Weingarten's
Encyclopedia
Weingarten's was a supermarket
chain in the Southern United States
until it was acquired by Safeway
in 1983. J. Weingarten, Inc. had its headquarters in what is now the East End in Houston, Texas
.The company survives to this day as a real estate developer, after leaving the retail grocery business in 1980. Weingarten Realty is one of the nation's leading developers of retail shopping centers.
Houston
in 1901. A second store opened in 1920. Advertising "Better Food for Less," Joseph Weingarten pioneered self-service and cash-and-carry shopping. Weingarten's chain of stores in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana grew by 1926 to six; by 1938 to twelve; by 1951, twenty-five; and by 1967, seventy.
To concentrate on real estate development for retail shopping centers, Weingarten Incorporated sold its stores, which had grown to a chain of 104 stores in five states, to Grand Union
in 1980. Grand Union then resold most of the stores to Safeway
(Safeway acquired 43 of the stores), Randall's
, and Gerland's Food Fair in 1983, including 55 stores in the Houston area. However, lease provisions at several locations barred the automatic transfer of leases between operators. Because Weingarten's and Rice Food Markets
could not agree on a disposition of the Post Oak Center lease, Weingarten's continued to operate the store at that location until April 1986.
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chain in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
until it was acquired by Safeway
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 1983. J. Weingarten, Inc. had its headquarters in what is now the East End in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.The company survives to this day as a real estate developer, after leaving the retail grocery business in 1980. Weingarten Realty is one of the nation's leading developers of retail shopping centers.
History
Harris Weingarten and his son, Joseph, opened a grocery store in DowntownDowntown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in 1901. A second store opened in 1920. Advertising "Better Food for Less," Joseph Weingarten pioneered self-service and cash-and-carry shopping. Weingarten's chain of stores in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana grew by 1926 to six; by 1938 to twelve; by 1951, twenty-five; and by 1967, seventy.
To concentrate on real estate development for retail shopping centers, Weingarten Incorporated sold its stores, which had grown to a chain of 104 stores in five states, to Grand Union
Grand Union (stores)
Grand Union is a supermarket chain operated by C&S Wholesale Grocers of Brattleboro, Vermont. Originally based in Elmwood Park, New Jersey , the company operated mostly in the northeastern United States but at times its reach extended into the Midwest, Southeast, and the Caribbean...
in 1980. Grand Union then resold most of the stores to Safeway
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...
(Safeway acquired 43 of the stores), Randall's
Randall's Food Markets
Randall's Food Markets operates 112 supermarkets in the Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas under the Randalls, Flagship Randalls, Tom Thumb, Flagship Tom Thumb, and Simon David banners. Randall's employs more than 10,000 associates and is the Texas division of Safeway Inc. The Texas...
, and Gerland's Food Fair in 1983, including 55 stores in the Houston area. However, lease provisions at several locations barred the automatic transfer of leases between operators. Because Weingarten's and Rice Food Markets
Rice Epicurean Markets
Rice Epicurean Markets is an American niche grocery store chain based in Southwest Houston, Houston, Texas. The company operates five Rice Epicurean Markets, which range in size from 25,000 to . Rice Epicurean Markets is wholly owned by founding family members.- Rice Boulevard Food Market :Founded...
could not agree on a disposition of the Post Oak Center lease, Weingarten's continued to operate the store at that location until April 1986.
External links
- Weingarten Realty Investors
- Weingarten, Joseph, The Handbook of Texas Online.