ALMACS
photo courtesy of Tim O'Donnell, Cranston, RI
ALMACS MEMORIES:
"Some distinct memories which arise from accompanying my mother or father to do "the shopping" on
Saturday mornings at "the Almacs in Cumberland".
1- Fighting with my siblings to see who gets to go
2- Waiting with great anticipation to see how many Green Stamps we were going to get then going
home and pasting them in the infamous Green Stamp books
3- Watching some one put the grocery bags into the bins and onto the roller mechanism which led outside
where you could pick the groceries up at curbside
Great stuff!
- Denis Riel
"What about the little room that was set up for kids to be able to watch cartoons while they mom or the adult that brought them did the shopping? I remember it well."
- Debbie
"Store 38!! Lincoln Mall!!"
photo by Jen Wallace, Coventry
"The picture of the Almac's you have is the Coventry store on Tiogue
ave. I was the grocery manager shortly after the store opened. Opening
week most of the parking was flooded with water because of monsoon
rains we had that October. The Store manager was Tommy Hackett, The
Meat manager was Bob Darling and I believe the produce manager was
Vinny Negri . Like so many people Almac's was a major part of my life
as my career was 28 yrs. working my way up the ranks to Store Mgr. and
Grocery Supervisor. At one time Almac's was the 3rd largest employer in
the state. Much like today the reason Almac's is not around is because
of greed of investors and not because of lack of quality. It's a shame
hard honest work is not always rewarded in a positive way."
"I worked as a cashier at Almacs from 1955 to 1961. I met my husband there.
Did anyone else work at Almacs during those years?"
"For 35 years I was employed at Almacs and it was very traumatic when the chain closed two weeks before Christmas, 1995.
We prided ourselves on having the best supermarket employees in the area. If you were hired to work at Almacs you considered yourself lucky because we were well paid and respected as food store workers. After Almacs closed, 4,400 people were out of work and some never did get a job comparable to what they had. There are many, many people in very responsible positions today who paid their way through college by working for Almacs. Even today, after the stores being closed for almost 15 years,
I still see people who say "Didn't you work in the Hoxsie Almacs?" Or "I remember you from the Almacs in Buttonwoods."
We had very loyal customers who we saw faithfully every week. People still remark on how they miss Almacs."
"I worked as a cashier at Almacs from 1955 to 1961. I met my husband there.
Did anyone else work at Almacs during those years?"
"For 35 years I was employed at Almacs and it was very traumatic when the chain closed two weeks before Christmas, 1995.
We prided ourselves on having the best supermarket employees in the area. If you were hired to work at Almacs you considered yourself lucky because we were well paid and respected as food store workers. After Almacs closed, 4,400 people were out of work and some never did get a job comparable to what they had. There are many, many people in very responsible positions today who paid their way through college by working for Almacs. Even today, after the stores being closed for almost 15 years,
I still see people who say "Didn't you work in the Hoxsie Almacs?" Or "I remember you from the Almacs in Buttonwoods."
We had very loyal customers who we saw faithfully every week. People still remark on how they miss Almacs."
photo by Jen Wallace, Coventry
"I worked for twelve years at Almacs, and I still miss it. I remember the mad rush for bread and milk on the day before storms. I still work in the supermarket industry and have customers come up to me and ask if I had worked at Almacs. I remember handing out green stamps to customers as well as pushing those boxes out of the store on the conveyer. It was handy on rainy or snowy days. It is amazing that East Greenwich Almacs is no longer there. Hoxie Almacs is now Dave's."
"My sister Dolores worked in the advertising department for Almacs. She was the artist who drew the lady holding the plate with
the turkey for Thanksgiving on the top of page. Dolores also did the coupons. She told us coupons in the flyers were made different for each store so they wouldn't lose money. My mother loved the S&H stamps. I still have a few loss stamps around."
"I use to work at the Garden City Almacs in Cranston,it was one of my first jobs...I started in 1986 and left in 1989...I know it was not long... but i was one of the lucky people to get to see and work at the brand new "super" Almacs in Garden City, Cranston....I will never forget what that store looked like after it was finished...what a class A store it was....I dont think there was a super market as classy as it in Hollywood,CA.....lol ....wish i took pics of it after it was done....you will never see a store like that again......there was never a dull moment in that store...meaning how busy it was all the time......it was fun........anyhow that is my Almacs memories."
