Classic ad of the week: A&P supermarkets from 1945. With a retro recipe for A&P Spanish bar cake (2024)

Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments

26 Responses

1. on September 20, 2012 at 11:02 pm | Reply Amish Stories

   I'm posting this one a little early which is more for convenience than anything else since I now dont have to get online early in the morning to post this classic ad of the week, so what had again started out as a regular post was beefed-up a little with a classic A&P recipe which resembles a sheet cake. I grew-up on the great Atlantic and pacific Tea company mostly because my mom had worked for them starting in the early 1970s in New York City, plus my folks liked their products and had grown-up with this market like I had as children . I will tell a short story about my mom working at the A&P during the black out of 1977 which hit New York like a brick, so most of us were without power for days including the store that my mom had worked in which was located in the Bronx. The manager of her A&P had made a decision that it would be best for employees to take as much food that would spoil, and that they could carry home with them. I will never know why a truck didn't stop by and pick-up everything like the meat and frozen items at this store, but who was I to argue because I was a benefactor of some A&P pies among other things from all of this. I gave some of those pies away to people that I knew in the NYC projects that I was living in at the time, and my mom carried as much as she could in 2 large paper bags. I will never forget the black-out of 1977 or the A&P, so I was pleasantly surprised in finding this classic ad and I knew I had to post this one this week. The A&P went through many lean years since my mom had worked for them so many years ago, they closed many stores and left the inner cities for suburbia. The Great Atlantic Tea company the once great America company is now owned by a company in Germany. Richard

   
   

2. on September 20, 2012 at 11:25 pm | Reply Marilyn in New York

   I remember A & P grocery stores. I worked for an insurance company that insured them. There was also am A & P grocery store a couple towns over from where I lived in New York State. I don't know why they don't have a truck come in and take the food when the electric goes off. At our local grocery store they were going to throw it out when the power went off. Being in the store at the time and the generator on for the lights-a bunch of us were allowed to take some home. My friend Nancy and I were in there shopping so we got some of the meat and frozen items. We took them home and stored them in Nancy's freezer on her porch and eventually ate it all. We and other customers, got hundreds of dollars of food-Free. That will probably never happen again. Marilyn

   
   

3. on September 21, 2012 at 2:46 pm | Reply Veronica

   We actually had A&P in Canada also. For many years my brother in law worked for them. It was a good job with good benefits until they were bought out and he lost his job. Looking forward to reading from Martha again next week. I was wondering how she is doing. I hope everyone has a good weekend. My husband and I have plans to make alot of chocolate fall suckers for a harvest day event at our bible camp sugar bush next weekend. It is a great fundraiser.All the baking will keep me busy next week also but I will still look forward to Amish Stories. Take care Veronica

   
   

4. on September 21, 2012 at 5:53 pm | Reply Anonymous

   AS a child I remember Mama going to A&P every Thurs. for groceries.But I don't have any exciting tales about A&P.Richard, I love the pictures on the side.jodie

   
   

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5. on September 21, 2012 at 6:04 pm | Reply Anonymous

   My uncle worked for A & P in Atlanta, Ga and our family got benifit of that. It was a blessing to our family. This was back before '55. I miss the A & P's now. Patti in VA

   
   

6. on September 21, 2012 at 9:08 pm | Reply Amish Stories

   Hi folks and the very first day of Fall is only one day away, so I say goodbye Summer and welcome Fall. I'm not trying to wish my life away by jumping ahead a season but I really love Autumn and the cooler days and nights that come with it, and I thank to those who have posted their comments sharing their very own A&P story. Its sad when a company as American as a supper market like the A&P falls from grace right before your eyes, and it did not happen overnight so it took many years for all of this to happen. In fact to find one near you is a huge challenge and as far as the state of Pennsylvania is concerned I can not find one singe store that’s left, there was many of those markets here but they left this state years ago. So I hope everyone enjoys the first day of Fall wherever you may be. Richard

   
   

7. on September 21, 2012 at 9:14 pm | Reply Wilma

   In the 40s and 50s, my dad and mother got their groceries every week at A&P. They left us kids in the car while they shopped. It was safe to do that then. I was the oldest so I got to be in charge!

   
   

8. on September 21, 2012 at 10:49 pm | Reply Country Gal

   I remember when A&P was one of the main food stores in Ontario Canada but sadly they went out of business in the early 90s or were bought by other companies and no longer exist ! Great recipe thanks for sharing ! Have a great day !

