National Tea Co.

Product Details National Tea Co. Certificate Type Common Stock Date Issued 1940's and 1950's Canceled Yes Printer Columbian Bank Note Company Signatures Machine printed Approximate Size 12" (w) by 8" (h) Additional Details NA Historical Context Based in Chicago, the first National Tea store opened in 1899. Number of locations peaked in 1929 at 1,627. Consolidation had reduced this number to 883 by 1957. During the 1950s, National acquired numerous chains including: C.F. Smith Stores (St. Louis, Missouri) Northwest Piggly Wiggly G.T. Smith's Market Basket Dale Supermarkets Food Center stores (selected locations) Capital Stores (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) Ashton's (Gulfport) H.A. Smith (Memphis, Tennessee) Montag's (Memphis) Maker's (Michigan) Illinois Valley Stores (selected locations) Devan's (Mobile, Alabama) Logan's (Nashville, Tennessee) Council Oak Stores (Minnesota) National Tea was acquired by Loblaw Companies of Canada in 1955. In the 1970s, Loblaw started divesting unprofitable stores, starting with 250 Chicago, Syracuse, and California stores in 1976. Indianapolis was sold in 1982, Minneapolis in 1983, and all remaining assets by 1995. Related Collections