"My sister Dolores worked in the advertising department for Almacs. She was the artist who drew the lady holding the plate with
the turkey for Thanksgiving on the top of page. Dolores also did the coupons. She told us coupons in the flyers were made different for each store so they wouldn't lose money. My mother loved the S&H stamps. I still have a few loss stamps around."
"I use to work at the Garden City Almacs in Cranston,it was one of my first jobs...I started in 1986 and left in 1989...I know it was not long... but i was one of the lucky people to get to see and work at the brand new "super" Almacs in Garden City, Cranston....I will never forget what that store looked like after it was finished...what a class A store it was....I dont think there was a super market as classy as it in Hollywood,CA.....lol ....wish i took pics of it after it was done....you will never see a store like that again......there was never a dull moment in that store...meaning how busy it was all the time......it was fun........anyhow that is my Almacs memories."
STORE #38 LINCOLN MALL STORE #38 LINCOLN MALL - Photo taken 12-16-95 Closing Day
photo by Kim Rice, Coventry
"When I was a young girl, my Mom shopped at Buttonwoods Almacs regularly. I grew up in Buttonwoods, just around the corner from the Warwick City Park."
"I began my career with Almacs in 1972 as a part time cashier while in High School. I started at the Garden City Almacs. Working for Almacs was a family tradition. Many of my family were employed at various stores, the Main Office, and Warehouse. Eighteen of my twenty three years were in Garden City, store #8. The entire business was family oriented and we could boast the best service in town along with quality merchandise. The experience was unsurpassed. I was lucky to meet so many wonderful people throughout my years. As a consumer, I have not had the experience of another Almacs."
"I lived close to the West Warwick Almac's. I remember watching it being built. I was probably around 10 years old. It had a little restaurant called the Yum Yum Shop and they had the best strawberry sodas. It was so very "modern". The can goods were stacked on a tilt against the wall and slid down when you took one out. I also remember everyone walking down Clyde Street after the Blizzard of 78 to get food at Almac's using sleds instead of cars. God, I love being from Rhode Island..."
"I worked for Almacs for 24 years, first as a meat cutter and then later as a meat department manager at many different stores. Almacs was a family owned business and we were all quite close. I started with the company in 1964 and left in 1988 when my wife and I moved to Florida and opened an Italian deli and meat market in Sarasota.
I worked with a lot of very nice people and Almac's still brings back many fond memories."
"I began my career with Almacs in 1972 as a part time cashier while in High School. I started at the Garden City Almacs. Working for Almacs was a family tradition. Many of my family were employed at various stores, the Main Office, and Warehouse. Eighteen of my twenty three years were in Garden City, store #8. The entire business was family oriented and we could boast the best service in town along with quality merchandise. The experience was unsurpassed. I was lucky to meet so many wonderful people throughout my years. As a consumer, I have not had the experience of another Almacs."
"I lived close to the West Warwick Almac's. I remember watching it being built. I was probably around 10 years old. It had a little restaurant called the Yum Yum Shop and they had the best strawberry sodas. It was so very "modern". The can goods were stacked on a tilt against the wall and slid down when you took one out. I also remember everyone walking down Clyde Street after the Blizzard of 78 to get food at Almac's using sleds instead of cars. God, I love being from Rhode Island..."
"I worked for Almacs for 24 years, first as a meat cutter and then later as a meat department manager at many different stores. Almacs was a family owned business and we were all quite close. I started with the company in 1964 and left in 1988 when my wife and I moved to Florida and opened an Italian deli and meat market in Sarasota.
I worked with a lot of very nice people and Almac's still brings back many fond memories."
"As a young wife and mother, back in the 1980's, I shopped at the Buttonwoods Store. I lived down the street and could walk there with my baby in an "umbroller." He's 26 now. I miss how the canned goods were stacked in those neat dispensers that dropped the cans down when you pulled one off the shelf. The produce was often wrinkly at that store but I shopped there anyway so I could use those cool canned good dispensers! I still miss them. There's a gym there now. When running on the treadmill I often muse how there used to be vegetables in the same spot."
"I worked at Almacs from 1982 through 1990. I worked at the ole' Cranston store, and also worked at the new "super" store when it was built in Garden City. I started as a cashier, but transferred to the Deli Department and did primarily all their cooking. I still see some of the people I worked with from time to time. Back then, we were a family...we were all dedicated and hardworking. We took care of one another. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures (wish I did) -but whoever started this website, I give kudos too! Thanks for the memories...."
