15 Supermarket Brands from the ’80s That Are Extinct
Many supermarket brands that were popular in the 1980s have disappeared due to mergers, financial trouble, or changing consumer habits.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
The supermarket landscape of the 1980s was filled with regional and national chains that have since shut down or been absorbed by larger companies. Changes in the retail market, competition from big-box stores, and economic shifts led to the decline of these once-familiar names. These brands represent a time when grocery shopping was more localized and personal.
1. A&P
Conrad Poirier on Wikimedia Commons
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, or A&P, was once one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S. Founded in the 1800s, it peaked in the mid-20th century and remained popular into the 1980s. By the 2000s, competition and poor financial decisions led to its decline. The company filed for bankruptcy and closed all stores by 2015.
2. Safeway (in some regions)
Lewis Clarke on Wikimedia Commons
While Safeway still exists today, many regional divisions were sold or shut down. In the 1980s, it operated across the country and was a familiar name in many states. During restructuring in the late ’80s, Safeway left markets like Kansas, Oklahoma, and the UK. The brand remains active in select areas but has disappeared from others entirely.
3. Alpha Beta
Werner Weiss on Wikimedia Commons
Alpha Beta was a well-known chain in the western United States. It offered warehouse-style grocery shopping and was a common sight in California during the ’80s. It was acquired by American Stores, and later its locations were converted to other banners like Lucky. The brand name stopped being used in the mid-1990s.
4. Lucky Stores
Lucky Stores on Wikimedia Commons
Lucky was a major grocery chain, especially in California and Nevada. It was known for its large stores and reasonable prices. In 1998, it was absorbed into Albertsons, and the brand mostly vanished. Though revived briefly in some locations, it never returned to its former reach.
5. Grand Union
Tyler A. McNeil on Wikimedia Commons
Grand Union had a strong presence in the northeastern U.S. during the 1980s. The company struggled with debt and changing market conditions through the ’90s. Multiple bankruptcies followed, and most stores were sold or closed. By the early 2000s, the brand had disappeared entirely.
6. Red Owl
John Margolies on Wikimedia Commons
Red Owl was a regional supermarket chain in the Midwest. It was recognizable by its owl logo and served many communities from the 1920s through the 1980s. It was sold to Supervalu, and stores were rebranded. The last Red Owl stores were gone by the early 1990s.
7. Food Fair
RilennEdits on Wikimedia Commons
Food Fair was once a major player in the eastern United States. It expanded rapidly, but by the late ’70s and early ’80s, financial trouble set in. The company filed for bankruptcy, and many stores were either closed or sold. The brand name disappeared soon after.
8. Pathmark
GRUBBXDN on Wikimedia Commons
Pathmark was a large grocery chain in the Northeast and known for being one of the first to offer superstore formats. It remained strong in the ’80s but faced growing competition in later decades. It filed for bankruptcy twice and was eventually bought by A&P. After A&P’s closure, Pathmark also shut down.
9. Hills Supermarkets
Stephen McCulloch on Wikimedia Commons
Hills Supermarkets was a Long Island-based chain serving New York during the ’70s and ’80s. It was a familiar name in the region and had dozens of stores. It was bought by Stop & Shop and quickly rebranded or closed. By the mid-’80s, the Hills name had vanished.
10. Dominion
Ross Dunn on Wikimedia Commons
Dominion was a Canadian grocery chain that had locations in the U.S., especially in the Northeast. It was known for its clean stores and wide selection. The U.S. stores were sold or shut down, and the brand subsequently faded from the American market. Its Canadian operations were also phased out by the 2000s.
11. Finast
March8613 on Wikimedia Commons
Finast was short for First National Stores and was known across the Northeast and Midwest. It was acquired by Pick ’n Save in the ’70s but kept operating under its original name through the ’80s. Eventually, it was fully absorbed and renamed. By the early ’90s, the Finast brand had disappeared.
12. Colonial Stores
General Views on Wikimedia Commons
Colonial Stores operated mainly in the Southeastern U.S. and had a strong presence in the ’50s through the ’80s. Known for its rooster logo and local service, it merged with other chains over time. It was purchased by Grand Union and later sold again. The name was retired during the rebranding process.
13. Food Giant
G. Edward Johnson on Wikimedia Commons
Food Giant had locations in several southern and midwestern states. It was known for its large stores and focus on discount pricing. During the ’80s and ’90s, most of its stores were bought out or rebranded. The name slowly disappeared from most areas.
14. Kash n’ Karry
Bgtbbum on Wikimedia Commons
Kash n’ Karry operated mainly in Florida and was popular in the 1980s. It focused on warehouse-style, low-price grocery shopping. The chain was acquired by Food Lion’s parent company and eventually rebranded under the Sweetbay name. Both names were later phased out entirely.
15. National Supermarkets
Harani0403 on Wikimedia Commons
National Supermarkets had a large footprint in the Midwest. It was once a major competitor in cities like St. Louis and Cleveland. In the mid-1990s, the chain was sold to Schnucks and others. The National name disappeared from store signs not long after.