For many in Southern California, the name Smith’s Food King might evoke a sense of nostalgia, a whisper from the past of neighborhood grocery shopping. While the familiar storefronts may have faded, the legacy of Smith’s Food King remains etched in the landscape of Southern California’s supermarket history. If you’re asking “where can I find a Smith’s Food King near me?”, you’re embarking on a fascinating journey through time, exploring the locations and stories of this once-prominent grocery chain.
The Rise of Smith’s Food King in Southern California
Smith’s Food King’s foray into Southern California began in August 1971, with the acquisition of 26 former Food Giant/Food King markets. This initial purchase included 16 stores operating under the Food King banner and 10 as Food Giant. Just months later, in February 1972, Smith’s Food King doubled down on its commitment to the region by acquiring an additional 23 Food Giant locations, bringing their total to an impressive 49 stores. (Notably, 10 Food Giant stores in San Diego were simultaneously sold to Vons). The expansion continued into the 1980s, with the addition of 6 former Market Basket locations in 1982.
However, the Smith’s Food King era in Southern California was relatively short-lived. By 1984, all 34 California stores were sold to Lucky Stores, with 17 of those located in the Los Angeles, Orange County, and Inland Empire areas. This rapid expansion and subsequent sale leaves us with intriguing questions about the chain’s strategy and the ultimate fate of its numerous locations.
Uncovering the Locations: Smith’s Food King Stores in 1972 and 1984
To truly understand the reach of Smith’s Food King, we need to delve into the specifics of their store locations. Fortunately, historical records, including a 1972 Los Angeles Times advertisement, provide valuable clues. This ad, published on June 15, 1972, lists the locations of Smith’s Food King stores acquired from Food Giant, differentiating between those originally branded as Food King and Food Giant. Another advertisement from 1984, announcing the Lucky takeover, adds further locations to the map.
Let’s explore the locations based on these historical listings, keeping in mind that street addresses were not provided in the 1972 ad, only intersections or shopping center names.
Smith’s Food King Stores (1972)
- Anaheim: Katella Ave near Euclid – This intersection today houses a variety of retailers, including Big Lots and Pep Boys.
- Beverly Hills: Wilshire near Canon Drive – This Beverly Hills location closed in the early 1980s.
- Buena Park: Dale St. at La Palma – Currently an Albertsons store stands at this location.
- Compton: Long Beach Blvd near Compton Blvd – The site might be occupied by a Super Value store today.
- Covina: Citrus Ave at Arrow Hwy – A Superior Food Warehouse now operates here.
- East LA: Whittier at Gerhart – An empty store next to a Kmart is possibly the former location.
- El Monte (Midway Shopping Center): El Monte – Possibly located on Lower Azusa Road, but current store unclear.
- El Monte (Sears Shopping Center): El Monte – The entire shopping center has been replaced by Longo Toyota.
- Florence (LA): Compton Ave at Florence – Another Superior Food Warehouse location.
- Gardena: Crenshaw at Compton – Exact location unclear due to parallel streets.
- Granada Hills: San Fernando Mission at Balboa – Originally in Balboa Mission Shopping Center, later moved to San Fernando Mission and Woodley (now an Albertsons).
- Hollywood: Hollywood at Western – A Ralphs now stands at the northeast corner, possibly a new build after Metro Red Line construction.
Alt text: A vintage-style Pep Boys auto parts store sign is prominently displayed at the intersection of Katella Avenue and Euclid Street in Anaheim, California, hinting at the retail landscape near a former Smith’s Food King location.
- Long Beach: Orange at San Antonio – Current store at this location is uncertain.
- Los Angeles (Ladera Shopping Center): La Tijera and Centinela – Likely the location of the current Ross store in the Ladera Shopping Center.
- Los Angeles: Olympic at Beverly Glen – Primarily residential area, with a Ralphs a few blocks east.
- Los Angeles: Santa Barbara at Vermont – Now MLK and Vermont, possibly an independent store near the Coliseum.
- Norwalk: Pioneer and Florence – Area now occupied by business parks, schools, and parks.
- Oxnard (Fremont Square): Ventura Blvd in Fremont Square – An Albertsons is located in Fremont Square.
- Pico Rivera: Beverly Blvd at Rosemead – A Big Lots store is currently at this intersection.
- Reseda: Sherman Way at Reseda Blvd – Current store unclear.
- San Pedro: Western at Caddington – Possibly located within a shopping center at this intersection.
- Santa Monica: Lincoln at Ashland – Now a McDonald’s, previously a Pic N Save.