"I've been a police officer for twenty three years, but prior to that I worked for Almacs for eight years. I worked at the Hartford Ave. (Johnston RI) store and transferred to the Apple Valley Store (Smithfield RI) store when the Johnston store closed. I was told twenty three years ago while attending the police academy, by a sergeant, that my only friends from this point on will only be police officers. Well I always thought that statement was a bullsh$t statement. My closest friends to this day are the friends I made while working at Almacs. (Steve H., Joe B., Gerry C., Otis, Bobby C, John V.,...) My boss Chris D'Acchiolli (produce manager) was the best boss and friend anyone good ask for. Chris made me continuously laugh and cared about his employees.
I never forget the day I came to work with the flu and started throwing up in the back room because I couldn't make it to the bathroom, well Chris found the closest container next to us and held it (What a guy!) Try and get a boss to do that today. Everyone was afraid of Gerry Conti (store manager) because he was such a hard ass, but in reality he cared about his employees and had a good heart. Ask him about the time I came to work with an earring, when you were considered a rebel for wearing one, and I got him in trouble with his son, Don who was the district manager, at the time. I could go on and on. I would love to put a reunion party together so if you're reading this and use to work at the Johnston store (I think it was #7) please contact me Lugeds@aol.com"
"RI is such a very small state. My mother and mother-in-law both worked at Hartford Ave when us kids were little, never guessing that both their children would work at Murray St. and later marry. We've been married 19 years and we still have many friends and memories from Almacs #5. My father-in-law also retired from Almacs. He worked in the E Prov warehouse and was a trucker for over 30 year"
"I began my career in the supermarket industry in 1978 at the Hartford Ave store #17. I started as a service clerk and then was asked by Gerry Conti if I wanted to transfer to the meat department . As stated in other comments, I also met wonderful friends. When the Johnston store closed I was transferred to Apple Valley store #7 . It was a great store to work in with many great work associates like Dan.O, Tom .P, Dave.V, Louie.S, Andy.M, Sandy.L, Gene.G, Pete.P, Chris.D, Sue.D,and many more. My stay with Almacs lasted for 16 Years.Through the years I worked for other supermarkets A&P , Edwards, and Price Chopper. Today I'm employed at Daves Marketplace as a Meat Manager where there are many "OLD FACES" from my days at Almacs."
"I was employed at the Almacs Store in West Warwick during my senior year at WWHS as a cook/waiter/bus boy in the store's little twenty seat restaurant called the "Yum Yum Shop". We served store patrons, customers, workers, and some senior citizens from Clyde towers who used to come to the shop for the "senior Special" lucheon on Saturdays. I remember that because the store employees were unionized (under the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America) my pay was over three dollars an hour...pretty good for a seventeen year old who only worked about twenty hours a week after school and on weekends...sure beat working at the Cumberland Farms dairy in Cranston
with my step-Father!
"During the time of my tenure, the employees of the store were always friendly to one another and every year, the manager of the store, Mr. Ted DeJulio, threw a big Christmas dinner for all employees at the old "Showboat" restaurant on lake Tiogue. Although
I have not lived in Rhode Island since the early 70's due to an extensive Military career, I can attest that some of my fondest memories and friendships were made in that store. I returned back to West Warwick recently after the recent passing of an old friend and sadly, passed by the old West Warwick Almacs store now used partially as a welding and fabrication building, just a memory of what once was a proud store that served many in the community and also provided a young Man with his first experiences with FICA Taxes, Union dues, and earning a buck!"
"I started working for Almacs at Store 19, Mineral Spring Ave Pawtucket in 1978 as a service clerk and then to the meat dept in 1979. The store converted to the Almacs "warehouse" store Food City in 1980 where I stayed until 1984 when I transferred to Store 23, East Ave Pawtucket to continue working with Meat Mgr Dan Ogrodnik, the best manager I ever worked for. I left in 1986 after graduating from New England Tech. I truly enjoyed my 8 years at Almacs. It was a great job that took me through high school and college. I would have stayed if I could have gotten an apprentice meat cutter position, but that never happened. I have 3 siblings that I helped get jobs for at Almacs. Steve, Scott and Kristin. They all worked at the South Attleboro, MA store. My youngest brother Scott actually met his wife Tiffany while working with her at Almacs. We all have many fond memories of our years at Almacs and it's too bad the new investors drove the company into the ground."
"Hi, My name is Lisa (Silva) Zeppa. My first job was at Almacs in the East Side #16 (now a Whole Foods). I met my husband there Tom Zeppa also his first job. Ironically my dad Bill Silva (Winky), not Bill Silva the store manager who was my boss at both #31 East Providence and #5 Silver Lake, got all his kids a job at Almacs my sister's Sandy and Tina as well as my brother Bill short lived at Riverside.
