LaGrandeurs was purchased from Frank Comstock.The store at that time was called comstock confectionary.The comstocks also owned the house next door.I know this a fact,because I married Frank Comstocks grand daughter. Glen Kelly

I think it was Comstock's Confectionary in the late 20's. The address was then 20 N. Custer. I have some info on it down at the office.

Does anyone remember Fred LaGrandeur. He probably sold it to Comstock.
I lived on N. Jordan in the early 30's it was still LaGrandeurs then.

Does anyone remember Dr. Winters Sr. I believe he was Milwaukee Roads Doctor. Lived in house NW corner N. Jordan and E. Main. This probably the wrong thread. Just wondering.

Jim D

I believe Al Lagrandeur bought the store - possibly from Comstock? as I remember going there as a child in the late 40s. Al's son Fred then inherited the store and in turn it passed on to Fred's son Ken. I believe he is the one who sold it to someone outside of the family. It then was converted into a number of different businesses over the course of time from the late 50s or early 60s. The grocery business moved across the street when the mini-mall was developed on the vacant lot in that corner of the block. At one time in the '40s the store included a fountain and I had my first milkshake there. Many high school students frequented the store.

Right on, Bill.

Both me and my brother Oscar worked for Fred LaGranduer when we were in high school. We worked with both Ken L. and Bill Kransky who moved it and called it Bill's minit market. There were lots of wonderful people who worked there and I learned alot from my time there. Fred was one of my "teachers" about life and gave me a good work ethic that served me well. I would like to here some more stories about LaGranduers. I remember the great fountain he had there and cooking chickens. Leif Ronning

Speaking of LaGranduers Fountain...best root beer floats in the world! Myself and the Dundas twins frequented that fountain every night after basketball practice in the 5th and 6th grades. The root beer floats were .15 cents, served in a tall fountain glass by the nicest lady named Mrs. Murray..we called her Missy Murray. La Grandeurs was still in operation when i graduated high school in 1962 and i can remember it in operation as far back as 1950. I believe at one time Fred worked on the Milwaukee RR..not really postitive about that though...good memories...orange sherbert push-ups six for a quarter....five cent 7 oz. cokes and a pound of navy beans for .19 cents...gone are those days forever. Sad...

I don't know why we're interested in these old stores, but I miss them. I still wish I had a photo of the sign of my favorite -- The Bean Bag. Now that I think of it, doesn't Gene the Dot Man have a drawing with the Bean Bag in it?

Bart, I agree, I miss those stores!

I've done many, many things in my life, and I only have one regret... I wish I would have kept Bill's. Life was a bit rough then, and I tried to save the wrong business. I should have moved to MC, worked the store myself, and saved the icon! Ah, how wonderful 20/20 is!

Another favorite was Lincoln Grocery across from Lincoln School. She (if I knew a name I can't recall) sat behind the HUGE penny candy display. She was always smoking a cigarette. The penny candy was actually a penny and there was every kind ever made. She would put your few pieces in a small (about 3x6) brown paper bag that I don't see anywhere anymore. About once a year she would get ahold of pomegranates. The kids that had money to buy one were so envied. They would carry it around split open showing everyone and spit the seeds on the ground and say how wonderful it was. I finally bought one when I was grown thinking it would be sooo wonderful. It was very sour and messy. How disappointing.

Mrs. Harris I think might have been behind the counter at Lincoln grocery? Also, was there a Murray family in ownership of the store?
Great place to visit!

The Lincoln was owned and run by Bill Murray. They had a large meat operation and was an originator along with Pettigrew of finger steaks and sold them all over Montana. Tom Murray was in my class of 68 and we still stay in contact and remain close friends. Miles City had the greatest little neihborhood stores in those days. Leif Ronning

We used to do our monthly shopping at Lincoln Grocery. They had a great meat counter. They sold the best tasting summer sausage. We'd head out the door after spending almost FIFTY dollars and have the entire huge pontiac loaded back seat and trunk with groceries. I also used to walk down to LaGrandeur's to buy bread and milk for my grandmother. She would give me fifty cents and I would have enough money for both with a nickel left over to spend. The candy was in the big case to the left of the door. You had to reach over the glass to get to the things in the bottom. What memories.