- Tustin: Irvine Blvd near Newport St – Could be either the shopping center with Ralphs or the one with Whole Foods.
- West Covina: San Bernardino Rd at Irwindale – A church now stands at this location.
- Westwood: Santa Monica Bl at Westwood Bl – Possibly the Ross store on Westwood Blvd.
Food Giant Stores (1972)
- Baldwin Park: Ramona Blvd at Baldwin Park – Either a Valu+ or a 99 Cent Only Store occupies this location.
- Buena Park: Valley View at Lincoln – Likely a Big Lots store today.
- Canoga Park: Victory Blvd at Fallbrook – An Albertsons store is present at this intersection.
- Costa Mesa (Harbor Shopping Center): Harbor and Wilson – An Albertsons is located in the Harbor Shopping Center.
- Cudahy (Cudahy Plaza): Atlantic Blvd in Cudahy Plaza – A Big Lots store is situated in Cudahy Plaza.
- Fontana (Fontana Square Shopping Center): Fontana – Current store at this location is unidentified.
- Fullerton: Chapman at State College – Options include Big Lots or Drug Emporium at this intersection.
- Hawthorne: Hawthorne at 131st St – A Big Lots store is present at this location.
- Inglewood: Crenshaw at Imperial – A Ralphs supermarket is located here.
- La Mirada: Imperial at Meyer – No matching intersection found.
- La Puente: Amar Rd at Puente – Possibly located in the strip mall at this intersection.
- Los Alamitos/Seal Beach (Rossmoor Shopping Center): Rossmoor Shopping Center – Likely an Albertsons store within the Rossmoor Shopping Center.
- Los Feliz Hills: Hillhurst near Los Feliz – An Albertsons store is located at Hillhurst and Franklin (per 1984 ad).
- Lynwood: Century Blvd at Bullis – Streets do not intersect, location unclear.
- Manhattan Beach: Sepulveda and Marine – Location closed, previously a Lucky, possibly before becoming Albertsons.
- Maywood: Atlantic Blvd near Randolf – Current store at this location is unknown.
- Mission Hills: Sepulveda and Devonshire – A Vons store, currently being remodeled.
- North Hollywood: Webb and Lankershim – A Food4Less store, likely a replacement store.
- Studio City: Laurel Canyon near Ventura Blvd – A Vons store, previously a Ralphs.
- Torrance (Del Amo Center “Magic Chef”): Del Amo Center – Current store unclear, possibly related to Magic Chef ownership of Smiths.
- Torrance: West 190th St at Inglewood – A HOWS Market is now at this location.
- Van Nuys: Sepulveda and Sherman Way – A Jons Market, formerly a Lucky and briefly an Albertsons.
- Westminster: Westminster Ave near Golden West – Likely the Albertsons in the large shopping center.
Additional Stores (1984 Lucky Ad)
These locations were not listed in the 1972 ad but appeared in the 1984 Lucky advertisement, indicating expansion or changes over time:
- Granada Hills: San Fernando Mission at Woodley – An Albertsons store.
- Newport Beach: Balboa at 31st St – An Albertsons store.
- Paramount: Alondra Blvd at Downey Ave – A Stater Bros. and another shopping center are present.
- Norwalk: Pioneer at Rosecrans – Norwalk Square, former Market Basket, now Fallas Paredes.
Alt text: The storefront of Fallas Paredes, a Mexican wear store in Norwalk, California, occupies a retail space that was once a Market Basket supermarket and later part of the Smith’s Food King chain.
- Upland: Euclid at 24th St – An Albertsons store.
- Walnut Hills: E. Amar Rd at Nogales Rd – An Albertsons store.
The Enduring Locations: Smith’s Food King’s Place in the Community
While Smith’s Food King as a brand disappeared from Southern California in the 1980s, its physical locations have continued to evolve with the retail landscape. Many former Smith’s Food King stores have been repurposed or rebranded, often becoming other grocery stores like Albertsons, Vons, Ralphs, or discount retailers like Big Lots. Exploring these locations today provides a tangible connection to the past, allowing us to witness the evolution of grocery shopping in our neighborhoods.
For those asking “Smiths Food King Near Me”, the answer isn’t about finding a currently operating store. Instead, it’s about uncovering the historical footprint of this grocery chain in Southern California. By examining these locations, we gain a deeper appreciation for the dynamic history of our local communities and the businesses that have shaped them. The search for “Smith’s Food King near me” becomes a journey of discovery, revealing the layers of retail history embedded in the corners of our neighborhoods.