Back in those days you had to know someone to get in. It is a job you never forget because the people you met became closer to you than some of your own family. I remember those Green Stamps and The "friend" pins. We still have our lovely Almacs smocks. My dad still to this day speaks of how much he loved Almacs. It was not just a job it was a blast to go to work and if you see anyone who worked there no matter how well you knew them you just have so much to say. My sister Tina and I worked together at #31 and then #5 they would not split up "The Silva Sisters". Store #31 was the best and that crew was so close we hung out constantly. Luci would coordinate most of those events and if she has a reunion you can count "The Silva Sisters" in!"
My son is 31 and to this day he still call's all shopping bags, an ALMAC's bag, when my daughter-in-law first heard him say this she looked at me as if he were crazy, I explained to her what he was talking about and now she calls grocery bags an ALMAC's bag. I guess you can tell where I always did my shopping!
photo by Jen Wallace
I used the Buttonwoods Almacs. I my son was young and rode in the carriage. There was a man who would tease my son by pretending to grab his nose and throw it away. My son would b excited to see him and then he would come over and my son would start laughing and say "No nose-No nose" I live out of state but the Almacs is now a dave's-I believe. And the groceries would come through in a bin and on a shelf on wheels and someone would put them in your car. How things change
gilljudy@yahoo.com
"I was just reading all the stories of memories from people that worked at Almacs. I remember as a kid going to Almacs with my mom.. We lived in S. Providence and the store was off of Eddy St. and as a kid, I was fascinated with the way you could push the groceries onto the rollers that would take them to curbside and then put them into your car. That building is now a private company. Every time I went by that building though, I would remember the big windows with the rollers outside. I don't remember when they closed that store but I think it was before I became an adult because after that, I shopped at stop & shop.!"
"Store #16! I felt very fortunate to work there and loved my job (1978-1983). A lot of good memories. I still have the little plastic widget used for scraping price tags off...nothing like it. Because we were the smallest store in the chain and were on the East Side we had a lot of people who came in to shop several times a week for fresh food so you really got to know the customers. People like "Coupon Betty". I hate grocery shopping today because nothing compares to the service Almacs provided. Especially the bagging...they could have used the training Almac's provided I can still build a bag the Almac's way. "
"I use to work at Almacs third shift. Back in 1991, 1992, and 1993. What a fun job I worked at the Apple Valley store."
"I always remember as a kid going with my mother and grandmother to the almacs as my grandmother called it every Thursday"
"Hi, My name is Dave Simoes, I started at the Barrington Almacs in 1954. Went to Bristol in 1959 the year they opened the store. In 1962 went to Brockton to set up the Big A. In 1960 was with the crew that set up Buttenwoods in Warwick. In 1967 went To the small Taunton Ave store as manager to take over from Tom Murphy. Worked in the new store on Taunton Ave for Bob D'Orsi.After I was transferred back to Bristol and in 1975 Cosmo Bucci sent me to Fall River to work for Nobby. Two years latter I became Deli head and worked For John Salzillo until 1988, and Frank Bruno had me transferred to Riverside to be the Deli Head for Vin Carceiri.
"I had some great times, when I went to Fall River, Cosmo said your Country Club days are over, but they just continued. I met some great people and some great managers just to name a few, Bill Silva, Manny Pacheco, George Pellitier, Nobby Chriestian, Jos Lynch, Vin Power, Tom Murphy and many more."
"I was employed with Almacs GC for over 6 years beginning back in 1978. I started out like so many like a flea (service clerk).
The demands of the GC clientele were certainly challenging. I should have accepted more tips! Worked under the crushing management style of Dave Allenson but the somber, cushy style of Montifix Houghton balanced that off more than sufficiently. I remember his awesome green Cutlass 442. Great memories of the characters that worked there…..Robert Farrell, (best front end supervisor…hands down), Mike Murray (dairy)….God rest his soul……Gordon Gray. Friggin time past by way too fast. Service was always top notch and the employees were always conscience of their customers….NOTHING like today. Great part of my life…..a great organization….unfortunately it could not make the leap to the next level…..but maybe it would not want to survive in a world like we have now."
"You made me begin thinking of Almac's....Boy has it been a long time.
