High's Dairy Store
Encyclopedia
High's Dairy Stores is a chain of convenience store
s in Maryland
and Delaware
. It once had locations in Virginia
, and Washington, D.C.
as well, many of which have been converted to 7-Eleven
s. The company is based in Hanover, Maryland
.
in 1932 and purchased by James R. Gregory, Jr. (1914-1994) with two partners in 1938, at which time there were 16 stores and an ice cream
plant in Richmond. In 1941, Convenient Systems, Inc. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
purchased the chain, then numbering 50 stores. Gregory remained at the helm until 1976. The company was acquried by the Capital Milk Producers Cooperative, who grew the chain to 350 High's Dairy Stores and Restaurants, and sold the Virginia stores in 1987 to Southland Corporation (owners of the 7-Eleven chain). Many High's sell Citgo
and Shell gasoline. High's still features hand-dipped ice cream as well as other dairy products. The company now has over 80 stores in Maryland and Delaware.
(which was subsequently acquired by C.F. Sauer Corporation in 1990). The company no longer manufactures High's brand of ice cream. However, there was one High's Ice Cream parlor left in Portsmouth, Virginia
until 2010, but it sold Hershey's brand ice cream. At the time of its closing, it still had the original High's interior (though showing its age) including the white and black checkerboard floor tiles that High's Ice Cream stores were known for.
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It once had locations in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as well, many of which have been converted to 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
s. The company is based in Hanover, Maryland
Hanover, Maryland
Hanover, Maryland is a locality in unincorporated northwestern Anne Arundel County, Maryland in the United States, located south of Baltimore near the Howard County line....
.
History
It was founded as High’s Ice Cream by L.W. High in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in 1932 and purchased by James R. Gregory, Jr. (1914-1994) with two partners in 1938, at which time there were 16 stores and an ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
plant in Richmond. In 1941, Convenient Systems, Inc. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
purchased the chain, then numbering 50 stores. Gregory remained at the helm until 1976. The company was acquried by the Capital Milk Producers Cooperative, who grew the chain to 350 High's Dairy Stores and Restaurants, and sold the Virginia stores in 1987 to Southland Corporation (owners of the 7-Eleven chain). Many High's sell Citgo
Citgo
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
and Shell gasoline. High's still features hand-dipped ice cream as well as other dairy products. The company now has over 80 stores in Maryland and Delaware.
Ice cream
The right to produce High's brand of ice cream was sold in 1989 to Kay's Ice Cream, based in Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
(which was subsequently acquired by C.F. Sauer Corporation in 1990). The company no longer manufactures High's brand of ice cream. However, there was one High's Ice Cream parlor left in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
until 2010, but it sold Hershey's brand ice cream. At the time of its closing, it still had the original High's interior (though showing its age) including the white and black checkerboard floor tiles that High's Ice Cream stores were known for.