This Giant Eagle In Richfield, Ohio Is Stuck In the 70s!

This Giant Eagle In Richfield, Ohio Is Stuck In the 70s! Enjoy a look at this vintage grocery store that housed several stores over the years. However one thing that didn't change are the aesthetics inside. This store is stuck in the 70s and looks fantastic! A wonderful looking store compared to modern day places!
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#gianteagle #1970s #wallieb26

[@dragonspirited6690]

Hi I’m an employee at this store haha! I run the bakery! Thank you for coming in and showing the world our little secret in the corner of Richfield :) we hope you enjoyed your visit!

[@WallieB26]

I did! Thank you! I ended up buying a few things I needed too! Haha

[@dragonspirited6690]

Also Yes! there is an abandoned apartment in there too! If you look up in the produce department you can see the window of one of the rooms. We use the other half of it as office space. There was once a bowling alley in my bakery department as well it was a 2 lane. We use it as a store warehouse now. Let me know if you have any questions. I’ve worked there for over 5 years :) I’d be happy to answer any!

[@anitalauer2715]

Was it ever a Big Bear? It looks like the Thurber Village Big Bear back in the day. Giant Eagle bought them out and closed most of the original ones.

[@dragonspirited6690]

@@anitalauer2715 before GE bought them out it was a Country Counter

[@nickhickson1377]

​@@dragonspirited6690 Vaughn's country counter!

[@skyebird3933]

Nothing wrong with being stuck in the 70s.

[@larryosselborn9009]

Rite weed was better

[@llg3pe]

I agree. I’d go back if I could.

[@AnthonyWilliams-li5mz]

I agree it’s was a wonderful time in my life. I’d give anything to go back to that time

[@jessicac5934]

Right

[@jeffreybaker100]

How funny, back here in Western NY there was and still is a Wegmans Supermarket that once had a 70s era look up until it was demolished and rebuilt in 2005. This Wegmans was first built in 1977 in Cheektowaga, NY (suburban Buffalo, NY) and it remained the same inside and out until renovation took place in 2005

[@iamagamer_007]

That’s a perfect example of “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” except for understandable tech and security upgrades it looks beautiful.

[@Warp2090]

You mean "If it's not broke don't ruin it" for the design

[@kisstune]

@@Warp2090 It's probably one of those lucky because they do just enough business and revenue to stay open but don't do enough to justify a remodel/new store built either on top of it or close by. The Target in Elyria is that way and therefore stuck in the 90's.

[@marlasnyder6705]

Just knowing that something like this still exists is heart warming!

[@redpanda5566]

That grocery store looks so nice! It looks way better than modern grocery stores.

[@mattmarzula]

Looks like the Sparkle Market in Youngstown, Ohio. Only cleaner.

[@WillWatchAnything]

Now if only the prices could be vintage

[@straightpipediesel]

Yeah, no. Era of stagflation and oil crises. You think the 8% inflation in 2022 was bad, it was 11.1% in 1974, and 11.3% in 1979. Mortgage rates were 10% in 1974 and 12.9% in 1979.

[@charliebuzik9317]

I was just thinking about that

[@jconsolmagno]

Agreed, thanks Biden.

[@kevinray6586]

Haha, I was going to say the same thing, but you said it first.

[@Long_Duk_Dong]

FJB...

[@justinmorrison321]

This store is so incredibly cozy.

[@xandercrews4729]

That’s a very apt description

[@alexkuhn5078]

so true. there's this modern push to make public places less cozy. I simply do not get it

[@deirdrepasko9056]

I grew up in that town. It used to be a LOT nicer. Where the Hallmark section is today, used to be the butcher shop, and also where they would keep the greens from veggies in a big bin, for the farmers for their livestock. It was really cool.

[@KMART_ENTHUSIAST]

WE NEED MORE RETRO STYLED STORES‼️‼️

[@avgjoeavglife]

Sir, that is a store not a restaurant.

[@KMART_ENTHUSIAST]

@@avgjoeavglife sorry i just woke up from a nap my brains not fully awake yet lol

[@avgjoeavglife]

@@KMART_ENTHUSIAST It happens to all of us.

