Pruett’s Food Towns once stood as Chattanooga’s largest locally owned grocery chain, a testament to local entrepreneurship with at least 16 stores flourishing across the region in the 1970s. This enduring presence in the community’s fabric highlights the significant role Pruett’s food played in shaping Chattanooga’s retail landscape.
An intriguing archival photograph from the Chattanooga News-Free Press, though undated, offers a glimpse into the past, likely depicting the former Pruett’s Dixie Super Market situated on East Third Street, near the Glenwood neighborhood. This location, which opened its doors in 1953, exemplifies the early ambitions of Pruett’s food empire. By the mid-1960s, the East Third Street store transitioned to simply Pruett’s Food Market, reflecting a subtle evolution in branding.
Today, a medical office building occupies the address at 2108 E. Third St., the former site of this bustling grocery store, marking the passage of time and the changing landscape of the area.
A.C. “Clyde” Pruett, the visionary patriarch behind the Pruett’s food chain, owned and operated the Pruett’s Dixie Super Market on East Third Street. Historical accounts suggest this location was considered Chattanooga’s first true “supermarket,” a pioneering concept at the time. Interestingly, the family name associated with these beloved stores underwent a spelling refinement from “Pruitt’s” to “Pruett’s,” a detail noted in period news articles and advertisements.
Looking closer at the vintage photograph, window signs reveal the enticing prices of the era: Campbell’s tomato soup at just 10 cents a can, sugar-cured ham for 55 cents a pound, and a generous 10 pounds of white potatoes for a mere 29 cents. These prices offer a nostalgic snapshot into the cost of living and grocery shopping during that period at Pruett’s food.
Further cementing its status as a major player, a 1957 News-Free Press article, accompanied by a photograph, announced the doubling in size of Pruett’s Dixie Super Market. Expanding to an impressive 20,000 square feet, the store “covering an entire city block” was declared “one of the largest food stores in Tennessee” by A.C. Pruett himself. This expansion underscores the growing popularity and success of Pruett’s food within the community.
Delving deeper into the origins, newspaper archives reveal that Pruett’s foray into the grocery business began in 1947 with his Tennessee Food Fair stores in Brainerd and East Ridge. It was through these ventures that he “introduced the self-service grocery concept to Chattanooga,” revolutionizing the way Chattanoogans shopped for groceries. By the time his East Third Street store was in operation, Pruett was recognized as an “original wholesale food broker, (now a) retailer selling at wholesale prices,” indicating his innovative approach to the grocery market.
According to his 1998 obituary, A.C. Pruett’s chain had expanded to 10 stores by the mid-1970s, demonstrating consistent growth and customer loyalty. In a significant move in 1976, he acquired six M&J supermarkets, further solidifying Pruett’s food dominance.
News reports from 1976 projected the newly expanded, 16-store Pruett’s chain to achieve an impressive $70 million in annual sales, highlighting the economic impact of Pruett’s food on the local economy. Among the former M&J stores was a Signal Mountain location, which remarkably remains Pruett’s Market today. This store is currently operated by A.C. Pruett’s grandson, Chuck Pruett, ensuring the family legacy continues, as detailed on the store’s website. This enduring presence connects the modern shopper directly back to the history of Pruett’s food.
The story of Pruett’s Food Towns is a significant chapter in Chattanooga’s local business history. From pioneering the supermarket concept to becoming the largest local chain, Pruett’s food left an indelible mark on the community and the way residents shopped for groceries. The remaining Pruett’s Market on Signal Mountain serves as a living reminder of this rich heritage.
To explore more about Chattanooga’s history, consider joining the “Remember When, Chattanooga” public group on Facebook or visit ChattanoogaHistory.com for a wealth of historical images.
ChattanoogaHistory.com, launched in 2014 by history enthusiast Sam Hall, is dedicated to preserving and presenting historical images of Chattanooga in the highest resolution. If you possess historical photos of the Chattanooga area, contact Sam Hall to learn about digitization and preservation opportunities.
