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Schwegmann's - greatest grocery store ever
Posted on 8/11/13 at 8:49 am
Posted on 8/11/13 at 8:49 am
You never had to go to 3 or 4 stores looking for something, if it existed in the free world, it was on Schwegmann's shelves. The one on Airline Hwy and Labarre in Metairie had a bar in the front of the store to get a beer or highball while you shopped, we used to have to push the grocery cart for my dad because he had a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. It also had a bar in the back of the store in case you wanted to refresh.
The seafood market was near the front, you picked out what you wanted and they would filet the fish while you shopped, then you picked it up when you headed to the cashiers. It had an oyster bar, shoe repair, Dixiana Bakery, appliances and a freak show of customers and employees. If you think it sounds like Wal-Mart Superstore, not even close. WM has like 2 brands of canned peas, Schwegmann's would have 10. We used to love to look through the exotic food section, chocolate covered ants, canned lion meat, fried grasshoppers.
When we moved to BR many years ago they had the one on Sherwood and we always shopped there. It wasn't quite as wild as the ones in New Orleans, but it was still a great store. I don't know the inside story on why it went under, I suppose Melinda and her brother John were not at adept at running the company when old man John got too old.
The seafood market was near the front, you picked out what you wanted and they would filet the fish while you shopped, then you picked it up when you headed to the cashiers. It had an oyster bar, shoe repair, Dixiana Bakery, appliances and a freak show of customers and employees. If you think it sounds like Wal-Mart Superstore, not even close. WM has like 2 brands of canned peas, Schwegmann's would have 10. We used to love to look through the exotic food section, chocolate covered ants, canned lion meat, fried grasshoppers.
When we moved to BR many years ago they had the one on Sherwood and we always shopped there. It wasn't quite as wild as the ones in New Orleans, but it was still a great store. I don't know the inside story on why it went under, I suppose Melinda and her brother John were not at adept at running the company when old man John got too old.
15
Posted on 8/11/13 at 8:54 am to andouille
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:06 am to andouille
I spent an inordinate amount of time at the one on Power.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:14 am to andouille
quote:Truth. It wasn't near where I lived but we went there for everything we couldn't get at our local grocery.
Schwegmann's - greatest grocery store ever
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:17 am to andouille
Not too many posters will have a memory of going shopping at one. The stores were large as they had a cornucopia of departments to go through. If you wanted a tv you could get one. The men hung around the bar sucking brews while mama made the groceries. Gas station in the parking lot too.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:20 am to CITWTT
I can remember going to Schwegmann's with my grandmother and seeing people drinking and smoking inside the store 
I remember going to "The Real Superstore" too
I remember going to "The Real Superstore" too
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:22 am to Louie T
quote:At St. Philip on Kewanee, our teacher would let us get po-boys from the counter there every once in a while. When I missed a couple of months of eighth grade recovering from surgery, she bought me a roast beef upon returning.
I spent an inordinate amount of time at the one on Power.
To Mrs. Foley --
. When I was able to drive, I would take my Paw-Paw to the Airline location. He would pay his utility bills there and then we'd shop.
To Paw-Paw --
.Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:24 am to andouille
quote:
I suppose Melinda and her brother John were not at adept at running the company when old man John got too old.
Yeah, that is what I was told. John ran it into the ground pretty quick with sloppy mgmt. and taking on too much debt or something like that.
I wish we had one old school store like that left.
I did see a guy walk through Rouses the other day drinking a coors light.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:33 am to andouille
It went under because they bought the bankrupt National Food Stores chain and assumed a ton of debt. Same reason Piccadilly went bankrupt and was sold because it bought the Morrisons chain which was going under and the same reason Godchaux's Department store went under and sold to Dilliards because it bought the Robinsons store in Florida which were essentially bankrupt and the same reason Copeland lost Popeyes because it bought a heavily in debt Church's Fried Chicken.
And that happens all the time.
By the way Al Copeland's first job was at Schwegmann's. Not sure how I know that little footnote.
And that happens all the time.