[@gamerboyofficalyt]

I know right, So many stores have lost their charm due to cold cooperate designs. And a need for speed and cheapness

[@nickhummer5775]

Isn’t retro styled. They never updated the store

[@alanlough638]

It's great when any business still has the vintage aesthetics, signage and everything else. It's so cool! 👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀

[@TheGeekyBanana]

I love the vibe! I’d totally shop there all the time just because it’s stuck in the 70’s

[@AvaZinn]

Much less early 1980s yet it does remind me of a Kroger stuck in the 1980s.

[@AvaZinn]

Maybe a Marsh location if memory serves me correctly.

[@deirdrepasko9056]

It's far older than that.

[@sy3zy3gy3]

I am a 3 year Country Counter (as Stop n Shop) ex-employee from 1992-1995 and worked exclusively at the Richfield location in the video. At one time there were 7 Country Counter stores across Brunswick, Richfield, Brecksville, Sagamore Hills, Macedonia and possibly Hudson. The Country Counters were owned by the Vaughan family, some of the second generation siblings and at least one of their spouses worked in the offices above the produce/meat department at that time. There were other non-family employees working upstairs as well. Mr. Vaughan and a few other staff members worked in a smaller office area above the checkout section of the store, separate from the other office area. Mr. Vaughan had a nice large office for himself up there though. I was hired by Bob Tyree, the store manager at the time. There were about 4 other assistant store managers that covered evenings for closing and Sundays. There were other departmental managers for produce, meat, bakery, dairy and frozen. There of course was also a decent-sized stocking crew that worked days and sometimes late night shifts, after the rest of us had left by 9:30pm (or 6:30pm on Sundays). My first 1.5 years at the store were focused on the duties of a “packer”, usually doing the job of packing the purchased items into brown paper bags (plastic by request) and asking the customers with larger orders (or elderly) if they needed help out to their car. When the registers were less busy, I would go out to the parking lot and bring in carts and make sure the front entrance was orderly. The evening hours could be more interesting as that was when certain chores needed done, such as cleaning/mopping out the break room and adjacent bathrooms. Or, my favorite was being on trash duty which included going to the upstairs offices above produce. It was like being in a totally different place up there, quiet and more modern. I usually took my time while doing trash duty up there, I didn’t like to have to return to the chaos of the store downstairs! I was happy to meet new kids my age while working there, almost all were students in the local Revere school district, as I was not. They introduced me to the burgeoning hobby of car audio, I learned a lot from them. My second 1.5 years involved a “promotion” to work exclusively in the produce department. My manger there was Bob Lawyer for most of my remaining time, he was a joy to work for. At that time, the registers could not weigh produce, so weighing had to be done manually by the produce staff for every single item sold by weight. Also, every night most of the cooled produce cases needed emptied of their items and stored in the large walk-in coolers in the back for the night. In between weighing items during the day, there was also wrapping of multi-pak items using the clear film wrapper machine in the back room. I spent many an hour in that back room of the produce department shown towards the end of the video! A couple other things to note from my time there in the early/mid ‘90’s. The greeting card room shown in the video was the floral department at that time, and was walled off to the public, that opening was not there when I worked there. Also, reading others comments of a bowling alley was news to me, I have no idea where that would have been! Other memories involve Deadheads sometimes coming through the store when the nearby Coliseum was host to the Grateful Dead concerts, they stood out from the usual locals! I will say the place was a haven for locals on a daily basis. As mentioned by another commenters, so many people were on a first name basis with the cashiers and managers. I recall seeing so many repeat customers over the years. And as is pretty obvious, the place has barely changed in 50 years, I’ve been amazed that I can show my kids the exact same shopping experience I knew as a kid and later as an employee. I hope it never gets updated, it’s a throwback to another time!

[@krisa8649]

Thank you for the share story of this store in its past. It would be great to use as the narrative on the video!

[@deirdrepasko9056]

Beautifully written. When I was commenting on my memories, I had totally forgotten about the office overlooking the registers. My Mom told me that that was where an ogre lived, keeping an eye on naughty children so they wouldn't steal candy while waiting in line. I believed her! 😂 Yes, I also heard that there was a bowling alley somewhere, but that was before my time. I have however, been in the apartment overlooking the produce department, as a friend of mine lived up there.

