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Hollywood Markets...How...It All Began... |
| After
returning home from serving in France during World
War I, John Welch, Sr. opened his first
grocery store in Detroit, Michigan. John was the
proud father to four sons; Robert, John, Richard and
William. This picture was taken in 1925 at his
store. |
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1947 - Jay's Market |
| Sadly, the eldest Welch son, Robert, was lost
while serving in World War II. In 1947, John Welch's
second oldest son, John, nicknamed "Jay", opened his
own store called "Jay's Market" in Detroit. (Jay is
pictured with his butcher, Jack, in front of the
store. |
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1950
- First Hollywood Store in Royal Oak |
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In June of 1950, the Welch family opened its
first "Hollywood Market" on Campbell Road in Royal
Oak, Michigan. Spearheading this effort was Charles
Ross. Charles Ross became Jay, Rich and Bill's
stepfather when their mother remarried. Not long
after the store opened, Rich and Bill left to serve
in the Army during the Korean conflict. Upon
returning from duty, all the boys took to working in
the store. Many years later it became necessary to
sell this store because of its small size and the
need to expand was great. |
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| In 1959 , Royal
Oak became the second Hollywood Markets on Main
Street, which was twice as large as the first
store. Rich was selected to manage this store
while Bill managed the Campbell Road location.
And Jay, being the oldest, would supervise both
stores. |
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| The year 1967
brought a third Hollywood Markets to Maple Road
in Troy, Michigan. This store was an instant
success and quickly became a favorite
neighborhood grocery store. From day one, the
Welch family set out to make customer service,
as well as an outstanding meat department their
top priorities. And they did. Hollywood Markets
developed an enviable reputation as the best
place in town to buy superior quality meats, a
reputation they still have to this day. |
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| Yet more stores
were on the Welch Family's horizon. In 1973, the
fourth Hollywood Market began when the family
purchased from Tony's Market on Opdyke Road in
Auburn Hills. In 1999, this Hollywood Store was
relocated to the former J & J Market at the
corner of South Boulevard and Opdyke Road, where
you'll find it today in Bloomfield Township.
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| In 1978, the
search for another store location brought the
Welch's to Shelby Township, where they purchased
the former Auburn Orchards Market on Auburn Road
and made it the fifth Hollywood Market. |
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| And there you
have it, 1924 to present, 80 years and counting,
all of our stores still going strong, still
proudly serving past, present and future
Hollywood Markets customers. Our mission of
customer service remains the same as it was in
the beginning. And as we move forward with the
fourth generation of the Welch family and
Hollywood Markets, we stand by what Mrs. Welch
said long ago in her advertising flyer from the
1930's... "We Aim To Please.." |
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