By the way Al Copeland's first job was at Schwegmann's. Not sure how I know that little footnote.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:33 am to notiger1997
quote:People swear by Dorginac's, but I rarely went there even while living in Metairie.
I wish we had one old school store like that left.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:37 am to Ice Cold
quote:
People swear by Dorginac's, but I rarely went there even while living in Metairie.
I go there a few times a month. It is kind of old school because you don't find bakeries and the old man hangout deli area like that much anymore.
I like to get my steaks from there. Those old school butchers take care of me.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:43 am to notiger1997
Never went to Schwegmans but there are stores like that called Wegmans in the northeast. They have restaurants in them, no bar at the front.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:57 am to andouille
Publix isn't very far off from what i understand from my limited experience with schwegs.
For those of you not familiar with Publix. It's a grocery store that seems to be more popular in FL and AL. It's a bit over priced but the produce, meat, and overall selection of what you won't find anywhere else is way above par. Add to the fact that deli food is decent, fountain drinks are available, pretty good bakery selection....and ya pretty much have to beg them not to assist you with your groceries to the car (and if you tip them it goes towards a local charity).
Add to that they obviously have a program to hire mentally handicapped teenagers/20s people because I always notice a coup,e of them bag'n groceries at different stores across the area.
All together, it is a great shopping experience besides the slightly higher total at the bottom of the receipt.
Oh and normally a pretty damn good local beer and wine selection too.
For those of you not familiar with Publix. It's a grocery store that seems to be more popular in FL and AL. It's a bit over priced but the produce, meat, and overall selection of what you won't find anywhere else is way above par. Add to the fact that deli food is decent, fountain drinks are available, pretty good bakery selection....and ya pretty much have to beg them not to assist you with your groceries to the car (and if you tip them it goes towards a local charity).
Add to that they obviously have a program to hire mentally handicapped teenagers/20s people because I always notice a coup,e of them bag'n groceries at different stores across the area.
All together, it is a great shopping experience besides the slightly higher total at the bottom of the receipt.
Oh and normally a pretty damn good local beer and wine selection too.
This post was edited on 8/11/13 at 10:05 am
Posted on 8/11/13 at 9:57 am to rockford177
I've seen Wegmanns's nice store but....the big draw at Schwegmann's was that it was so cheap, much less expensive than any other store.
Schwegmann's had this kind of 3rd world freak show atmosphere, my in-laws never shopped there because "it's dirty and the people there are too". They were Langenstein's types.
I someone had a disability John Schwegmann would find a job for them. There was a double amputee man who worked at the one on Airline, he got around on one of those little dollies. My little brother and I were fascinated, we used to look for him so we could talk , he was a nice guy.
Schwegmann's had this kind of 3rd world freak show atmosphere, my in-laws never shopped there because "it's dirty and the people there are too". They were Langenstein's types.
I someone had a disability John Schwegmann would find a job for them. There was a double amputee man who worked at the one on Airline, he got around on one of those little dollies. My little brother and I were fascinated, we used to look for him so we could talk , he was a nice guy.
This post was edited on 8/11/13 at 9:59 am
Posted on 8/11/13 at 10:03 am to andouille
I had a camp with a friend about five years ago and opened the pantry one day to find several cans of Schwegmann's brand Brussels sprouts as well as a few cans of Veg-All with their stamp on. I mean this was like 2008. Needless to say those can goods were not consumed by me.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 10:03 am to andouille
I grew up in Gentilly, so my mom shopped at the Schwegmann's on Gentilly Blvd. Best. Store. Ever.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 10:24 am to Elleshoe
quote:
I remember going to "The Real Superstore" too
Getting that quarter back when my mom returned the shopping cart would make my day when I was a kid. Don't know why, but I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 10:36 am to Martini
So basically you didn't have the cajones to bet your life on twenty plus year old canned foods. Not a bad decision to make when you think about it
Posted on 8/11/13 at 10:41 am to andouille
You could even do your banking at Schwegmann's bank.
Posted on 8/11/13 at 11:01 am to VOR
Grew up going to the Schwegmann's on Gentilly Blvd. Place was huge. Remember one day that had an appearance by Bart Starr when he was still qbing the Packers.
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