[@MultiTimelady]

The store is bright and cheerful. I'd shop there because it is so welcoming

[@otpmetairie4862]

It's beautiful 🌞! We were all falling in love in the 1970s. 1970s = Love, romance, dancing. I'm still back there with the record player ABBA and Henry Mancini.

[@elizabethwitt2621]

I was with you till Henry Mancini. I'll insert Mary Tyler Moore instead.🤣

[@deirdrepasko9056]

ABBA was in the 80's. Disco was huge in the late 70's, The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, KC and The Sunshine Band, Sonny and Cher, people like that.

[@otpmetairie4862]

Yes, take me back to 1970s 1980s love ❤ 🌞!

[@avgjoeavglife]

That's the kind of store i dearly miss.

[@rayspooner1982]

I wish I could find a grocery store where the prices were stuck in the 1970's.

[@deirdrepasko9056]

No you wouldn't, because then you would be paid like it was the 70's! 😅. There was also a gasoline crisis going on, so you had to make all your errands in one day, or WALK. LOL

[@ZyllAvatar]

Even has foil wallpaper, when I wasa kid in the early 80s, everything still looked like this.

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

Thats fantastic ! What a wonderful time. Those who werent there in the 70s, can not even begin to understand how much better everything was. It was like a different planet. Those of us who were there are super blessed and have experienced the way life could and should be. I would go back and stay if I could. I miss America so much.

[@waynebarnett7467]

Richfield Ohio is one of the wealthiest communities per person in Ohio. I’ve been in that store numerous times.it’s a definitely a step back in time.

[@deirdrepasko9056]

Richfield never used to be that way. Bath was the wealthy side of the Revere School District.

[@Sleeve_Did_It]

As a confirmed supermarket geek, I was loving the store tour of a 70s vintage Giant Eagle. Looks more like an independent grocer than a chain store. It reminds me of Pennington Quality Market in Pennington, NJ or Deterding's Family Market in Lindenwold, NJ. Those were two stores that I have found that are stuck in the past. Can't wait to see what you'll find next!

[@Sleeve_Did_It]

@MoparGuy1625, truth! I've had many from that store. They never disappoint!

[@deirdrepasko9056]

When Giant Eagle took over, they wanted to change the store to where it would be unrecognizable. The community was having NO part of that, and were going to "run them out of town on a rail". For once, the people won.

[@tristanwoodmansee477]

This was great!!! I was born in 67, and the decor really brought me back. Love Ohio!!

[@piscesempress1978]

Ohio sucks

[@danjohnson4082]

I love these off the beaten path places that have kept their original vintage looks.

[@dorkultra]

I remember when the produce/barn side of the store had wood flooring. I'm super happy to see how well maintained and unique it remained.

[@protector22222]

Don't be so quick to say that some of the storage areas they have that are out of sight of customers have black mold growing on the walls

[@vintagemiscellany5719]

Just one thing from a 66-year-old: To be fully 70s, they should play MUZAK or other elevator music.

[@VoorTrekker88]

I was thinking the same thing when he mentioned the music they were playing. Muzak is essential for the authentic 1970s retail vibes. It also wouldn't hurt to have everyone smoking indoors.

[@deirdrepasko9056]

@@VoorTrekker88 hahahah I don't think that was ever permitted.

[@deirdrepasko9056]

I think they cater to whatever age group is there at the time.

[@GregB-uc1ky]

Life was way better and friendlier in the 70's. Sure do miss it.

[@deirdrepasko9056]

That's for sure!

[@michelekate8567]

I grew up about 10 minutes from there and remember it being the Stop-n- Shop!

[@christieperry4361]

I worked at this store during my 20 years with giant eagle! Yes the upstairs offices, manager office, etc, were converted from a house. There is a bowling alley too. I believe it is the smallest giant eagle. Shoppers were great we knew them by name. Management and corporate ruined the job experience though. I miss the workers and the shoppers

[@brandonb.6099]

love the woodgrain paneling in that store.

