18 Grocery Store Aisles from the Past You Don’t See Anymore
Take a nostalgic trip down the aisles of the past, where grocery stores once stocked everything from live lobsters to VHS rentals, offering a shopping experience that was as surprising as it was convenient.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
Grocery stores were once more than mere destinations to pick up milk and eggs—they were filled with quirky aisles that were a reflection of the trends and demands of their era. From video rental aisles and live lobster tanks to bulk candy bins and homebrew kits for making your own beer, these now-rare sights have disappeared because of shifting consumer behavior, regulations, and technology. To reflect on these vanished aisles is to gain an interesting insight into the way that shopping has changed and what it reveals about the way we live now.
1. Cigarette Aisles
Image from Dreamstime.com
Now a relic of the past in most supermarkets, standalone cigarette aisles were ubiquitous well into the 1990s. Customers would pick up a pack of Marlboros or Winstons alongside their milk and eggs, with some grocers even offering self-serve options. With increasing health worries and legislation, cigarettes were relocated behind counters that required unlocking or prohibited from being sold in grocery stores altogether.
2. Bulk Candy Bins
Image from All Store Displays
Before pre-packaged candy dominated shelves, grocery stores had entire aisles of bulk candy bins where customers could scoop out as much as they wanted. Popular in the mid-20th century, these aisles featured everything from jelly beans to butterscotch disks, often sold by weight. Hygiene concerns and changes in shopping habits led to their decline, with only specialty stores keeping the tradition alive.
3. Home Brew & Winemaking Supplies
Image from Presque Isle Wine Cellars
During the 1970s and early 1980s, most supermarkets sold kits for homebrewing beer and wine. Customers could purchase fermentation jugs, yeast, and even grape concentrate with their regular grocery shopping. As home brewing became more advanced and craft beer took off, these products moved to specialty brewing stores.
4. Rental Video Sections
Image from Wikipedia
Most supermarkets in the 1980s and 1990s featured a video rental aisle where shoppers could pick up a VHS or DVD to go with their groceries. Stores like Safeway and Kroger even carried rental stores’ wares with weekend deals on new releases. However, the rise of streaming services and Blockbuster’s implosion rendered those aisles useless by the early 2010s.
5. Live Lobster Tanks
Image from iStock
It was not long ago that live lobster tanks were a staple in the seafood department of grocery stores, particularly in coastal regions. Shoppers would select a lobster, which would be bagged and brought home for a fresh seafood dinner. Animal welfare concerns and a move toward pre-packaged seafood caused these tanks to vanish from most supermarkets.
6. Open-Air Butcher Counters
Image from Reddit
Before pre-packaged meat, grocery stores utilized full butcher counters with hanging beef sides and fresh-cut pork chops displayed. Butchers would cut meat to specification, providing customers with custom orders and fresh options. Sanitation laws and pre-packaged convenience brought these aisles into disuse, although a few upscale markets still provide a similar option.
7. Greeting Card & Stationery Aisles
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Grocery stores used to have entire aisles dedicated to selling greeting cards, stationery, and office supplies. Customers would pick up a Hallmark card, envelopes, and even a package of stamps along with their grocery items. However, due to the popularity of digital communication and the diminishing art of letter-writing, these aisles have disappeared or are now much smaller.
8. Bulk Coffee Grinding Stations
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Most grocery stores had bulk coffee grinding stations where shoppers would grind their own beans to a coarseness they liked. Packets of Eight O’Clock Coffee were regularly sold in whole-bean form, with grinders on hand for in-store use. As single-serve and pre-ground coffee gained ground, those stations vanished from most supermarkets.
9. Soda Fountain & Ice Cream Counters
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During the early and mid-20th century, most grocery stores had soda fountains or little ice cream stands. Shoppers could have a milkshake or soda while shopping, making grocery store trips more social. The growth of self-service frozen foods and fast-food establishments rendered these in-store indulgences obsolete.
10. Sewing & Fabric Sections
Image from Continental Garments Ind. (Pvt.) Ltd
In the 1950s and 1960s, grocery stores had aisles reserved for sewing patterns, fabric, and even mini sewing machines. Homemakers could grab Simplicity or Butterick patterns with their Friday night groceries. With the advent of fast fashion and ready-made clothes, these aisles disappeared.
11. Comic Book & Pulp Magazine Aisles
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Supermarkets used to have whole aisles dedicated to comic books, pulp zines, and cheap paperback books. Children could pick up the newest Superman or Archie comic as their parents wandered the aisles. The downfall of print media and digital entertainment resulted in the virtual disappearance of these aisles.
12. Cookware & Small Appliance Aisles
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It wasn’t until the mid-20th century, when most supermarkets carried a single aisle of cookware, cast-iron frying pans, toasters, and even pressure cookers, that store brands such as Pyrex and CorningWare were regularly on the shelves alongside groceries. When big-box retailers such as Walmart and Target dominated this niche, grocery stores eliminated these areas.
13. Health & Beauty Appliance Aisles
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Supermarkets once stocked a full range of personal care appliances, such as hair dryers, electric shavers, and curling irons. These items were typically placed near the pharmacy or health section for customers seeking convenience. However, when specialty stores and internet shopping increased, supermarkets no longer allocated shelf space to these items.
14. Canned Bread & Shelf-Stable Bakery Aisles
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Aisles filled with canned bread, like B&M Brown Bread, could be found in mid-century supermarkets. These shelf-stable baked products were sold as products good for long-term storage and convenience. With the growth of fresh bakery sections, these items became specialty items instead of staple grocery products.
15. Frozen Juice Concentrate Aisles
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Before the widespread of bottled and ready-to-drink juices, supermarkets boasted shelves full of frozen juice concentrates. Customers would purchase cans of orange juice or lemonade concentrate, dilute them with water at home, and have fresh juice at their fingertips. The popularity of shelf-stable and fresh-squeezed juices reduced the demand for frozen concentrates.
16. TV Antennas & Home Electronics Aisles
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During the 1960s and 1970s, some supermarkets carried TV antennas, transistor radios, and other small electronics. Grocery stores endeavored to be one-stop shops with everything from fresh produce to home entertainment accessories. With the rise of dedicated electronics retailers, these aisles disappeared.
17. Toy Aisles with Fully Stocked Shelves
Image from Medium
Most supermarkets boasted a special toy aisle with action figures, board games, and even bikes. Parents often picked up last-minute birthday presents or impulse purchases for kids when they went shopping. With the growth of large-box toy stores such as Toys “R” Us (before their decline), grocery stores significantly cut back on their toy offerings.
18. Diet Food Aisles (Tab, Ayds Candy, and Meal Replacements)
Image from Lyndi Cohen
Diet-oriented aisles carried products such as Ayds appetite-suppressing candy, Tab diet soda, and early meal substitutes such as Metrecal. These were promoted as quick fixes for weight loss, usually in bright, heavily marketed packaging. As health trends shifted and more healthful diet products gained popularity, these specialized aisles vanished.