There’s no actual time when the era of neighborhood grocery stores ended in Albert Lea. However, the decline of the smaller family-owned stores was gradual.

Partial proof for this can be found in the city directories. In 1950 there were 39 business places listed under the category of groceries and meats — retail. By 1961 this number had dropped to 28 places listed under this heading in the city directory. Thus, some of the stores within walking or bicycle riding range of many city homes had ceased to exist during this 11-year period.

Firm proof that many of these stores were oriented to neighborhoods and/or family connections five decades ago can be found with their names.

For example, in 1961 those names were Claybourn’s, Dahl’s, Oscar Jensen, Larson Brothers, O’Brien’s, Ringham’s, Russell’s, Trapp’s, Wayne’s and Winjum’s Groceries.

The names of other groceries 50 years ago were listed by street, avenue and location: Clark, Fountain, Front, Garden Villa, Lakeview, North Side, South Broadway, South Side and Water.

Two of the 1961 stores combined owner’s names and locations: Jacobson’s First Street Grocery and Nasby’s East Side Grocery.

One store’s name may have had a name based on the owner’s nickname. This was Bun’s Cardinal Food Store, 646 Marshall St., listed with the name of H. Bernard Cornick.

Most of the grocery stores listed so far were in buildings that also served as homes for the owners. However, there were several larger free-standing stores that indicated a change was coming for food retailers. Also, several of these stores were affiliated with regional and national firms.

One of these larger free-standing stores stressing self-service with shopping carts and checkout lanes was an outlet for Super Valu and locally owned. This was Boyd and Jacks Inc., owned by Boyd R.F. DeMalignon and Wayne E. Oothoudt and located near the corner of East Clark Street and Bridge Avenue.

Other somewhat larger grocers heralding a future trend were Clifton Super Markets, 1025 S. Broadway Ave., Piggly-Wiggly Store, 204 S. Washington Ave., and Red Owl Grocery, 201 W. Main St.