If you really think about it, the evolution of the modern grocery store is a strange one indeed. When the idea of the general store first came about, it was a pretty simple concept; a roof to keep the weather from the heads of the shoppers, a centralized location that was convenient for everyone, and inside the store all the basic necessities of life for the average family. There were staples like flour and sugar, fruits and vegetables in season, fabric, glassware, and for guys there were plenty of nuts and bolts barrels to go sifting through. All of this in one convenient spot.
But then, the tastes of North Americans began to change. Suddenly, exotic fruits and vegetables were appearing and were being purchased in large quantities. Kiwi fruit, pineapple, and grapes were suddenly in demand in places where they never would have appeared before. Combined with the development of reliable refrigeration and freezing techniques, as well as a sharp increase in the number of pre-made goods (such as breakfast cereals and candy bars), this meant that there was more food available for purchase by the modern consumer than ever before. The all purpose store was no longer big enough for the needs of the average family.
And so a separation took place, with the food products going their way, the construction product going another, and the finer products like jewelry and watches going yet another. The number of stores ballooned almost overnight, and each had its own appearance. The food stores were clearly geared towards family shopping, with wide aisles to accommodate shopping carts and brightly lit displays.
As the times changed yet again, however, families began spending more time together and this included even their shopping times. With men once again involved in the shopping process, it was soon realized that they would need all of their goods in one place, or families might starve. In came the idea of the big box store to save the day. Now, the convenience of the grocery store, with carrying carts for children and food, was once again combined with the goods normally found in sporting, tool, electronics, and even automotive stores. Everything one family could possibly ever need was now available in the big box store.
So, the development of the North American supermarket has come full circle. Families can once again shop together for all of their goods under one roof, being informed of recent sales via an intercom system that pays appropriate homage to the information age. Of course, it is going to take some time for the shopping cart to catch up, but we can all look forward to the days of drive-in shopping areas in the future.
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