Previously published in the Piedmont Post on February 27, 2019.
Until 1912, Piedmont was known as the “store-less” city. With just over 1700 residents and 700-plus houses, the closest grocery store was the H. F. Sacks grocery on Piedmont Avenue, now the Piedmont Grocery.
While residents enjoyed living in a completely residential city, they began to feel the need for a commercial center. To protect the city from what the Oakland Tribune called “an invasion of cheap and unsightly stores,” a group of residents, headed by Wallace Alexander, formed the Piedmont Commercial Association. The Association purchased 2 acres from Frank C. Havens directly across from Piedmont Park, and Alexander hired Albert Farr to design the commercial building.
Farr did not design a square box for Piedmont’s stores. He designed three storefronts that gracefully followed the curve of Highland Avenue. A mission tile pent roof spanned the three stores, and tall transom windows and bold columns framed the storefronts. Farr claimed his design would “rival in tone and architecture, the enormous mansions which are to surround it on every side.” The building was completed in 1913. Over time, Farr’s building would fondly be called “The Stores.”
Hamby’s Market
The first grocery store opened in 1915 and was run by the Ainsworth Brothers. By 1921, Walter Hamby was running the grocery that became the popular Hamby’s Market. For decades, Piedmont shoppers often met and caught up on local news while they bought their groceries. Hamby’s was a full service grocery and later offered delivery service. After school, high school boys delivered groceries in collapsible wood crates to homes throughout Piedmont. One of those wood crates is in the Piedmont Historical Society collection.
Hamby’s thrived for almost 50 years until the building was sold and slated to be demolished in 1970. Before closing, then owners Mary and Harry Sund, threw a ”Goodbye to Hamby’s party” with champagne, cake, and coffee for their customers.
Piedmont’s Drug Store
In 1921, W. L. Ferard opened the first drug store in Piedmont, the Piedmont Drug Company. From at least 1931 to the late 1960s, Gustav Springman operated the successful Springman’s Pharmacy. Also, a full service store, the pharmacy delivered prescriptions and goods to their customers.
Highland Sweet Shop
In 1921, Joseph H. Cheatham opened the Highland Sweet Shop with a candy store, soda fountain, and tea room. Originally, this candy store was to have housed George Merra’s candy shop in Piedmont Park before his untimely death in 1920. The Sweet Shop was popular with old and young alike. Piedmont matrons enjoyed lunch and tea in the small tea room at the back of the shop, and students often stopped for candy or a soda on the way home after school.
Also, in 1921, the Standard Oil Company built the first ser service station on Highland Avenue, opposite Vista Avenue.
American Trust Bank
In 1928, Albert Farr added the American Trust Bank building to the original three stores. His design included a deeply arched entrance with Churrigueresque relief and a decorative niche to the left. American Trust operated this branch until the 1960s when it became part of Wells Fargo Bank.
A small office building behind the bank was the Alexander Allen realty office and later the Robert F. Atkinson realty company. Later, it became the local barber shop, which served generations of Piedmonters.
Demolition
In 1970, Wells Fargo Bank demolished the 1913 Albert Farr Commercial Center and built the new bank and commercial center. Today, the Wells Fargo Bank building houses a branch of the bank, a realty office, a barber shop, and office space upstairs. If you enjoy reading these history columns, consider becoming a member of the Piedmont Historical Society and receive our annual newsletter. More information on Piedmont’s history and membership is on the website, Piedmonthistorical.org, or contact Gail Lombardi at [email protected].