   
   

9. on September 22, 2012 at 1:19 am | Reply Daniel LaFrance

   Brings back memories of when A&P was here in Ontario, Canada.Great recipe from scratch. Don't see them often anymore.

   
   

10. on September 22, 2012 at 10:21 am | Reply jaz@octoberfarm

    my great grandfather opened one of the first A&P's in our area. i loved this cake. i can't wait to make one. thanks for the recipe!

    
    

11. on September 22, 2012 at 11:52 am | Reply Castles Crowns and Cottages

    Good morning, Richard!These A &P markets give me great memories of having a mom who depended on walking to her local A & P and who made the best cakes, from scratch.I hope your autumn weekend is filled with goodness!!! Anita

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12. on September 22, 2012 at 1:11 pm | Reply Amish Stories

    Welcome to Fall everyone, and I will try and catch a car show today in Lancaster. I just hope its not rained-out because we are supposed to get some showers this afternoon, and I have been to this particular car show before and enjoyed it very much. Well that's my own plans for today and as I type this the sun is trying its best to peek out from the clouds, so everyone enjoy your day and have some fun outside as well. This is the time of year that I seem to spend more time being outside unlike the Summer which is always too hot for me (I hate the heat). Well I'm off folks so until later. Richard

    
    

13. on September 22, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Reply Marilyn from NY

    Another grocery store that use to be big in my childhood was Loblaws. After you got your groceries they gave you a number. You went outside and got your car. You drove up to the side of Loblaws, opened your trunk and they loaded the groceries into the car for you. Also they had a little children's play area in the front of the store. Check outs were right next to the play area so the check out people kind of kept on eye on the children. The children could play while the parents went grocery shopping. Those days are gone!!! If my memory serves, I beleive Wegman's bought Loblaws out. As Archie Bunker and Edith would say: "Those were the days."Marilyn

    
    

14. on September 22, 2012 at 8:34 pm | Reply Amish Stories

    All in the Family, what a classic TV show from the early 1970s. And Marilyn I think that some of the things that were said in that show could never be repeated again, in our polictally correct times. I have just put together Jeans next post for Monday which celebrates Jeans daughter Susan's birthday, and I have put together a nice cake recipe for old fashioned chocolate cake for that occasion incase someone has a birthday coming up in their own family. I know Marilyn will be happy about another choc cake recipe being posted with this one coming from Betty Groff's cook book. The car show was great by the way and I'm just glad that the rain held-off for us spectators and the classic car owners, and I had seen some rare cars like a 1970 Plymouth Supper Bird and a factory built-in cloth sun roof in a 1971 Duster (only 92 ever made according to its owner). Richard

    
    

15. on September 22, 2012 at 8:51 pm | Reply Marilyn from NY

    Oh my gosh !!!! My Mom had a Plymouth Duster and it had a sun roof. When it came trade in time, it had very low mileage on it-it's just that Mom wanted a new car so she gave that sun roof Duster to my nephew. He kept it for a few years after he graduated college and working-then he traded it in. I don't remember what he got, but it wasn't another Duster. I never knew those sun roof Dusters were so rare.Marilyn

    
    

16. on September 22, 2012 at 9:00 pm | Reply Marilyn from NY

    I know Those were the Days had words on wouldn't repeat. It just seems that some many of things when I was younger is gone now and my age is showing. I thank you, in advance, for the chocolate cake recipe on Jean's post. I am trying to think of the commercial way back for Plymouth Duster. It started Duster, Duster, you got a Duster, I got a Duster and I can't remember the rest.Marilyn

    
    

17. on September 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm | Reply Marilyn in NY

    I looked the Commercial for the Duster up on the computer. Marilyn

    
    

18. on September 23, 2012 at 12:19 am | Reply Castles Crowns and Cottages

    Good evening, Richard!Today is my husband's birthday so we were out all day enjoying this FABULOUS FALL WEATHER! The leaves are starting to turn golden and red, the pumpkins are out and we had a fantastic day hiking and shopping, eating and laughing.Yes my dear Richard, I feel blessed to be at home trying my hand and building up my art sense and business. I have more time now to work in my studio AND visit more blogs that I enjoy…this IS truly a rare time of my life that I don't have to worry about working full time!!!ABOUT MY BLOG DESIGN! I am so very pleased to have hired Debby Steele from INSPIRED DESIGN to change some codes on my template. It has given me LARGER PHOTOS, she added the navigation bar under my header, and she cleaned up the look a bit. I learned how to make my own collages even better, but I do that with a free on-line thing on PHOTOBUCKET and PICMONKEY! YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!!Thank you for coming on over. We are going to have some pumpkin biscuits and tea tonight; it is chilly!!! Anita

    
    

19. on September 23, 2012 at 4:11 am | Reply Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes

    My mom used to work at A&P when she was in high school! I swear I've made this cake before! Thanks for the recipe!

