When this newspaper photo was taken in 1964 there were 15 Red Food Stores in the Chattanooga area.
Can you name the location of this store? We haven’t been able to confirm the publication date of this photo or locate a caption in newspaper archives.
If you think you know the spot, write to reporter Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com. (Hint: There’s a business visible next door to the supermarket apparently named “Sowell’s” or “Powell’s” barbershop.)
This photo was taken by a staff photographer of the Chattanooga News-Free Press. It is part of a collection of archival newspaper images on the website ChattanoogaHistory.com curated by history buff Sam Hall.
The photo is dated June 1964, and according to newspaper ads that month large watermelons were 89 cents each at Red Food Stores, ice cream sold for 59 cents a half-gallon and saltine crackers were 19 cents a box. Spam (spiced ham) and “potted meat” were also listed prominently in a full-page newspaper ad, which may say something about changing consumer tastes in the last 50-plus years.