Sunday, April 1, 2012

Red Owl

Hey where do you shop?  Over at the Red Owl Store?  Years ago every other town in the upper Midwest had a Red Owl Store.

Red Owl was founded in 1922 at Hopkins Minnesota.  Of course I was curious how many Red Owl Stores are left?   I found two, one in Green Bay Wisconsin and one in Henderson Minnesota.  There was one in Le Roy Minnesota up until a few years ago.

Red Owl Stores were neighborhood grocery stores.  Friendly places to shop.

The Red Owl

I found this old advertising give away.  I know I have had it a really long time, it resides in a cellophane sleeve.  I have never used the objects that it displayed. So it is in mint condition.

IMG_0394

I wish I could remember who gave me these..perhaps it was my Mother.  She may have had hopes that I would sew someday:)

Blog Signature

18 comments:

Gail said...

What a treasure! We have no Red Owls.

Dreaming said...

It is sad to see small stores close for whatever reason. They take me back to simpler times.
What a cute advertising giveaway. Gee, if you had sewn, you probably wouldn't still have the Red Owl holder!

DJan said...

I never even HEARD of Red Owl stores. Must be a Mideastern thing. I go to Fred Meyer's (used to be Kroger's) or Rite-Aid pharmacy for most of my local shopping.

Rita said...

Red Owls and Piggly Wigglys! :)
Rainbow Foods bought up the Red Owls. I didn't even know there were any left. Nice to know there are still a couple out there.
I'd hang onto your sewing kit...just because. Soon it will be able to go into the museum, you think? LOL!

Sam I Am...... said...

I never heard of Red Owls but we had Hyvee in Iowa. Cute sewing kit too!

Laura said...

I've never heard of Red Owls, but what a great treasure to have!

Karen said...

You might not sew, but you are well stocked with needles:)

Nancy said...

I don't think Red Owl had any stores in Wyoming, but I think Piggly Wiggly had stores in the southeastern corner of the state.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Hah! My mom shopped at Red Owl (and Piggly Wiggly) in Hibbing. I shopped at Red Owl in St. Paul until Rainbow took them over. Now I again shop at Rainbow--but many times I start to call it "Red Owl." And I use a very similar pack of needles from Jewel food stores; it had to be my mother's. I don't remember them; they must have opened in Hibbing after I left.

Lynda said...

Never have heard of Red Owl - - - I thought it was going to be something you put in the yard or garden to ward off snakes or birds!

Muffy's Marks said...

We had a Red Owl in my hometown near Green Bay, in fact, I think the guy from GB originally owned all the Red Owl's in northeast Wisconsin. Back around 1978, the hometown Red Owl was not doing too well. They had double coupon night every Wednesday from 8 to 10. I did a lot of shopping then as my family was young. Thanks for the Memory!!1

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Hang on to those treasures sweetie. I've never heard of Red Owl Stores before.

Thanks for sharin' 'em with us.

God bless and have a grand old day my friend! :o)

Dorothy said...

When I was a child we had a store in Eureka, KS called Red Owl, but it was not a grocery store. It was where we bought our school books in the fall. I honestly don't remember what else was in that store as I wasn't in it very much. We lived on a farm several miles outside of town and my sister and I went to a country school. Yes I am talking many, many years ago as I am in my 80's now. I will have to see if anyone from Eureka remembers what else. That town, like all country towns. doesn't have many stores, if any, left. They even had used school books if you wanted them.
Love reading your blog and seeing the old pictures.

West Side of Straight said...

Love your Red Owl needles ! Priceless!

Anonymous said...

Ahh, I remember going to the Park Rapids, MN Red Owl store with my mother. I can still rememeber walking up and down the isles learning how to grocery shop. I still can see the big "Red Owl" sign outside of the store with the red trim on the building. Thanks for sharing!

Lori said...

I remember going to Red Owl stores with my Mom to grocery shop! I hadn't thought of that store in years and as soon as I saw that Red Owl picture on your blog, I knew exactly what it was! Thanks for the flashback!!

Rae said...

I have never heard of the Red Owl stores. We had our own version of those little grocery stores though. All gone now. Big bad Walmart drove them out. I miss those friendly little places to shop.

Anonymous said...

I am from eureka and have wondered where the name came from. Red Owl stationary was established in that building in the 1920’s