Wow, pomegranates...haven't thought of them in a long time!!! I definitely remember loving those from Lincoln Grocery. I also remember the penny candy...remember the "coins" chewy gummy candy??? Another neighborhood store...Herb's Superette on the corner of Cottage and ?. Ah, the simple times.

Herb's Superette. That's the name I was trying to think of. Isn't that the building that Stevenson Design was in for a while?

Also, what was the name of the neighborhood grocery that was on Lincoln Street, just as Lincoln turns into N. Merriam?

'"coins" chewy gummy candy'

I don't remember coins. I remember the chewy small red cinnamony teddy bears. We always got those because you got 2 for a penny...it was double the value. I missed those coins... or maybe preferred the bears as I still love animals.

Does anyone know 'who' Mrs. Harris was? Seemed like she was always there...

Denise,
I remember two stores on that corner at one time. One was Sam Leo Grocery and I think the other was named Riverside Grocery and run by Andy Magnusson. It's pretty obvious who ran Sam Leo Grocery. They were across the street from each other and Sam Leo closed quite a while before Riverside.

Lagrandeur's soda fountain was a great place to escape to, during CCHS assemblies in the mid 1950s.

Of course, I only heard about such escapades.

This is my first time on the forum, read it alot, but never got involved in the forums. Well about the Lincoln Grocery, Murrays used to live right next door to my family and I believe Tanis Murray and maybe Sue Murray still live in Miles City. I remember all the kids. LaGrandeurs was my favorite store-my mom used to send me with $2 and get 3 packs of cigarettes, gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. A believe Alma Decker worked there. That is only about 40 to 45 years ago. Oh, my gosh, am I THAT old?

Remember Southside Grocery on the corner of Pearl and S. Montana? It was owned by the Linstead (sp?) family when I was a kid.

As I remember it there was pretty much a full service grocery store tucked away in that little building: canned/dry goods, meat, produce, dairy, bakery items, and, of course, penny candy.

Anyone remember Spudnut Donuts? If I'm remembering it correctly, they used to sell them at the Southside.

I remember Lincoln grocery too. As I recall my folks were always impressed with the meat that Murray sold.

As I recall, the Bean Bag had a good selection of deli meats when Vic Kosty ran it.

I have the grocery store file at my office, with stores dating back to the turn of the last century through the end of the neighborhood grocery. I keep adding to it and adding to it. I had a fairly thorough version in my second book, based heavily on the original Pete Petro list with additions from lots of other sources. Personally, I was a Bean Bag kid in the Kosty era. Lincoln Grocery was way far away, Bud's was pretty exotic and I only knew of some of the others as you might know of far off Babylon.

I remember being only six and walking downtown with my best friend. I lived right Tompy by the old flower shop so that was quite a walk. We would go to the Bean Bag and spend a dime on candy. Then we'd wander around a while. We used to buy the little tiny bottles of jergens lotion at Woolworths. Eventually we'd end up at the lunch counter at Rexall Drug and have our fancy lunch which consisted of a ham sandwich on a plate with a few potato chips. Wow...good times.

the neighborhood kids and I would walk to the matinee and always stop at the Bean Bag for candy - I remember getting those "Ed Roth weird-o style" trading cards there...
Its gonna be interesting to hear what our children refer to as there fond childhood memories...

We lived half way between La Grandeurs and Lincoln Grocery so I remember both. My brother Tim worked for Fred LaG when he (Tim) was in high school. And Tim's late wife Sherril Marthaler was Mrs. Murray's granddaughter.
Ken Ziebarth

Richard G Flor,Talking about the best root beer floats in town.Hands down Grants pool hall.And milk shakes mmm.We did have many at Lagrandeurs as well.Win or loose those little league games we had our treats,at those foutains.The new question who remembers Burgies on Woodbury street.Bill Nelson monty Kemph Gene Keller Dick tucker we all served our apprendeship at burgies.Better go now. Glen Kelly

I agree with you about the milkshakes. My grandpa used to "take me for a walk". Don't know if Grandma knew where we always went. Grant's Pool Hall! He'd throw me up on a bar stool and get me a shake or a Heath Ice Cream bar. Then I'd watch while he smoked his cigar and played pool. Maybe that's why I love to play pool so much!