I foundly remember going with my Mom to Almac's in Garden City in the 60's. The floors were made of wood and the aisles were extremely narrow. You could pay your phone and electric bill there as well. To a child it seemed that the lad who took your money, sat so high up in the cordoned off area, that she was unreachable. In retrospect she had a little desk just above the floor that had a cut down window so she could converse with people. In later years I believe that the Almac's in Garden City was one of the first around to have the grocery conveyer belt on wheels. You slid your groceries in a cart on a wheel system that took it outside and youpicked it up curbside after retreiving your car. Can you imagine doing that today. How funny it is that things go full circle. I now shop in a Meat Market in Seekonk that was started by the previous meat cutter from the East Providence Almac's. About one third of the people working there are from the store as well."
"Remember the conveyor belts with the rolling boxes?"
" These are the Three things that Define Almacs.
1."The Bundle Shoot"...where groceries were but in tubs and sent outside and a person would put your "stuff" in your car by giving them a number that matches up with a tub.
2. S&H Green Stamps......You got so many by buying so much. Put them in a book and redeem them for different things at the S&H Green stamp store.
3. The Food-O-Mat.........Where cans would slide down little shoots. It was state of art back then."
, Stores 2,11,19,23......................just to name a few.
"I remember when the original Almacs opened at Garden City. At the time my mom shopped at Food Town on Park Avenue near Penn TV. But Almacs gave S&H Green Stamps and we started going there. Eventually we shopped there every Friday. I still have an Almacs cloth bag from back when they first tried to get people to give up plastic bags. On Monday nights in the summer my dad bowled in a summer league at Garden City Bowling Lanes, which was across the street from Almacs, next to the Garden City Cinema. (Does anyone remember Garden City Lanes? I pretty much spent my childhood Saturday nights there, watching GET SMART on the TV behind the counter.) Mom and I would go with him, and while it was still light out we would walk over to Woolworth's next to Almacs, get some of their fresh-popped popcorn, maybe stop at Almacs on the way back for some grocery item we'd forgotten, then walk back to the bowling alley.The moment I got my driver's license it was my job to take Mom shopping every Friday, so I saw a lot of Almacs!"
"I worked at Store 30 on Post Rd in North Kingstown from 1982-1990. In 1982, it was a small store with the food-o-mat and all of that. We were the first store to become a SuperStore! I started out as a cashier and moved on to the deli when I turned 18. The friends I made at Almacs were some of the funniest, hardest working people I have ever met. We could “pull down” the store in 15 minutes...or put away “distress” in a heartbeat! My fist manager Peter Calci used to scream “two hands, ladies” when we were pulling the shelves forward and chatting in the aisles.
Does anyone remember the video they showed you when you were trained in East Providence? “Debbie didn’t think a few dollars would hurt anyone.” AND there was that SHRINK sign on the employee bulletin board.
Our store was kind of a manager eater...I had 8 Store Managers in 8 years. I remember them all except the last one...for some reason...Greetings Mr. Kavanagh...Good Morning Mr Allenson...Hey Brian...Joe...
Mr. Conti was one of the best managers I had. He was very sweet once you got to know him. We bought him a case of pencils for Christmas one year. (He used to snap them in 1/2 and throw them in his office!) THEN there was the time me and my pal Jimmy got locked in the store one night. Jimmy was taking too long getting his junk out of the produce dept...oops...everyone left. Good thing the night crew was coming in at 11pm!!
Here is my big shout out to all my Store 30 friends...Jimmy, Donna, Eileen, Bill, Peter, Andy, Stubbs, Angelo and Dave, Frank Antonelli!!, Joe D, Kenny, Nicole, Ron, Don, Rick D.,Dave B., Katie, Sue, Mike C., Paul....I could go on and on...RIP Bob Rezendez!! We love you!!"
tgoodkin@yahoo.com
"Hi, I worked at Almacs in 1973 for a few years and it was a fun place to work. I worked at the North Providence store while in high school. Then I was able to transfer to the Kingstown branch while I attended the University of Rhode Island. Some of the best times at work in North Providence was when it was a slow night we would use the tops of coffee cans as frizbes and throw them to each other in the aisles! Fun times!"
"I worked at Almacs from 1982 through 1990. I worked at the ole' Cranston store, and also worked at the new "super" store when it was built in Garden City. I started as a cashier, but transferred to the Deli Department and did primarily all their cooking. I still see some of the people I worked with from time to time. Back then, we were a family...we were all dedicated and hardworking. We took care of one another. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures (wish I did) -but whoever started this website, I give kudos too! Thanks for the memories...."
