Schaffer Stores Company Explained

Schaffer Stores Company was a small grocery chain store based in Schenectady, New York. The business gained valuable experience by running a self-servicegrocery store beginning in 1929. Schaffer's first supermarket, called Empire Market, opened in 1933.^[1]

Foundation, expansion

The business was founded by Henry Schaffer (1890 - December 16, 1982). A native of Poland who came to Schenectady in his youth, he lived in Schenectady at the time of his death from leukemia.

Schaffer formed Schaffer Stores Company in 1907.^[2] He operated 31 stores by 1922.^[3] In 25 years the firm grew to include 185 stores in the Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, and western Massachusetts.^[2]

Buy out

The chain was acquired by Grand Union (supermarket) in June 1958 for approximately $8 million.^[4] Grand Union, based in East Paterson, New Jersey, operated 472 supermarkets. At the time, Schaffer ran 41grocery stores, the majority of which were supermarkets.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Shopping Center and Store Leases, Volume 2, Emanuel B. Halper, Law Journal Press, 2003, pg. 58.
2. Henry Schaffer Is Dead at 92; Founded Supermarket Chain, New York Times, December 17, 1982.
3. Chain stores: their management and operation, Walter Sumner Hayward, Percivsl Albert Frederick White, John S.Fleek, and Hugh MacIntyre, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1922, pg. 334.
4. Trade Regulation Reporter (Volume 2), Commerce Clearing House, 1961.
5. Trade Regulation Reporter (Volume 3), Commerce Clearing House, 1961.