Looking back, it's hard to believe that anyone's dream could survive. It was 1936 and the Great Depression had driven millions of Americans out of work. Paul D'Amour, at 30 years old, was full of entrepreneurial spirit. He was a bread route salesman for earning $60 each week at Wonder Bread Baking Co. Paul dreamed of owning his own business. With a family loan of $800–their entire savings–along with help from his brother Gerry, Paul purchased the Y Cash Market for $2,500.
In The Beginning - 1936
DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THINGS COST IN 1936?
- Car $580.00
- Gasoline 19¢ a gallon
- House $6,300
- Bread 8¢ a loaf
- Milk 47¢ a gallon
- Postage Stamp 3¢
- Avg. Annual Salary $1,500
Paul and Gerry began their legacy on December 12, 1936 at the Y Cash Market in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, MA at the intersection where two roads converge to form a Y.
Pretty soon, they began to build their business and their reputation. By 1940 business had increased 20 fold and the store had tripled in size. There were ten people working for Paul and Gerry, their two sisters assisting with many areas, including administration, cash handling and financial reporting. From the early years, Big Y was a family operation.
The rest is 70 years of history....
To read more about Big Y in the '30s click here.
The '40s
It's 1947 and the D'Amour brothers have opened a second and larger Y Cash Market in a former bowling alley. Business was going well and the D’Amours kept abreast of changes in the food industry. Frozen foods and new techniques in food packaging were revolutionizing food storage. Customers were looking for more variety, self-service and the convenience of one-stop grocery shopping.
To read more about Big Y in the '40s click here.
The '50s
DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THINGS COST IN 1950?
- Car $1750.00
- Gasoline 27¢ a gallon
- House $14,500
- Bread 14¢ a loaf
- Milk 82¢ a gallon
- Postage Stamp 3¢
- Avg. Annual Salary $3,800
In 1952 the brothers took a radical step and opened a 10,000 square foot store, nearly twice as large as most grocery stores at the time. Located in Chicopee, MA at the rotary near the entrance to Westover Air Force Base. Increased activity at the base created an economic boom in the area which included several new housing developments. Because it was so much larger than typical markets in the area and was the first “modern” supermarket in the city of Chicopee, the brothers settled on the name Big Y Supermarket.
Bouncing back from the shortages imposed during the war, the 1950s were an era of relative abundance, new choices and new variety. Modern supermarkets were in a better position to give consumers all they were looking for. Paul and Gerry quickly recognized hat the era of the modern supermarket had arrived, sold their two smaller stores and began to establish supermarkets in other communities.
To read more about Big Y in the '50s click here.
The '60s
In 1960, Paul and Gerry opened a 31,000 square foot store, the largest supermarket in Western Massachusetts at the time and their first in Northampton. It also included a beer and wine department. Later, the beer and wine department would become the brothers first liquor store. Customers enjoyed the personalized service, fruits and vegetables from nearby farms and the great values that the D'Amour brothers provided.
Next, in 1963, another store opened in Chicopee not far from the original ‘Y Cash Market’. It was the third Big Y Foods, Inc. supermarket. In 1965 Big Y opened a supermarket in a new shopping center near downtown Westfield for their fourth supermarket. The following year, a fifth supermarket and second liquor store were opened in a new shopping center on
Route 33 in Chicopee.
Big Y arrived in Springfield in 1967 at the intersection of Breckwood Boulevard and Wilbraham Road. This was the third shopping center, sixth supermarket and third liquor store developed by the D’Amours.
A year later marked a major turning point for Big Y. Now, with six locations, Big Y acquired the Jumbo Supermarket chain of seven stores. The D’Amours seized the opportunity to expand into other communities including the towns of Ware and East Longmeadow. On October 8, 1968, the chain had more than doubled in size with the stroke of a pen.
To read more about Big Y in the '60s click here.
The '70s
DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THINGS COST IN 1970?
- Eggs 62˘ a dozen
- Gasoline 36˘ a gallon
- House $26,600
- Bread 20˘ a loaf
- Milk $1.15 a gallon
- 1st Class Stamp 6˘
- Avg. Annual Salary $8,734.00
The 1970’s heralded continued growth for Big Y. New stores opened in Ludlow, Agawam, Longmeadow and Palmer. The decade also saw the second generation of D’Amour family become involved in the business guided by Paul and Gerry’s principles of Value, Quality, Service and a Commitment to the Communities they served! New stores followed in West Springfield, Southampton and Southwick.
To read more about Big Y in the '70s click here.
The '80s
In 1981, in tribute to both its employees and its customers, Big Y established an annual scholarship program to recognize academic merit and achievement. Six scholarships were awarded the first year. This began Big Y’s commitment to Education, a focus that continues today.
1984 was a pivotal year for Big Y with two major acquisitions. The purchase of a store in Stafford brought Big Y into Connecticut. Later that year, in November 1984, Big Y purchased the former Adams Supermarket chain in Berkshire County of Western Massachusetts and opened stores in Great Barrington, Pittsfield, Adams and North Adams. This brought the total number of Big Y’s to 20 supermarkets!
To read more about Big Y in the '80s click here.
By the time Big Y turned 50 years old in 1986, the company ranked #1 in Western Massachusetts with 21 stores and over 1600 employees. The late 80’s were marked by expansions in East Longmeadow, St. James Avenue in Springfield, Palmer, Greenfield, and Mansfield, CT as well as the opening of their first Worcester County store in Holden. In addition, the company’s purchase of the former Greenfield’s Supermarkets brought Big Y into the Naugatuck Valley, Plainville, and Torrington, CT.
In 1988, Big Y’s growing staff of technicians in areas such as refrigeration, plumbing, carpentry and electrical were consolidated into one facility in Chicopee. A year later the company leased office space on Chestnut Street in downtown Springfield in order to accommodate even more support staff. Lastly, Big Y’s expanding store count meant more opportunities for self-distribution which led to the purchase of a 100,000 square foot warehouse on Tapley St. in Springfield.
This period was also marked by further innovations such as computerized cash registers, electronic ordering systems, energy saving refrigeration equipment and shopper friendly store design.
In all, this 50 year milestone was marked by significant expansion and change.
The '90s
1990 – 1992
After months of planning, the Express Savings Club¨ was launched in October 1990. With it came national recognition for a program that eliminated in-store paper coupons while giving coupon savings on hundreds of items each week – all by simply scanning a card at the cash register. The Express Savings Club made life simple for Big Y customers and employees. This innovative program once again put Big Y in the forefront of technological solutions.
In April of 1991,
Big Y’s co-founder, Paul D’Amour passed away at the age of 84. For 55 years, he was involved in the company’s day to day operations as well as plans for expansion. He often enjoyed traveling from store to store in the early morning hours in order to check on deliveries and offer assistance whenever possible. Not once did he stop dreaming of a bigger and better company. Ironically, Big Y celebrated the grand opening of its 29th supermarket on the day of Paul’s passing.
By the close of 1991, there were 30 Big Y locations. The company’s strategic plans to expand into Connecticut and Central Massachusetts were on course with the openings of the Plainfield and Worcester Super Big Y’s. As with other years, these were also characterized by the remodeling and expansion of numerous Big Y locations as their devotion to maintaining a leadership position in the marketplace continued.
Artwork is for display purposes only and does not necessarily reflect specific items. Not responsible for typographical errors.
