Let’s take a look at the past! Grocery shopping in the 1960s was so different from the experience today’s customers have. Many grocery shopping features have vanished and changed the experience, like the mechanical horse at the entrance for kids and the friendly butcher who knew everyone by name. Let’s take a walk down memory lane!
Table of Contents
- 1 1. The Mechanical Horse Ride
- 2 2. The S&H Green Stamps Counter
- 3 3. The Full-Service Butcher Counter
- 4 4. The Bottle Return Station
- 5 5. The Coffee Grinder Station
- 6 6. The Paper Bag Packer
- 7 7. The Wooden Floors
- 8 8. The Pickle Barrel
- 9 9. The Personal Check Approval Station
- 10 10. The Bulk Bin Section
- 11 11. The Cigarette Vending Machine
- 12 12. The Bread Slicing Station
- 13 13. The Rain Check Counter
- 14 14. The Produce Scale Attendant
1. The Mechanical Horse Ride
Every child that behaved well would be rewarded with a visit to the grocery store to ride one of the mechanical horses. For a penny, the horse would rock and sway back and forth for a whole minute. It entertained many children. A parent would only have to come up with a penny and they could get their shopping done in peace.
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2. The S&H Green Stamps Counter
Every grocery store issued stamps for every purchase. Green stamps would be given to the customer who would lick and stick the stamps into a booklet. When a customer would complete a booklet, they could redeem it at a counter for items like lawn chairs and toasters. Many Moms would spend a lot of time and plan how to maximize their stamp collection.
3. The Full-Service Butcher Counter
Behind the counter every customer was known. A personal relationship was formed over the counter and pre-packaged portions were not used. All meat was wrapped in brown paper and string. Even some cooking tips were shared.
4. The Bottle Return Station
Every customer was encouraged to keep their empty glass bottles and return them for a refund. Kids would collect bottles from the neighborhood to make money. The sound of glass clinking together was music to their ears and they would keep doing this all weekend.
5. The Coffee Grinder Station
As customers chose their bags of coffee, the freshly ground coffee beans would fill the aisles. A smell of rich coffee and the sound of the machine were experiences you couldn’t get from buying coffee that was pre-ground.
6. The Paper Bag Packer
Grocery packing was also an art. Balancing packed bags with heavy cans at the bottom and eggs on top showed those experts how to pack a bag. Most of these teenagers, doing it as a side hustle after school, were so good they would even take bags to the car for you. And of course, bags were made with sturdy brown paper.
7. The Wooden Floors
The wooden floors made every trip unique and gave every trip an atmosphere that is stoic and clinically designed. Every place you stepped would sound different as the carts rolled across the planks and the floors squeaked.
8. The Pickle Barrel
With the tangy scent that reached across the aisle large wooden barrels and pickles were a favorite of any customer. The satisfaction of choosing the ideal pickle with the long wooden clasps was worth the risk of sampling if mom wasn’t looking.
9. The Personal Check Approval Station
A desk that the manager would sit at to approve personal checks was a normal feature for every store. They would take the time to check your check-cashing card, and often they knew you by name from the trusting relationship that formed over time between businesses and their regular customers.
10. The Bulk Bin Section
Even way before bulk sections in stores, there were wooden bin stores. These went all the way back tp bean, sugar and flour merchants, where you could scoop your desired amount into a paper bag. You would then write the bin number on the twist tie at the top and there was a true sense of satisfaction knowing you had the exact amount you wanted.
11. The Cigarette Vending Machine
Even though they are looked down upon today, vending machines that sold cigarettes were commonplace at the front of stores. Customers could buy their favorite cigarette brand without going through the checkout line. The machines attracted buyers because of their pull knob features, but were removed from stores because of concerns for easy access by minors.
12. The Bread Slicing Station
While at the in-store slicing station, fresh loaves of bread are sliced to the customer’s preferred thickness. The warm smell of bread and rhythmic sound of the machine slicing made the station popular among customers. It even allowed customers to see their loaves being sliced.
13. The Rain Check Counter
Customers visited this counter to get rain checks when advertised products were sold out. The employees would handwrite slips, guaranteeing the same price as the advertisement when the product was restocked. It was formalized to show the stores dedication to their consumers.
14. The Produce Scale Attendant
The employees would bag your produce and weigh it to calculate the total. The employees knew every single code by heart and even gave suggestions on how to select the best produce. People found the scale and calculations to be very interesting.
