Comments on: Unity-Frankford Grocers

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:22:16 +0000

Wow that is some serious history werememberretail!

By: werememberretail

werememberretail — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:09:37 +0000

Edlmaximum@gmail.com Unity Frankford did not go under, they evolved, First in the 1960s to compete with the larger supermarkets in the area (Acme, Penn Fruit Food Fair etc.) some members migrated to larger stores and began using a new trade name within U-F (By this time called Frankford/Quaker) called Shop N Bag, ultimately the Shop N Bags came to dominate U-F business as both established and new co-op members began opening larger regionally concentrated supermarkets in shopping centers (some taking over former chain stores) the Shop N Bags like their traditional U-F neighborhood store counterparts carried the Unity brand private label ( this continued well into the late 70s if not even later) The Shop N Bags grew rapidly as a result of the 1970′s price wars that had claimed Penn Fruit, and A&P as victims (though A&P hangs on to this day as Superfresh) and Food Fair’s troubles. byn 1982 there were about 70 Shop N Bags, however other co-ops and Independent groups some with far more advanced store development plans, such as Thriftway, Shoprite, and IGA came into Philly taking many longtime Unity-Frankford/Frankford-Quaker/Shop N Bag Members with them in 1985 because of the decreased volume due to member defections, Frankford-Quaker sold out to Fleming Foods, which supplied Thriftway stores. Though the old warehouse in North Philly was phased out Fleming kept the Shop N Bag name presumably because of it connection to the old unity frankford stores and its history as an authentic “Philadelphia” brand. Fleming then merged the advertising of Thriftway and Shop N Bag in the 90s however because of big name chain competitors opening newer larger stores, Many Thriftway/Shop N Bag retailers either closed or sold out. in 1996 90 stores operated under either name, a few years later about 50, by 2003 only 30 or so, and as of 2011 about 25 or so remain. Fleming’s bankruptcy played a role in this as well numerous labor problems at Fleming’s unionized warehouses encouraged many retailers to switch suppliers, as did cannibalization between Thriftway and Shop N Bag stores. the renmant of Shop N Bags still open today are supplied by a New Jersey distributor with no ties to the original Unity/Frankford/Quaker/ Fleming group. Wawa is successful because it’s a trendsetter in the convenience store industry, they are one of the “big” regional players that rivals aim to emulate.

By: Jim Feld

Jim Feld — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:00:57 +0000

My mother grew up behind and above her parent’s store (Sam’s) at the corner of York and Orianna Street from 1924 till 1944 when her mother sold the store. The buidling was gone when I went to see it in the early 70′s.

My mother tells the story of the first supermarket at Front Street that opened. Customers (many of whom owed my grandfather money for groceries he “sold” on credit) would pass his store to go to the supermaket.

I notice in ths blog the stores are referred to as “Unity Frankford”. I have some letters from my grandfather – his letterhead says “A Frankford Unity Store”

By: Edlmaximum@gmail.com

Edlmaximum@gmail.com — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:37:24 +0000

Why did they go under, stores lie wawa seem to make it even with the big chain store

By: Mike Grasso

Mike Grasso — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:26:03 +0000

Hey Dutchman……..

My father drove for Frankford Unity back in the 60′s before having his own store in North Philly (no…it was’nt a Unity Store)…….but the “other Unity Store” you’re trying to figure out was located up in Ottsville……off of old Easton Road. I pass the old ones in Tradesville and Fountainville ALL THE TIME (I live in Upper Horsham/Lower Gywnedd border)…….I’m 51 and grew up with Frankford Unity. I hope this helps!!!!!

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 01:12:11 +0000

Devereaux goes a long way. You could try asking on our message board:

http://frankfordgazette.com/board/index.php

By: GuyS

GuyS — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:26:03 +0000

Hi All, great postings. I have one of these signs that originated from a store on Devereaux Stret (unsure where), Anyone have any ideas where exactly that store was located?

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:23:06 +0000

Good comment alexbay. This has become a nice chain of infomational comments.

By: alexbay

alexbay — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:24:37 +0000

Outside Philadelphia, the Unity Frankford stores often had post offices as a part of the the operation. I grew up in Bucks County and the store in Lahaska was run by a local by the name of Bob Johnson. His sister was the Postmistress. They gave credit, and stocked everything from candy (in a glass case) to 22 caliber bullets.
I am writing a history of this area and would like to know of anyone who may have photos of these stores.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:05:42 +0000

Great info werememberretail. I’m continually amazed how the Unity-Frankford Grocers group influenced the Philadelphia area and how so many people were a part of it.