Hoot, hoot, what happened to Red Owl? Here in the Midwest they were the big grocery store chain in the sixties, seventies, and eightees. Suddenly they pretty much disappeared. Red Owl started as a coal investment firm associated with General Mills in 1922 and then they quickly got into the grocery business. Mom remembers going to the Red Owl grocery store with her mom to shop when she was growing up.
Red Owl got into the grocery business and expanded across the Midwest with some four hundred forty stores. The headquarters was in Hopkins, coincidentally, just a couple miles from where Mom grew up! In 1986, the chain became privately owned again but then in 1988 Supervalu took it over and before long the hoot of the Red Owl completely disappeared.
Completely isn’t actually the case as there is still one original Red Owl in Green Bay, Wisconsin. As you can see, we visited the store. Being dogs we could not go inside, but Mom did. It is a family business and has been since it opened. Mom felt a bit funny taking photos inside but she did take a few.
They have some old spices which Mom remembers seeing in the kitchen when she was growing up.
Some old signs hang on the walls too. Red Owl stores were featured a lot in the Mary Tyler Moore Show which took place in the Twin Cities.
The store is old, and the neighborhood is not the best. They do sell short and long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats, probably to make some extra money. Mom bought one. The store does make her happy remembering shopping at the Wayzata Red Owl with Gramma when she was growing up.
Fifty seven years in business and the one and only surviving store of what used to be a big chain is pretty amazing. We are glad we made the stop. Buying a couple shirts and putting them the blog, maybe we will get them another customer or two? If you are in Green Bay, look them up and give them a hoot!
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We have never shopped in a Red Owl store but it sure does sound like a fun store to visit. Wonderful history!
It was a huge chain in the Midwest and we had no idea one store was still around.
we are glad that you were there… a thing from a time what was better in many ways …
Life was simple. Mom has always liked technology but right now she dislikes it and would like to throw it all into the garbage.
Aqui noi Brasil não temos essa rede! Gostei das fotos! beijos, chica
Part of history.
A big part of Midwest history.
Joy I truly understand…how you feel. Oh to have beloved and cherished memories is wonderful.
All the big grocery chains are making it impossible for the small ones.
You know I love the RED owl logo
Hugs Cecilia
It brings Mom a lot of memories of shopping there as a little girl. It was “thee” store to get groceries and suddenly they all disappeared except for this one.
I would love to visit this store. I love stores that survive so long. What a fun adventure.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Scritches to the pups and a big hug to you. ♥
It is definitely nothing fancy but seeing the old things they have in there on the walls was the fun for Mom. We waited in the car, no dogs allowed. Mom loves the spices in a frame. Gramma still has some of those spice tins.
WHAT a hoot!!!
Good one and it was a hoot for Mom to visit this store.
Never saw a Red Owl store ~ but glad you found the original ~ sweet doggies in the photo too ~
Hugs ^_^ ~ Carol McK ~ an artist reflects
They were huge all over the Midwest but that was as far as they spread out.
That is some store but it’s sad there is only one left! Cool photos!
Times change and Mom has lots of memories of shopping with her mom at Red Owl when she was growing up.
How cool that must have been, especially for your Mom. We think that is a pretty snazzy red owl!!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Everyone knows the Red Owl if they were in the Midwest in the 60’s to the 80’s. Mary Tyler Moore did her shopping at one too on her TV show. If Mary shopped there, you know it was a good store!
It’s nice to be able to visit old memories
It was a fun little stop and memories came back.
Time marches on. Every time I return to my childhood hometown something from my past is gone or repurposed.
Even things that seemed fairly new disappear.
Mom loved this post! Then she started telling me about how she had the A & P when she was growing up–here on the East coast. Did you have A&P? It was a grocery store and it has books that you could collect stamps and then turn in the book for prizes! Mom always loves reading about history. She didn’t know about Red Owl. She is glad to know it now. Hoot! Hoot! have a great night. Your friend Chester
No A&P around the Midwest but Mom knew them from Florida and Arizona. They too were a huge chain. It is amazing how big, popular, flourishing businesses just vanish and no one seems to know why and they are then forgotten. Our area had gold bond stamps which Gramma collected. Mom remembers the stamp book but she doesn’t remember what they were for or how to get them. Life just keeps going along, the old disappears and the new moves in quietly and becomes the norm.
Chains come and go, new ones come up and the old get pushed out. I’m glad there is still a Red Owl left hooting, I happen to be an owl fan.
Everything in life seems to come and go. Some things are missed and some we are happy to have gone.
What a cool place. It’s sad when those childhood stores become a thing of the past. Loved the spice tins with the store logo!
The spice tins are Mom’s favorite memorabilia thing she saw.