Before 1940, self-service was a specialized form of retailing.
According to a 1939 business census, there were 387,337 grocery stores in the United States. Only 31,183 of them were self-service stores.
Explore the links below to find out more about the history of self-service stores.
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Before Self-service
For centuries stores were organized for counter service.
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Groceterias
During the World War I era self-service stores experimentation was inspired by the new cafeteria.
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Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly was the most influential self-service store before 1940.
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A Specialized Form of Retailing
Before 1940 the vast majority of grocery stores were organized by open display principles, NOT systemized self-service.
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Super-Sizing Self-Service Stores
During the 1930s supermarkets were a turning point in the history of self-service store design.
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21st Century Clerk-less Stores
Today’s high tech clerkless stores are built on the foundation established by the groceterias of the early twentieth century.