Clemens Markets
Encyclopedia
Clemens Markets also known as Clemens Family Markets was a supermarket chain in the Philadelphia area. It was family-owned from the founding of its first store in Lansdale, Pennsylvania
to the sale of the company in 2006. Clemens was one of three independent supermarket chains to identify as "family markets" in Greater Philadelphia. Another was Genuardi's
, which was sold to Safeway Inc.
in 2000. The last one was Giunta's, which went out of business soon after Clemens. During the 1980s and 1990s, Clemens expanded by opening many new locations; eventually Clemens operated 20 supermarkets in three Pennsylvania counties, moving its headquarters to Kulpsville, Pennsylvania
in 1993. The chain eventually acquired many Thriftway/Shop 'n Bag franchises. Many of these were also former Acme, A&P
, Food Fair, and Penn Fruit
stores. Clemens later acquired many former Shop 'n Save
stores which themselves started as Super G. In 1999, it introduced its upscale FoodSource division, which had three locations. One of these stores was a former Zagara's, a gourmet supermarket chain itself a division of Genuardi's and later Safeway.
In late 2006, Clemens was acquired by Giant
, but several of its stores in Montgomery
and Bucks
counties in Pennsylvania were sold to Super Fresh
. Two of the three FoodSource stores have been closed since the buyout. The remaining store is now owned by Giant Food Stores.
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
to the sale of the company in 2006. Clemens was one of three independent supermarket chains to identify as "family markets" in Greater Philadelphia. Another was Genuardi's
Genuardi's
Genuardi's is a chain of supermarkets located in the Northeastern United States. Genuardi's was family-owned until it was purchased by Safeway in 2000. Genuardi's has its headquarters in the Bentwood Executive Campus in East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania....
, which was sold to Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
in 2000. The last one was Giunta's, which went out of business soon after Clemens. During the 1980s and 1990s, Clemens expanded by opening many new locations; eventually Clemens operated 20 supermarkets in three Pennsylvania counties, moving its headquarters to Kulpsville, Pennsylvania
Kulpsville, Pennsylvania
Kulpsville is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,194 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Kulpsville is located at ....
in 1993. The chain eventually acquired many Thriftway/Shop 'n Bag franchises. Many of these were also former Acme, A&P
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
, Food Fair, and Penn Fruit
Penn Fruit
The Penn Fruit Company was a regional grocery chain in the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas that operated from 1927 until 1978. During the firm’s history it was regarded as one of the most innovative American supermarket chains...
stores. Clemens later acquired many former Shop 'n Save
Shop 'n Save
Shop ’n Save is a grocery store chain with forty stores in the St. Louis, Missouri, market. The company, headquartered in Kirkwood, Missouri, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SuperValu, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.-History:...
stores which themselves started as Super G. In 1999, it introduced its upscale FoodSource division, which had three locations. One of these stores was a former Zagara's, a gourmet supermarket chain itself a division of Genuardi's and later Safeway.
In late 2006, Clemens was acquired by Giant
Giant Food of Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Giant Food Stores, LLC is an American supermarket chain that currently operates stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia under the names of Giant, FoodSource, and Martin's. Giant is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold...
, but several of its stores in Montgomery
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
and Bucks
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
counties in Pennsylvania were sold to Super Fresh
Super Fresh
Super Fresh is a chain of supermarkets owned by A&P, which introduced the banner in 1982, converting its Mid-Atlantic region's stores to the new name. Super Fresh's 24 stores are mostly in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, plus Delaware and southern New Jersey...
. Two of the three FoodSource stores have been closed since the buyout. The remaining store is now owned by Giant Food Stores.