[@angelalinderman9985]

I wish all stores were like this!!!! Adorable 🥰 love the 70's vibes...this is so rare! Thanks so much Wallie 👍😁

[@DerWutendeMetzger]

This is now my preferred giant eagle

[@CharlieA623Official]

I'm surprised an establishment like this still exists in this day and age. Thank you for documenting this. Keep doing what you do best!

[@ih8utbe]

I miss the 1970s. I was a child then. It was very colorful . I wear bell bottoms still and polyester shirts. Going to buy some authentic platform shoes . I love the fashions.

[@doreentanner4756]

This is my favorite store. I go there every other week. 😁

[@robertmailhos8159]

That is definitely a classic grocery store to see 😊

[@paul-roblox5174]

Now that is most beautiful Grocery store I have ever seen, that is awesome you don't get to see that every day :)

[@mikenabski3489]

Wow a beer and wine section in a small supermarket

[@Hodaggium]

That payphone was a dead ringer.

[@Nxttimefire]

Literally, I see what you did there😂

[@neolithicnobody8184]

If'n it ain't broke, don't fix it! Nuf said. 👍

[@brianzembruski5485]

I like that the place looks well-maintained so the old decor has a pleasant character and feel to it rather than a depressing one like some older grocery stores around Pittsburgh and Allegheny and Westmoreland counties where I live. Great video and great find!

[@cynthiarose7534]

I love it. Reminds me of grocery shopping with my mom in the 70s. This was extra cool. I’d rather go there than a modern big store. Thanks for the awesome video. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[@lisaperko3439]

This is right down the road from me. We call it the "Little Giant Eagle". Always has what we need.

[@musicmamma]

I loved it! I grew up in the 70s and 80s, & this brought back memories of when I'd go shopping w my Mom at Hoff's and Piggly Wiggly way back when. Thank you!!

[@davidfrania8990]

Wow! That foil wallpaper is a real throwback! This store seems to be stuck in a time warp...and it's so cool!

[@PepperoniRollBandit]

This looks like the set of the movie The Intruder. Love vintage grocery stores.

[@chrischurch4551]

It's like a disco. Even have a strobe light in the dairy section.

[@slackingpacking]

Been wanting to go here for awhile. As I saw online how aesthetically pleasing this place is. I love it.

[@USSAwesome]

I live about 20 minutes from this store and I’ve been there a handful of times. It used to make me a bit melancholic, but now I find it comforting. A time capsule to be sure, and something I hope never changes.

[@ga7145]

I love it, it looks really great!

[@4541studios]

I LOOOVE this store!

[@Festerock]

I have drove by this Giant Eagle on Broadview Rd. Several times, always wondered what it looked like inside. Thanks for showing me! I'll have to stop in one day to check it out.

[@Optopolis]

So much aesthetic that we just don't see anymore in grocery stores. Very rare to see new stuff built anything even remotely like this these days. Those door alarms remind me of some gas stations.

[@luvjxnakajen]

This was an awesome find WallieB! The wallpaper the lights the font of the signs. So nostalgic!

[@halliec3380]

I actually used to work there in the deli in late 90s when it was county counter and it is one of my favorite places. If I remember correctly, there used to be an actual bakery stand. Thanks for showing the tour. I wish more stores were like this.

[@jaimienichols5649]

That’s an awesome Giant Eagle

[@RomanDiaries]

It looks more homey! Less corporate. I like it a lot.

[@hevmet8386]

I used to work at the store when it was Stop & Shop and was owned by the Vaughan family. Mike Hargrove manager of the Cleveland Indians wife used to shop at the store.

[@JustaGirlinCleveland]

I loved it when it was stop n shop!

[@RyGuy0520]

I worked here a few times for extra hours a few years ago when I worked at the north royalton store

[@cavyart]

In typical Giant Eagle fashion, for a small store they have HUGE alcohol selection. 😂

[@GregB-uc1ky]

The Cleveland Cavaliers used to play out there. In the 70's.❤😊

[@thecandyman9308]

Richfield Coliseum, I presume. Led Zeppelin played one of their most legendary concerts there in 1977 which can be found as a bootleg here on youtbe as the "destroyer" show.