"I've been a police officer for twenty three years, but prior to that I worked for Almacs for eight years. I worked at the Hartford Ave. (Johnston RI) store and transferred to the Apple Valley Store (Smithfield RI) store when the Johnston store closed. I was told twenty three years ago while attending the police academy, by a sergeant, that my only friends from this point on will only be police officers. Well I always thought that statement was a bullsh$t statement. My closest friends to this day are the friends I made while working at Almacs. (Steve H., Joe B., Gerry C., Otis, Bobby C, John V.,...) My boss Chris D'Acchiolli (produce manager) was the best boss and friend anyone good ask for. Chris made me continuously laugh and cared about his employees.
I never forget the day I came to work with the flu and started throwing up in the back room because I couldn't make it to the bathroom, well Chris found the closest container next to us and held it (What a guy!) Try and get a boss to do that today. Everyone was afraid of Gerry Conti (store manager) because he was such a hard ass, but in reality he cared about his employees and had a good heart. Ask him about the time I came to work with an earring, when you were considered a rebel for wearing one, and I got him in trouble with his son, Don who was the district manager, at the time. I could go on and on. I would love to put a reunion party together so if you're reading this and use to work at the Johnston store (I think it was #7) please contact me Lugeds@aol.com"
"RI is such a very small state. My mother and mother-in-law both worked at Hartford Ave when us kids were little, never guessing that both their children would work at Murray St. and later marry. We've been married 19 years and we still have many friends and memories from Almacs #5. My father-in-law also retired from Almacs. He worked in the E Prov warehouse and was a trucker for over 30 year"
"I began my career in the supermarket industry in 1978 at the Hartford Ave store #17. I started as a service clerk and then was asked by Gerry Conti if I wanted to transfer to the meat department . As stated in other comments, I also met wonderful friends. When the Johnston store closed I was transferred to Apple Valley store #7 . It was a great store to work in with many great work associates like Dan.O, Tom .P, Dave.V, Louie.S, Andy.M, Sandy.L, Gene.G, Pete.P, Chris.D, Sue.D,and many more. My stay with Almacs lasted for 16 Years.Through the years I worked for other supermarkets A&P , Edwards, and Price Chopper. Today I'm employed at Daves Marketplace as a Meat Manager where there are many "OLD FACES" from my days at Almacs."
"I was employed at the Almacs Store in West Warwick during my senior year at WWHS as a cook/waiter/bus boy in the store's little twenty seat restaurant called the "Yum Yum Shop". We served store patrons, customers, workers, and some senior citizens from Clyde towers who used to come to the shop for the "senior Special" lucheon on Saturdays. I remember that because the store employees were unionized (under the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America) my pay was over three dollars an hour...pretty good for a seventeen year old who only worked about twenty hours a week after school and on weekends...sure beat working at the Cumberland Farms dairy in Cranston
with my step-Father!
"During the time of my tenure, the employees of the store were always friendly to one another and every year, the manager of the store, Mr. Ted DeJulio, threw a big Christmas dinner for all employees at the old "Showboat" restaurant on lake Tiogue. Although
I have not lived in Rhode Island since the early 70's due to an extensive Military career, I can attest that some of my fondest memories and friendships were made in that store. I returned back to West Warwick recently after the recent passing of an old friend and sadly, passed by the old West Warwick Almacs store now used partially as a welding and fabrication building, just a memory of what once was a proud store that served many in the community and also provided a young Man with his first experiences with FICA Taxes, Union dues, and earning a buck!"
"Hi, My name is Lisa (Silva) Zeppa. My first job was at Almacs in the East Side #16 (now a Whole Foods). I met my husband there Tom Zeppa also his first job. Ironically my dad Bill Silva (Winky), not Bill Silva the store manager who was my boss at both #31 East Providence and #5 Silver Lake, got all his kids a job at Almacs my sister's Sandy and Tina as well as my brother Bill short lived at Riverside.
Back in those days you had to know someone to get in. It is a job you never forget because the people you met became closer to you than some of your own family. I remember those Green Stamps and The "friend" pins. We still have our lovely Almacs smocks. My dad still to this day speaks of how much he loved Almacs. It was not just a job it was a blast to go to work and if you see anyone who worked there no matter how well you knew them you just have so much to say. My sister Tina and I worked together at #31 and then #5 they would not split up "The Silva Sisters". Store #31 was the best and that crew was so close we hung out constantly. Luci would coordinate most of those events and if she has a reunion you can count "The Silva Sisters" in!"
