Rudy's Grocery Store

[DumDave]

Why did they tear it down? I was coming back here on a fairly regular basis to see my folks in the 90's. It was still there & still the 'Big Dog" as far as grocery stores go here. It was open 24/7 & had lots of business. Then I came here in the mid- 2000's & it is a parking lot. I know Kroger's did well, but Rudy's held them off for a long time (as it did the other national chains here) I think it was built in the late 50's or early 60's.
-Dave

[bluejay201]

They had other stores...the one in Ottawa was open before the one in Streator.
The store in Ottawa, didn't Walsh have business there afterwards?

Like all buildings...they have to be used. If not, they just don't get repaired.

Then again, did you ever try to get a grocery cart from their front door to your car in their parking lot. Don't know why they could never fix that lot.
I know, when they opened, the had "Pick up service."
Joanie

[DumDave]

You would buy your gocerys & they would send them over to the south side of the building, where under a canopy, their employees would load your grocerys into your car. Great idea. Didn't last long. The "door-less" front door amazed me.
-Dave

[John]

I worked there for a couple years after high school. It was the "Big Dog" of grocery stores in Streator. I think at the time National T down in Westgate was the only real competitor. I don't know why Rudy's failed.

[jimb]

Didn't they run under the name Thrif-T-Mart for a few years.
Think there was one going into Kankakee also that closed about the same time.

[rcscjg]

I remember they where going to turn it into a Movie Theater when they where building the now closed one @ Northpoint. it was like a competition at the time whoever got theres done 1st type of thing. The people renovating the old Thrif-T-Mart didn't get done in time from City set backs because they couldn't pass inspections. They never did get it finished & the building was torn down I remember it as Thrif-t-mart though as a kid going there with my mom shopping when Kroger was downtown over on Bridge street

[Job]

I was working in a local factory the summer that store was being built. The guys I was working with would report, in endless detail, every step of construction of the building. It drove me crazy.

[jimb]

I remember it being Rudys and Thrif-T,but was the store by Js tire a&p, for some reason I barely rember a store there.

[bluejay201]

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company....abt 1959?

Supposedly, that is where some of the old street cars were dumped...used for fill.

How far am I on the year it opened??

Joanie

[bluejay201]

Oh...Or,
Do you mean where J's used to be? Next to the hatchery?

Joanie

[John]

Here's a photo of the Streator Hatchery, to the left of Northtown Furniture Warehouse. This is where Curly's is now.
This was taken in 1958 from my front porch, which is where Circle K is now.

[jimsauers]

I worked inside when it was Thrift T Mart. The building was in bad shape. Towards the end there were buckets all over the building catching water.

There was also a Rudy's on the westside of Aurora... exactly the same layout as the buildings in Streator and Kankakee!

[John]

There was one in Ottawa also, where Bill Walsh (Sierra Motors) is now on Rt 6.

[DumDave]

Oct 15, 2009 19:52:13 GMT -6 bluejay201 said:

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company....abt 1959?

Supposedly, that is where some of the old street cars were dumped...used for fill.

How far am I on the year it opened??

Joanie

Where is this located? I do know that the Streator had a bus service in the 50's & those buses were at Ligori's for years.
-Dave