[BifRayRock]

Safeway and Piggly Wiggly

Source notes reference "Sontag and Sam Selig" as grocers on [601] North Broadway, (then Downey Ave.) and that this consolidation eventually produced the Safeway Market chain. Another source pegs the date as 1905.



Groceteria.com tells of Sam Seelig's markets eventually merging with Marion Skaggs' (Idaho and Oregon) markets to form Safeway. The Sontag connection is not mentioned, but I recall someone mentioning a possible connection with the Sontag Drug stores - frequently depicted in images here. Have not been able to confirm this. Groceteria also discusses the acquisition of "Los Angeles-based Piggly Wiggly Western."

In 1911, Seelig opened his first store at 1307 S. Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. Five years later, Seelig had fifteen stores in the city, mostly south of downtown, and a warehouse on Palmetto Street. The chain had grown to over one hundred stores by 1922, and Seelig had established a real estate concern to handle the growing company’s needs. The rapid growth proved problematic for Seelig over the next three years, however, and in 1925, control of the company (and it’s 270 stores) passed to its distributor and largest creditor, W.R.H. Weldon. On 15 March 1925, the Los Angeles Times noted the change in management and announced that the company would now be known as The Safeway Stores, Incorporated and that Seelig had “withdrawn to follow other pursuits.” In Wall Street to Main Street, Edwin J. Perkins states that Seelig stayed with the new company for some time to manage its retail operations, but that Weldon was “extremely distrustful” of him and was anxious to sell off the company and return exclusively to wholesaling. http://www.groceteria.com/store/nati...feway-history/

1917 - list of Seelig Market locations. Warehouse on 1325 Palmetto Street. At present there is vintage looking warehouse-structure at that address. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the same building used by Seelig Markets.

http://www.groceteria.com/store/nati...feway-history/



Undated image of Glendale Intersection. Piggly Wiggly Market on left.
lapl


Undated. 6305 Yucca Street. Yucca Vine Tower with nearby Piggly Wiggly
Lpal

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...&postcount=905


1920s (?) Los Feliz and San Fernando Rd. Piggly Wiggly sign adjacent to water tower.

lapl