My son is 31 and to this day he still call's all shopping bags, an ALMAC's bag, when my daughter-in-law first heard him say this she looked at me as if he were crazy, I explained to her what he was talking about and now she calls grocery bags an ALMAC's bag. I guess you can tell where I always did my shopping!
photo by Jen Wallace
I used the Buttonwoods Almacs. I my son was young and rode in the carriage. There was a man who would tease my son by pretending to grab his nose and throw it away. My son would b excited to see him and then he would come over and my son would start laughing and say "No nose-No nose" I live out of state but the Almacs is now a dave's-I believe. And the groceries would come through in a bin and on a shelf on wheels and someone would put them in your car. How things change
gilljudy@yahoo.com
"I was just reading all the stories of memories from people that worked at Almacs. I remember as a kid going to Almacs with my mom.. We lived in S. Providence and the store was off of Eddy St. and as a kid, I was fascinated with the way you could push the groceries onto the rollers that would take them to curbside and then put them into your car. That building is now a private company. Every time I went by that building though, I would remember the big windows with the rollers outside. I don't remember when they closed that store but I think it was before I became an adult because after that, I shopped at stop & shop.!"
"Store #16! I felt very fortunate to work there and loved my job (1978-1983). A lot of good memories. I still have the little plastic widget used for scraping price tags off...nothing like it. Because we were the smallest store in the chain and were on the East Side we had a lot of people who came in to shop several times a week for fresh food so you really got to know the customers. People like "Coupon Betty". I hate grocery shopping today because nothing compares to the service Almacs provided. Especially the bagging...they could have used the training Almac's provided I can still build a bag the Almac's way. "
"I use to work at Almacs third shift. Back in 1991, 1992, and 1993. What a fun job I worked at the Apple Valley store."
"I always remember as a kid going with my mother and grandmother to the almacs as my grandmother called it every Thursday"
"Hi, My name is Dave Simoes, I started at the Barrington Almacs in 1954. Went to Bristol in 1959 the year they opened the store. In 1962 went to Brockton to set up the Big A. In 1960 was with the crew that set up Buttenwoods in Warwick. In 1967 went To the small Taunton Ave store as manager to take over from Tom Murphy. Worked in the new store on Taunton Ave for Bob D'Orsi.After I was transferred back to Bristol and in 1975 Cosmo Bucci sent me to Fall River to work for Nobby. Two years latter I became Deli head and worked For John Salzillo until 1988, and Frank Bruno had me transferred to Riverside to be the Deli Head for Vin Carceiri.
"I had some great times, when I went to Fall River, Cosmo said your Country Club days are over, but they just continued. I met some great people and some great managers just to name a few, Bill Silva, Manny Pacheco, George Pellitier, Nobby Chriestian, Jos Lynch, Vin Power, Tom Murphy and many more."
"I was employed with Almacs GC for over 6 years beginning back in 1978. I started out like so many like a flea (service clerk).
The demands of the GC clientele were certainly challenging. I should have accepted more tips! Worked under the crushing management style of Dave Allenson but the somber, cushy style of Montifix Houghton balanced that off more than sufficiently. I remember his awesome green Cutlass 442. Great memories of the characters that worked there…..Robert Farrell, (best front end supervisor…hands down), Mike Murray (dairy)….God rest his soul……Gordon Gray. Friggin time past by way too fast. Service was always top notch and the employees were always conscience of their customers….NOTHING like today. Great part of my life…..a great organization….unfortunately it could not make the leap to the next level…..but maybe it would not want to survive in a world like we have now."
"You made me begin thinking of Almac's....Boy has it been a long time.
I foundly remember going with my Mom to Almac's in Garden City in the 60's. The floors were made of wood and the aisles were extremely narrow. You could pay your phone and electric bill there as well. To a child it seemed that the lad who took your money, sat so high up in the cordoned off area, that she was unreachable. In retrospect she had a little desk just above the floor that had a cut down window so she could converse with people. In later years I believe that the Almac's in Garden City was one of the first around to have the grocery conveyer belt on wheels. You slid your groceries in a cart on a wheel system that took it outside and youpicked it up curbside after retreiving your car. Can you imagine doing that today. How funny it is that things go full circle. I now shop in a Meat Market in Seekonk that was started by the previous meat cutter from the East Providence Almac's. About one third of the people working there are from the store as well."
"Remember the conveyor belts with the rolling boxes?"
" These are the Three things that Define Almacs.
1."The Bundle Shoot"...where groceries were but in tubs and sent outside and a person would put your "stuff" in your car by giving them a number that matches up with a tub.
2. S&H Green Stamps......You got so many by buying so much. Put them in a book and redeem them for different things at the S&H Green stamp store.
