the 400 block of Missouri and I remember several trips down the street to that store with my mother. The building is still there, now a home.

Yes, I lived next door to that store at 607 Missouri. Our house was at 601. This is the info I have on the store.
Dilts' Grocery
Address: 607 Missouri Ave.
It was owned by the Dilts family, then by Ray Boese, about 1945. Became the H & H Grocery. Alvin Fisher was the owner, when it was the H & H. He was followed by Harley DeLange. The Turners, who owned South Side Grocery, were the next in line. The last owners were Buz and Elsie Sanburn, in 1955. It was then the Sanburn Grocery.

How about the grocery store down on 7th and Washington St. rite alongside the Tracks where the Beacon Tire shop used to be? Can't remember the name of it tho. Senior moment!!!

You are talking about Sawyers Grocery.

I can remember going to Reynolds with my mom when it was downtown, where the Star is now (the pre-fire Coast-to-Coast location). I was fascinated watching the checkers use the big cash registers with rows and rows of keys. A big treat was a getting a box of "Goody's Spud Chips."

We also lived near Lincoln Grocery. They had "Stripe" toothpaste, my favorite! It contained hexachlorophene which was eventually removed from the retail products because it was a suspected carcinogen and possibly caused birth defects. Oh, the good old days...

[This message has been edited by poisonspaghetti (6/1/2011)]

I remember Herbs, We lived on Custer and shopped herbs when I was a kid. Reynolds still had the grease pencils for you to price your items.

Wayne, My father bought 920 Woodbury in 1973, and my brother bought it from him in around 1989. After my brother passed away My nephew has it now. I grew up in that house. I started school and graduated from there. I remember playing in the old school yard as a kid.

Dad built the basement first and lived in that when I was born. He then did the top level. It was a great house and I used to sit on top of the garage and shoot fire crackers into the street, until the pricipal called the police, I hid under the bed downstairs. My brother and sisters had parties in the garage, does it still have the incinerator attached to the south side. There was a lazy susan in the kitchen, its probably been remodeled, I used to spin around on that a lot. Bickels had a grocery store across the street and on the 1000 block of Woodbury. My father lost the house when he also lost the Miles City sand and gravel, which he also started. wish I remembered more, when you are a kid you dont ask enough questions. In the basement, the room under the stairs used to scare the hell out of me. Will be there next summer, may knock on the door and see if I can look at it. Thanks for the info, glad to know the house is still there.

Dad built the basement first and lived in that when I was born. He then did the top level. It was a great house and I used to sit on top of the garage and shoot fire crackers into the street, until the pricipal called the police,

The school was closed when we lived there. The trees being staight across from each other in the field closest to house was perfect for football 1st down markers. I hated seeing them tear down the old school.

does it still have the incinerator attached to the south side.

Yes. As kids we cleaned it out and used it as a fort.

There was a lazy susan in the kitchen,

There was 2 lazy susans, one in each corner cabnet. No it still has original hardware on cabinents. A counter top covering was replaced.

In the basement, the room under the stairs used to scare the hell out of me.

Me too.

What year did he loose the house?

10-11years 1957-58, he had some issues and things went downhill, to bad he was a good man and father. Here is my e-mail [email protected] mail me and I will see if i can scan some old pictures one afternoon. We used to spend a lot of time at the slough I think that was pretty much removed. Wish I had the old merry go round from the school, did you ride it?

In the early 1950's my grandfather, Joe Gosselin, had been working at Sawyer's grocery for many years. My grandparents Joe and Edwina lived at 511 River Street after selling the family homestead near Volberg. I'm looking for anyone who might have been acquainted with my grandfather at Sawyers. Cliff

We used to spend a lot of time at the slough I think that was pretty much removed.

It was there when I lived there. We also spent a lot of time there. It is still there but it is a mess.

Wish I had the old merry go round from the school, did you ride it?

Spent a lot of time on the old merry go round, and the swings and slide. Fun Times

Many happy memories of "South Side Grocery" from school days. Walt & Edna had to babysit me many times while I waited for one of my folks to come and rescue me after school. Miles City was a "great" place to grow up!! Too bad we can't go back and relive some of those wonderful times. Some of them are kind of hazy now.
Jim

Was there a Cains Grocery Store on Riverside Street? It was on the other side of the street from the Riverside Grocery.

Anyone ever hear of "The Cash Grocery" located in the Masonic Temple here in Miles City? I ran across a wooden ruler from them. Says call or phone No. 9 on it. Furnish & Knutson, Proprietors.

In the 40's it was where the Star Printing Co. is now located. Then became Reynolds Grocery there.

There was 7th street grocery just over the Milwaukee tracks on the left headed towards the airport.

Came across the opening of the Red Owl grocery story in August of 1939. It was a regional chain. As soon as it opened, the Retail Store Clerks Local said it was a 'unfair' store and all union members had to boycott it. When the railroads were strong, the unions were strong. Bartenders, musicians, store clerks, all belonged to unions.

How about Miles City Grocery Stores... TODAY. Be Foxy:

Reynolds Market, Miles City by dave_mcmt, on Flickr

Reynolds Market, Miles City by dave_mcmt, on Flickr

Reynolds Market, Miles City by dave_mcmt, on Flickr