HAGERSTOWN – One thing that every town needs, whether big or small, is a place to get their groceries. Whether it is a big box grocery chain like Weis or Martin’s or a small mom and pop grocer, a food supplier is a must on any spot of the map.
Hagerstown has had a rich history of small grocers throughout the years, and some of them are still thriving today. Hagerstown was founded in 1762, by namesake, Jonathan Hager, who had originally named the town after his wife. It was called Elizabethtowne. The town was renamed Hagerstown in 1814 as the town began to thrive.
The first food supplier to the settlers who came to the area in the mid-1730’s was a trading post that was run by Hager himself in the now historic Hager House. Later, as the town prospered and grew, small grocers began to pop up around town. Most records have been lost to time, but one well-known grocer was William Householder (1819-1899) who ran a store on the corner of town square during the time of the Civil War, meaning that he would have borne witness to the Confederate’s ransom of Hagerstown and the skirmish that was fought there.
Photo credit: Library of Congress.
As Hagerstown moved into the 20th century, it saw a quick rise in population numbers. In 1890, the population was just over 10,000 citizens. Just 20 years later in 1910, that number had shot over 16,500. That is a growth of over 65% which means there were a lot of mouths to feed. The early 1900’s saw a boom in the grocery business in Hagerstown. Bloyer’s Grocery opened on West Washington Street in the early part of the new century. That was followed quickly by Family Grocery which set up shop on Potomac Avenue.
In 1923, the oldest family-owned grocery store in the city opened its doors. Gordon’s Grocery which sits at 101 Cypress St. just celebrated their 102 year of supplying food to the local community. The store was opened by Harry Gordon, Sr., who was originally from Pennsylvania. The store sold fresh produce from local farms and also had a butcher shop onsite to supply fresh cuts of meat. Harry Gordon Jr. and his wife, Jane, took over the running of the store in the 1940’s. The family business was then passed down to Harry and Jane’s children who still run the store today. The store is a city treasure that continues to connect old and new customers with a piece of Hagerstown’s storied legacy.
Photo credit: Library of Congress.
Photo credit: Library of Congress.
Photo credit: Library of Congress.
The 1920’s and ’30’s saw an influx of new grocery businesses pop up around the city in addition to Gordon’s Grocery. Just a year earlier in 1922, A & P Foods opened their first store on 124 W. Franklin St. and then opened a second store in 1929 on 600 N. Potomac St. before moving to 480 N. Potomac St. in 1935. Also in 1935, two more grocery stores joined the community. They were Pen Mar Foods which was located at 55 West Franklin Street and American Food Stores which sat at 120 W. Franklin St. One didn’t have to walk far on Franklin Street or Potomac Avenue to find a place to get their weekly groceries.
IN 1950, a familiar name would make its way into Hagerstown. Martin’s Grocery Store, which is owned by the Giant Food Corporation, opened its doors to shoppers at 806 W. Washington St. This would be the first big box grocery chain to set up in the city. This would have a big impact on many of the smaller stores who could not compete with Martin’s sales and bargains, and several had to close their doors under the strain of competition. While the original store is no longer on W. Washington Street, there are three Martin’s Grocery Stores in Hagerstown on Dual Highway, Wesel Boulevard and North Pointe Drive.
Hagerstown has grown to be one of the biggest cities in Maryland. As the “Hub City” for the railroad, it helped to expand the growth of Washington County and in many cases the growth of Western Maryland. The grocers who have supplied the sustenance for the men and women behind that growth is a big part of the city’s legacy.
Photo credit: Library of Congress.