3. The Food-O-Mat.........Where cans would slide down little shoots. It was state of art back then."
, Stores 2,11,19,23......................just to name a few.
"I remember when the original Almacs opened at Garden City. At the time my mom shopped at Food Town on Park Avenue near Penn TV. But Almacs gave S&H Green Stamps and we started going there. Eventually we shopped there every Friday. I still have an Almacs cloth bag from back when they first tried to get people to give up plastic bags. On Monday nights in the summer my dad bowled in a summer league at Garden City Bowling Lanes, which was across the street from Almacs, next to the Garden City Cinema. (Does anyone remember Garden City Lanes? I pretty much spent my childhood Saturday nights there, watching GET SMART on the TV behind the counter.) Mom and I would go with him, and while it was still light out we would walk over to Woolworth's next to Almacs, get some of their fresh-popped popcorn, maybe stop at Almacs on the way back for some grocery item we'd forgotten, then walk back to the bowling alley.The moment I got my driver's license it was my job to take Mom shopping every Friday, so I saw a lot of Almacs!"
"I worked at Store 30 on Post Rd in North Kingstown from 1982-1990. In 1982, it was a small store with the food-o-mat and all of that. We were the first store to become a SuperStore! I started out as a cashier and moved on to the deli when I turned 18. The friends I made at Almacs were some of the funniest, hardest working people I have ever met. We could “pull down” the store in 15 minutes...or put away “distress” in a heartbeat! My fist manager Peter Calci used to scream “two hands, ladies” when we were pulling the shelves forward and chatting in the aisles.
Does anyone remember the video they showed you when you were trained in East Providence? “Debbie didn’t think a few dollars would hurt anyone.” AND there was that SHRINK sign on the employee bulletin board.
Our store was kind of a manager eater...I had 8 Store Managers in 8 years. I remember them all except the last one...for some reason...Greetings Mr. Kavanagh...Good Morning Mr Allenson...Hey Brian...Joe...
Mr. Conti was one of the best managers I had. He was very sweet once you got to know him. We bought him a case of pencils for Christmas one year. (He used to snap them in 1/2 and throw them in his office!) THEN there was the time me and my pal Jimmy got locked in the store one night. Jimmy was taking too long getting his junk out of the produce dept...oops...everyone left. Good thing the night crew was coming in at 11pm!!
Here is my big shout out to all my Store 30 friends...Jimmy, Donna, Eileen, Bill, Peter, Andy, Stubbs, Angelo and Dave, Frank Antonelli!!, Joe D, Kenny, Nicole, Ron, Don, Rick D.,Dave B., Katie, Sue, Mike C., Paul....I could go on and on...RIP Bob Rezendez!! We love you!!"
tgoodkin@yahoo.com
"Hi, I worked at Almacs in 1973 for a few years and it was a fun place to work. I worked at the North Providence store while in high school. Then I was able to transfer to the Kingstown branch while I attended the University of Rhode Island. Some of the best times at work in North Providence was when it was a slow night we would use the tops of coffee cans as frizbes and throw them to each other in the aisles! Fun times!"
"Found your page on ALMACS and remember a lot of it. Used to go there every week with my dad to do the shopping. (Mostly the Riverside store, especially after it was remodeled) I grew up in Barrington. Moved out to the Worcester MA area and about a year ago took this pic. Was surprised when I went into a store in Sturbridge and they were using these old Almacs Carts. "
East Providence Almacs store #31 spread the word and had a reunion at the 133 Club in East Providence, we are trying to have another one on a larger scale. If anyone is interested email lucistoddard@cox.net and we can get the process started.
photo courtesy of Jen Wallace, Coventry, RI
photo courtesy of Tom O'Donnell, Cranston, RI
photo courtesy of Mike Fougere (Newport RI location 94-95)
In 1967, for about a year or maybe two, I was "The Almacs Man" on local TV.
Portly, black beard, pince-nez glases, and the slogan,
"Almacs -- Where Choosey People Have More To Choose From!"
I was acting at Trinity Rep at the time, and I met my best friend Bob Mariani,
who was producer and copy writer for the spots.
- Bob Colonna
In 1967, for about a year or maybe two, I was "The Almacs Man" on local TV.
Portly, black beard, pince-nez glases, and the slogan,
"Almacs -- Where Choosey People Have More To Choose From!"
I was acting at Trinity Rep at the time, and I met my best friend Bob Mariani,
who was producer and copy writer for the spots.
- Bob Colonna
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