History
History of the oldest family run grocery stores in the area:
Earl Shoemaker purchased the original South Vienna Shoemaker grocery business in March, 1940.
1956 store front in South Vienna with employees
It was located in the I.O.O.F. Lodge building until 1956, when the business was moved across the street to its present location. Ron Shoemaker joined his father in the business in 1958.
Inside the original South Vienna store, circa 1940
They were later joined by Virgil Akers, Jr., Earl’s son-in-law, then in the 1980s by Rollie Shoemaker and David Akers, Ron and Virgil’s sons. The Shoemakers bought out the Akers interests in 2005, and the store is presently owned and operated by Ron and Carolyn Shoemaker and Rollie and Stephanie Shoemaker.
The Shoemaker family’s presence in the grocery business in South Charleston actually started in 1924, when Earl and Floyd Shoemaker’s uncle, Joe Irwin, opened a store on the corner of Mound and Chillicothe Sts, which is now part of the Shoemaker’s IGA parking lot. He sold out in 1936, then Floyd bought the business in 1952, bringing it back into the family. He operated it until he sold out to Jack Garringer and Ron Shoemaker in 1965.
The present South Charleston store was opened in 1973.
S Charleston store in 1970 after the big fire next door destroyed neighboring buildings
Jack ran it until 1980 when he moved across the street to operate the new hardware store he and Ron had built. Mike Garringer, Jack’s son, took over the grocery store. Jack and wife, Roma Jean, retired in 1992. Mike and wife, Patti, bought out the interests and presently operate the store.
Ron Shoemaker (lower left) & Jack Garringer (right), 1978 ad