Comments

Volume 9, Issue 44 - Feature #3100

DoubleO Sims Grocery

In the 1930's my grandfather owned the L. A. Wagner Cash Grocery in Alva. The store was located on the north side of the square. The name is still visible on the brick front of the old building (704 Flynn I think). My father, Paul Wiebener bought the store from Lee Wagner (his father-in-law) after he returned from WWII. Paul and Veva Wiebener operated the store until 1955. Safeway, and Humbty Dumpty (Chain stores) came to Alva and eventually all the smaller stores went out of business. I think at the time there were at least four grocery stores around the square and two neighborhood grocery stores, one on Church St. (Barr's grocery) and another on the west side of town. Wiebener's Grocery used to deliver, they also extended credit to townspeople, as I'm sure most of the mom & pop smaller stores did. When the chain stores came to Alva, with cheaper prices, folks began shopping there, which eventually lead to the small stores demise. After my parents died (77 & 78) I cleaned out their garage in preparation to sell the house. I found boxes of unpaid charge tickets. Too bad.

Marvin Wiebener - 2007-11-11 15:38:57

During WWII when meat was rationed O. O. Sims discovered that wild meat was not rationed. He had some buffalo on his ranch outside town. He butchered them and sold the meat in his grocery store. I remember admiring the steaks and roasts in the meat counter case when I was on my paper route.It seems like it was there quite awhile. Don't recall whether we ever ate any.

Bill Barker - 2007-11-05 12:50:23

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