09/20/2024
Wow
First Kroger in Clarksville, Montgomery County
Kroger opened their first Clarksville store in 1946, only blocks from the Courthouse, at 403 Madison Street. The store was less than 12,000 square feet and remained at this location until 1961 when it moved to 939 Madison Street. Grocery stores in 1946 featured many modern conveniences that some rural homes were not yet or only beginning to incorporate into their daily lives.
Frozen foods were relatively new to the marketplace and not all homes had freezers or refrigerators, much less air conditioning. Many changes came to Montgomery County after WWII and “modern” was the buzzword of the times. Take a look at the Grand Opening announcements from 1946 and 1961 from the Leaf Chronicle ads and tell us your memories of grocery shopping in Clarksville.
Thank you Montgomery County Archives for sharing our local history.