[@poshko41]

Not exactly the middle of nowhere - it borders the Cuyahoga Valley National Park which may give it that illusion, but it is considered within the Cleveland metro area. The Richfield Coliseum where the Cleveland Cavaliers played used to be located there.

[@imakatoh3593]

I like it The Brady bunch is on its way to skip through the aisles singing their time to change song

[@tangledandfar]

Thank you for the tour. That was such a nice store.

[@ScottRandolph-dd7dr]

🎉 retro greetings from coastal Mississippi. Love the store. Beautiful. It reminds me of our Piggly Wiggly before it closed.

[@ih8utbe]

There aren't too many Piggly Wigglys' left

[@JosephDirosario]

That was amazing inside that really was from the 70s. Geez I want to go there.

[@thispainsme]

I was a teenager in the 1970’s. Good times. Thanks for showing this, I totally love it!

[@baconplayz2593]

You should check out the Giant Eagle in Maple Heights, OH. It may not be the greatest area, but the Giant Eagle there is stuck in the late 80’s/90’s.

[@zythr9999]

Lol it is?

[@tobyradloff]

This is a store that opened around 1990 as a Twin Valu. Dave's took it over after Twin Valu closed, then Giant Eagle took it over, keeping much of the Dave's decor. This is at Southgate shopping center, on the site where May Company used to be.

[@thatonedudeoverhere]

That’s a good deal on that Pepsi and Dew

[@MicheleWilliams-by8ud]

I grew up in Richfield in the 1970's and 1980's. It was a Country Counter store. ❤

[@paulallen8495]

That place is beautiful. Really, it looks better than many "modern" supermarkets.

[@Vintage-y8m]

We used to have a grocery store that was built in early 1970s. They never remodeled it or changed it all the way up until early 2000 when it went out of business. It was my favorite grocery store because it was so vintage and nobody shoped at the place, so I was usually one of very few people in the store. I remember one of the registers was even from the 70s and they still used it once in awhile. I remember burnt orange formica customer service counter with black walnut wood paneling. It was very depressing going into the store for the final day sale and then to watch the bulldozers knock the building over. I remember going in there for the last day that they were open in the elderly lady that was behind the register and had been working there for many many years and she was almost in tears telling me that she only has a couple more hours and she's done working there forever.

[@LudiCrust.]

The last grocery store from the old days by me in Indy just recently closed. What was wild about them was they continued buying the same food packaging that was used from the 1900s so it was really like walking into history. Outside of things like Ben & Jerry’s that only come in one type of packaging everything else that was chilled or frozen still came in the old plastic tub packaging or the cardboard box ice cream containers. There’s a good reason why those containers went out of style: the cardboard wasn’t coated in plastic or PFAs so the inch closest to the ice cream had a cardboardish flavor to it. All the plastic containers were the old style that wasn’t recyclable. I don’t know how companies got away with continuing to manufacture it without environmentalists & the like complaining. What I like about them was it didn’t have nasty chemicals like PFAs in/on them. They also continued to sell old mom & pop store goods & different stuff from small companies. Everything that made that place great is what stores like Kroger & Walmart are missing.

[@Sprizys]

Imagine if they were able to somehow get vintage packaging for the items as well, that would be cool.

[@mascottie]

I love it. So much personality. It feels good to be in there.

[@Dell0304-fanchannel]

That grocery store has a lot of character.

[@selfproclaimedintrovert5676]

What a beautiful store and thank you for taking us on a tour. I would absolutely shop there if I were a local.

[@ThatNateGuyOnYouTube]

dude this is just like that Sparkle Market I filmed in Niles a few years ago! SO cool!!!!!

[@edwardsr70]

I like how Giant Eagle updated the road sign to the current logo but leaves everything in the store alone.

[@danieljwilson7918]

I love the 70s and 80s best decades to grow up in. I love it, reminds me of Bells Supermarkets and Super Duper Stores that i grew up around. Awesome Wallie, great video

[@johngerojr7277]

Wow that reminds me when I was little going to the A&P, and Grand Union stores

[@minibossforever]

I grew up there. Home store. Used to be a “Stop n Shop” originally. Yay! I still go there when in town!!!

