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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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This week’s column: Greenough’s grocery

1929 : In 1929, the Greenoughs opened a new store at Sixth and Washington in Spokane.
1929 : In 1929, the Greenoughs opened a new store at Sixth and Washington in Spokane.

This week's column recalls an era in the memory of people over 40 or so. Greenough's store was innovative when it opened, but as suburban shopping became commonplace, and when I-90 physically and figuratively cut the city in half, Greenough's became just another neighborhood grocery. 

I received an email from John Weekes, son of the longtime owner who bought out the Greenough family and ran the store from 1957 until the lease was terminated in 1985. The elder Weekes is still alive, but in frail health. Weekes' son offered these memories:

Greenough's was more then the Greenough Family. It was the first Supermarket west of the Mississippi. The sign above the entry said One Stop Shopping which meant you could shop for grocery's, get your hair done, order prescriptions, buy hardware or toys, purchase gas for the car, eat a meal and visit with friends. It was a concept that Fred Meyer saw and used as his basis for development for his first supermarket which was located a little south of downtown Portland. Greenough's would deliver groceries to your home. And if requested  shop for you. Half the customers had charge accounts.

All of these things are common place today with big box retailers but in the day Greenough's was the only one on the west coast.

People from New York City would call and order fruit baskets at Christmas from Greenough's because they thought the best fruit was there. This was before next day shipping existed so selection of fruit was predicated on a cross country train or truck trip.

The most prominent people in Spokane shopped at Greenough's and some of the poorest and one would never know who was who. Everyone was treated with respect.

There are lots of other stories about the place but suffice to say in its history Greenough's was considered iconic. The impact on retail grocery in the NW today can be traced to 6th and Washington."



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