Schaffer Stores Company
Schaffer Stores Company was a small grocery chain store based in Schenectady, New York. The business gained valuable experience by running a self-service grocery store beginning in 1929. Schaffer's first supermarket, called Empire Market, opened in 1933.[1]
Foundation, expansion
The business was founded by Henry Schaffer (1890 - December 16, 1982). A native of Poland who came to Schenectady in his youth, he lived in Schenectady at the time of his death from leukemia.
Schaffer formed Schaffer Stores Company in 1907.[2] He operated 31 stores by 1922.[3] In 25 years the firm grew to include 185 stores in the Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, and western Massachusetts.[2]
Buy out
The chain was acquired by Grand Union (supermarket) in June 1958 for approximately $8 million.[4] Grand Union, based in East Paterson, New Jersey, operated 472 supermarkets. At the time Schaffer ran 41 grocery stores, the majority of which were supermarkets.[5]
References
- ^ Shopping Center and Store Leases, Volume 2, Emanuel B. Halper, Law Journal Press, 2003, pg. 58.
- ^ a b Henry Schaffer Is Dead at 92; Founded Supermarket Chain, New York Times, December 17, 1982.
- ^ Chain stores: their management and operation, Walter Sumner Hayward, Percivsl Albert Frederick White, John S.Fleek, and Hugh MacIntyre, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1922, pg. 334.
- ^ Trade Regulation Reporter (Volume 2), Commerce Clearing House, 1961.
- ^ Trade Regulation Reporter (Volume 3), Commerce Clearing House, 1961.