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In 1925, Auburn had 13 grocery stores, 7 meat markets, and a population of
4200. In contrast to modern supermarkets, these were small, family-owned
stores located within walking distance of the neighborhoods they served.
Although these 1920's stores stocked a much more limited variety of goods
than modern supermarkets, they attracted and retained business by offering a
high level of customer service. In those days before shopping carts, owners
personally assembled the shopper's order and offered free home delivery. In
addition, most customers -- being personally known to the shopkeeper --
bought on credit.
Unlike the general stores of earlier days -- which had provided for most of
the household needs of a less dense, mostly rural population of
cash-strapped subsistence farmers -- Auburn's 1920's stores served a more
urban market. As such, they stocked items which, in earlier days, households
would have produced for themselves -- such as fresh and canned fruits and
vegetables, milk, butter, cheese, eggs, etc. Of course, the majority of
their stock continued to be staples that were not produced locally, such as
coffee, tea, flour, sugar, crackers, cooking oils, etc.
One of Auburn's 13 grocery stores in 1925 was the Auburn Public Market,
owned by James Cugini. Born in Bergamo, Italy, in 1892, James and his father
came to the US in 1907. Together they operated a dairy business in Renton
and later in Dieringer. In the fall of 1923, James took a few empty wooden
crates, filled them with fresh fruit and vegetables, and opened the Auburn
Public Market at 19 E. Main. He soon added a full line of groceries,
including specialty foods such as chutneys, cherries, chows, catsup,
pickles, marmalades and mushrooms.
Cugini's grocery business continued to expand, and underwent several moves
and name changes. In 1929, the store was moved to 1 E. Main and was called
Price-Rite. Then, about 1938, it opened as Cugini's ShurFine Store at 265 E.
Main. In those days, the whole family helped in the store. Son Dario
remembers he was recruited to sweep floors and stock shelves. After school
he delivered groceries on his bicycle.
In 1947, Dario became a partner in the store, taking over the floral
department which his mother started in 1939, as a sideline. The florist's
share of the business continued to expand, and in 1954 the grocery store was
closed, remodeled, and re-opened as Cugini Florists. Ownership of the store
passed to Dario in 1958, although his father remained active in the business
until his death in 1980. Today, Cugini's Florist remains a flourishing
business, with stores in both Auburn and Renton.
James Cugini's grocery store, the Auburn Public Market, will be featured as
one of the White River Valley Museum's new exhibits. Some of the original
furnishings of the store, including the cash register and counters, have
been saved by the Cugini family, and will be used in the exhibit. However,
we would like to make a special request for donations of 1920's product
containers to supplement our modest collection and help stock the shelves of
this exhibit in a realistic manner. Please call Tina at (253) 939-2783 if
you know of available 1920's product containers.
Dr. Tina Brewster Wray
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