STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Household budgets are stretched thin, according to a recent Advance/SILive.com article. Yet Staten Island’s passion for food shopping remains strong—so strong that conversations about today’s sticker shock often turn into reflections on simpler times.
When grocery shopping was an outing
The emails have poured in since the report. From nostalgic sighs—“Shopping used to be an event!”—to delectable memories that shaped our palates—“Do you remember the Bradford House at Grant’s?”—former Staten Islanders are inspired to reminisce over the good old days.
One long-lost shopping destination frequently mentioned is W.T. Grant’s in New Dorp. Before malls and big-box stores, Grant’s was a go-to for thrifty shoppers. Its lunch counter was a treat: locals recall grabbing a steakburger or fried clam platter for under $1.50 while picking up household goods. The store closed in the mid-1970s when the chain folded, but its memory lingers—like the aroma of coffee and the clanking of plates from its bustling café.
Based on reader feedback, kids had their own reason to love Grant’s—the Cookie Club Card. Each visit meant a free cookie at the lunch counter, and some stores even offered prizes or stamps for frequent visits. It was a clever way to turn errands into adventures, building loyalty and creating family memories.
The lunch counter was a big part of the borough’s shopping experience. Remember Korvette’s and Lobel’s of Port Richmond? While I don’t recall the food at Korvette’s, I do remember the cork “high heel” strappy sandals plucked from a bin there. (That was a splurge for us in the early 70s.) Based on reader feedback, both stores had small cafés that made grocery shopping feel like a full-day.
And Sears? Back in the 1950s, stores around the country featured soda fountains—perfect for kicking the tires and then grabbing a bite…