Grocery Archaeology: Auburn

We've seen a few former grocery stores here in Auburn, a suburb directly outside of Worcester, with the Iandoli, Breault's Market (later Montouris Market), and King Market. Now let's check out some of the smaller former grocers in town.

A note on sources: To get these listings, I've consulted Worcester city directories going back to the 1920s. In the Worcester suburbs, the directories aren't the most frequent, so I have looked at 1926, 1937, 1955, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1982, and 1989. Also of note: this is far from an exhaustive listing of all grocery stores that have been in this area, although I'll probably eventually post the full thing, this is just what I've been able to photograph.

Reading the captions: A caption such as the following...

        |  John Smith (1926-1937) > Joe Jones (1955-1982)

...means that John Smith appears in the directories in 1926 and 1937, and Joe Jones appears in all directories I consulted between 1955 and 1982. That doesn't mean that John Smith opened up shop in 1926 and closed in 1937, he might have started in 1920 and closed in 1941 but since I don't have those records, I don't know for sure. Any questions (or corrections), feel free to drop a note in the comments and I'll look into it!

Auburn

123 Central St, Auburn, MA: Myron Putnam (1926) > George Rawson (1937) > Clayton Place (1955) > Auburn Center Market (1961-1975)

In what might be considered the center of Auburn, off of the busy retail strip on Southbridge Street is this former grocer at Central and South. It's easy to see where the grocer (now a salon) was, with the single-story building extending in front of and behind the original house.

304 Oxford St N, Auburn, MA: Community Stores (1937)

This tiny corner building, now a locksmith, was once a location of local chain Community Stores.

305 Oxford St N, Auburn, MA: Community Stores (1955) > Oxford Street Market (1961)

It looks like Community Stores eventually moved directly across the street to this building which later became the Oxford Street Market.

275 Oxford St N, Auburn, MA: Rival Cash Market (1937-1955)

I'm not 100% certain on this one, since 1937 and 1955 city directories list the Rival Cash Market at 274 Oxford. There isn't a building there now, but there once was. Still, this building looks similar to some of the others we see, so it's possible the number is just slightly off.

37 Bryn Mawr Ave, Auburn, MA: Michael Pappas (1937*-1961) > Bryn Mawr Market (1964)

In 1937, Michael Pappas was at 35 Bryn Mawr, a building that no longer exists. By 1955, it was 37 Bryn Mawr. Park 'n Shop was owned by the Pappas family until 2021, but I'm not sure whether it's the same family.

146 Auburn St, Auburn, MA: Community Stores (1937)

Another grocer that's now a salon.

151 Auburn St, Auburn, MA: Champagne's Grocery (1955)

This store has been the 1-Stop Convenience Store for many years, although it closed briefly a few years ago and then reopened under new ownership. I swear I took a picture of the inside through the front window when the store was closed, but I can't find it now. Back in the 1950s, though, this 1800 square foot store was Champagne's Grocery.

30 Main St, Auburn, MA: Clover Farm Stores (1937)

The original structure is the boxy rectangular part on the right, which was later expanded with the brick section built much later, around the 1960s.

184 Oxford St N, Auburn, MA: Louis Breault (1926*)

In 1926, Louis Breault owned a store at Auburn Street and Oxford St, according to the city directory. This is the only building that's still standing that seems to fit the bill, but it's very possible the building is long gone. The Breaults eventually moved south to Oxford and Pinehurst. More on that in a second.

33 Zabelle Ave, Auburn, MA: David Ghize (1926*) > The Auburn Trader (1975)

Until recently, too, this store was the Auburn Convenience Store. The 1926 Worcester suburbs directory didn't typically include address numbers, instead using only street names or intersections. David Ghize was on Zabelle Avenue, a very short street (this is barely even on Zabelle), and I don't see too many buildings that could've been a grocery store except this one directly across Zabelle from 33 Zabelle, but its address today is 25a Rochdale St.

95 Pinehurst Ave, Auburn, MA: First National Stores (1937) > Breault's Market (1955)

This one might just be my favorite! I love the way the obvious storefront pokes out from underneath the house. This one was originally a First National (later Finast), then by 1955 had become Breault's Market. They ultimately moved across the street.

99 Oxford St N, Auburn, MA: Auburn Cash Market (1926*-1961)

In 1926, the Auburn Cash Market was at Oxford and Boyce, and from 1937 on, we know it was at 99 Oxford St N. The ground floor of this typical Worcester triple-decker strikes me as the likely original location of the Auburn Cash Market.

55 Oxford St N, Auburn, MA: Anastasia Sydor (1937)

I'm not positive which part of this building was the grocer, but I would expect (if this is the original building), it was the little part on the right that almost looks like a lean-to.

85 Boyce St, Auburn, MA: Boyce Street Market (1937)

Again, I assume the grocery store was on the first floor of this building. I think it's possible there was once another door here between the otherwise oddly-spaced windows on the front wall.

161 Southbridge St, Auburn, MA: Eaton Avenue Market (1955)

This wide and squat building was the Eaton Avenue Market, named after the cross street.

43 Jerome Ave, Auburn, MA: Selena Leucht (1937-1955) > Louis Coursey (1961-1964)

Here, too, I'm not positive which part of the building was originally the store or if there was another building previously here. There's a garage behind the house, but I doubt that was the store. In 1961, the owner was listed as Louis Corsey and in 1964 it was Coursey. I don't know which is correct.

4 Newton St, Auburn, MA: Samuel Denis (1937)

Again, not positive where the store would've been but it's possible it was front and center. On the other side, there's a side entrance, and it's possible that would've been the original residential entrance and the front door would've been for the store.

And there you have it! Amazing to think that all these -- especially the residences -- once were grocery stores. I can only imagine what the streets of Worcester County looked like way back when! Tomorrow we're off to southeastern Worcester County, starting in Millbury, just east of Auburn.