[@jameshebert5430]

Great Scott! I just experienced time travel with this one and had flashback to a 70's style Kmart as well!😳

[@DottieMaeEvans]

The structure and layout looks great. Upkeep is fanatic. If it isn't broken, no need to remodel. I'd visit Richfield just to walk through this store. There's only a few Publix locations with their original vintage design.

[@justinhorn2864]

I love it

[@Ladysensei]

This is wonderful I got married in 1978 the first time and remember very well shopping and grocery stores that looked exactly like that!

[@nicolemacpherson3908]

This was a pretty cool virtual field trip to Ohio and this unique and vintage Giant Eagle! I've never seen one like this! The whole time I was saying "Cool!" And I pronounced it like *kewl*! Even playing 70s music inside! Love it!

[@jet34thehawk]

Awesome 👌 video

[@xJC2x]

Such a beautiful store. If they ever try to give it the modern shoebox look. I hope the locals put up a fight to keep it the way it is. This is more unique & has more character & charm than any new grocery store that will ever be built today. I'll admit i despise giant eagle but i wouldn't mind seeing this in person.

[@RyGuy0520]

They were supposed to close this store years ago when they built the new broadview heights giant eagle the locals did fight it plus business was good so giant eagle decided to keep it open

[@xJC2x]

@@RyGuy0520 that's awesome. I'm glad the locals fought for that. It's nice to see something like that happen. Not many people seem to care about the old classic look of things anymore. Everything has to be the same bland, boring, & lifeless look. The modern look is crap. I prefer the classic look over the grey bland look any day.

[@RyGuy0520]

@@xJC2x yes plus it's the only store in the village besides a gas station

[@circleinforthecube5170]

@@xJC2x actually gen z has shown proper hatred for "flat design" 5 years ago this comment section would be filled with insults on how dated it is but now its filled with admiration and longing, we are slowly but surely putting the grey and the bland behind us, no longer will the architecture of the 50s to the 2000s be stained with boring minimalist renovations and "updates", the 70s had good style

[@xJC2x]

@@circleinforthecube5170 I'm happy to see that. I don't know when this whole hatred of the classic looks began but I'm thrilled to see the modern bland look go away slowly. I know someone that hates anything that looks retro. It's automatically outdated to her. I did some work for her on a cabin. She wanted to take all the wood on the inside & make it white & give it a modern look. Once I found that out I was like I'm out of here. I didn't want any part of it after that.

[@mariak3352]

This is so cool! I love it

[@Northern.Town.]

Thanks for the walk back to my childhood!

[@lidsman2221]

Gives me a glimpse of how things were before I was born. Super cool video. Thanks!

[@ivyseal5161]

Retro at its finest that how I like my stores with that retro vibe to it so to the owner of the store a big thumbs up I hope that they keep the store the way it is and don't change it

[@Urban_nation.]

Wow I’m speechless for seeing this. This almost looks like an old grocery store called Danny’s in Monroe mi. Thank for sharing this wonderful video wallie.

[@CanadianGuy79]

Fantastic video! Thanks for taking us along Wallie! So freaking cool!!!!!

[@JackVegetables18]

Its amazing how they've kept it the same all these years very nice store

[@jeannette5709]

Gosh I’m so glad you did this place. I always show folks photos from here. When I’m working in the area I specifically route myself to be near here at lunchtime ⭐️

[@SilasGTBronte]

Very neat! We have some stores in Houston that used to belong to previous chains that have this late 80s and early 90s aesthethic, including the signage. Even their registers omit this old beeping sound when scanning groceries.

[@joerock7657]

I love it it's so awesome retro classic old school I love it and wish more stores would have the old stuff BESIDES EVERYTHING OLD BECOMES NEW AGAIN is the old saying

[@stars660]

Great find. All it needs is some 10cc, Gerry Rafferty, or Bread.

[@dindog22]

I kinda dig the wall paper

[@kellylermasprague5417]

From a 70s kid that is the best store ever ! All they need is Grocery Store of the 70s musak and it would be complete ! Great find ! That Tudor style was very popular then

[@joshuamountz6891]

It actually fits in with Richfield's farm town vibe