From the Heart
Once upon a time, in a neighborhood in old town Noblesville, you would find a small grocery store … in every neighborhood.
I’m in a Facebook group that shares old pictures and old stories of Noblesville. Seems we all have a few of both.
I asked if anyone remembered the little grocery on 12th Street just north of Central Avenue. Just a few remembered it.
I was told that it was first opened by the Smoot Family, then the Bradshaws.
I remember it being owned by Chad and Rosie Phillips. I grew up with their sons Chuck (Steve) and Neal. My parents and I lived a half a block away between Grant and Central.
It was there that we bought our Christmas trees … and carried them home.
For some reason I remember more about going to the Wayne Street grocery where my dad would buy me Chocola out of the pop machine. I was his shadow. It was one of the “perks” of being an only child.
Now back to the rest of the stores. They were all known by the street where they were located or the family that owned them. Most families, who owned the little groceries, lived next door.
Mack Bentz and his wife owned one and when I was a little girl I would visit their house on 12th Street … which I now own.
If you take a tour of Old Town you should be able to recognize them.
Wayne Street has one. Walnut Street has one. Anyone growing up in the 60s and 70s in Noblesville will remember Roudy’s on South Tenth and Crask on Division Street.
One thing I do know is that many a mom sent many a kid “to the grocery” to pick up whatever was needed. We were rewarded with a nickel or dime, from returning pop bottles, to pick up some penny candy. I saved my extra money for Grandpa’s Candy Store at the corner of Harrison and 10th streets. Oh my goodness, the smells that came from that tiny store, owned by the Cullens. Homemade everything sweet!
On grocery day, usually Friday, my mom would head to Regals grocery – now Alexander’s Ice Cream – the tiny store with, I think three or maybe four aisles and green carts. I remember the sound of the carts on the wooden floor. Chad Phillips worked there after he closed his neighborhood store. Curly Swank was the meat cutter who knew exactly how every housewife in town wanted her beef and pork cut.
Eventually the A&P and Standard Grocery took over and the little neighborhood groceries were closed. Several of them became residences with a little creative remodeling. Nothing will ever compare to Kenley’s Grocery on South 10th Street where I got my first job as a cashier. That was in the 70s.
Well, I’ve taken you to the grocery on a tour down memory lane. I’m making my grocery list to head to one of the big stores. Grocery shopping will never be the same. I miss the days where you walked in and everyone in the store knew your name and helped you find just what you needed.
Our needs were fewer back then. Funny how we found everything we needed in just a few aisles. I miss those aisles.