    
    

20. on September 23, 2012 at 12:25 pm | Reply Amish Stories

    Its cool this morning folks and that's just the way I like it, so its a perfect day to take my Mustang out for a spin around the Lancaster country side. I got your email Marilyn and thanks for your Duster story, yours had a sunroof which was a pretty hot option back in the 1970s. The Duster that I saw this Saturday had a cloth sunroof that kind of looked like a mini-convertible on top and is something I have never seen on a Duster before, until now and its all stock from the factory. The person who owns it was very nice along with his wife, and they have a 1971 Dodge Dart with the famous and indestructible slant 6 engine with this cloth sunroof. They plan on restoring that one soon and the Duster has a 340 V8 engine that is all stock, so that was the top engine for this car through its life. Richard

    
    

21. on September 23, 2012 at 12:37 pm | Reply Amish Stories

    Hi Ocean and I'm pretty sure that you did make this or had this cake from the A&P before, I'm not sure if they still make and sell it anymore but I do remember seeing it on the shelves all the time so I'm sure it sold pretty well! First Anita happy birthday to your husband and I hope that you find a little time to stop over on Jeans post this Monday because its her daughters birthday in this post and I have a really nice recipe for chocolate cake going up with her post. I do know a little about adjusting some of the codes on our blog template's but I have not played around with all of that just yet, but I think a little down the road I will be tweaking that a little to see how many features can be added. I do know I want to try that so I can personalize Amish Stories more but for now all I can do is to add my own images and create my own header Image like I have done the last week or so. Richard

    
    

22. on September 23, 2012 at 2:53 pm | Reply Castles Crowns and Cottages

    HEY THERE RICHARD!Thank you for your kind words today! I LOVE TO WRITE and I just want to get better and better and better. I always try to take on HUGE goals, but why not….what else would I be doing with my life? AND I WILL be back, for sure, TOMORROW to get a gander at that chocolate cake recipe! Oh how my mom made the best….sometimes after school there would be a freshly baked Devil's Food Cake on the dining room table, waiting for me and my dad, or cupcakes, rice pudding Mexican style….I WILL BE BACK! (Do you remember 7 up cake?)Anita

    
    

23. on September 23, 2012 at 7:07 pm | Reply Amish Stories

    Anita I have heard of 7up cake for sure, but have never tried it as yet. I know I talk a lot about food on my blog but in truth I dont eat as many sweets as folks might think that I would indulge in. And I dont really drink soda unless its maybe homemade root beer or something, but I do love chocolate chip cookies and brownies (homemade of course). I dont remember my mom making many cakes or things like that as she was more famous in our house for her Italian cooking, and for my birthdays she would make me potato pancakes with pretty much an unlimited amount. I couldn't eat them fast enough and would stand next to her as a child as she was making them, almost begging like a dog (lol) for her to reach out with her hand and give me one or two. I really miss those days and wish I could have go back in time again, and I look forward to your visit to give that chocolate cake recipe a look. Richard

    
    

24. on September 24, 2012 at 2:48 pm | Reply Susan Hilary

    Thank you so much for publishing the Spanish Bar cake recipe. It was a favorite in my house growing up & the Ann Page brand of the A & P has been replaced by America's Choice. They no longer make it & I can't wait to make it! You have a wonderful blog & so very glad I stumbled upon it via Craigs List.

    
    

25. on November 13, 2014 at 6:21 pm | Reply Cheryl

    Your generosity is so appreciated. Very happy memories with my Grandmother and Grandfather eating a small slice of the Spanish Bar Cake.

    
    

26. on October 20, 2016 at 8:02 pm | Reply dee

    Trying to find the Spanish rice receipe that was on the A&P. Rice box. Would someone have this receipe?