First Fareway: Iowa Time Machine May 12, 1938

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On May 12, 1938, the first Fareway store opened in Boone. Started by Paul Beckwith and Fred Vitt, the store grew to represent one of Iowa’s most iconic businesses.

Although the notice in the Ames Tribune boasted that the chain would make its headquarters in Story County, the first Fareway Store opened for business at 624 Story Street in Boone, Iowa, on May 12, 1938. Paul Beckwith and co-founder Fred Vitt worked for the large national chain Safeway. Beckwith started his chain after noticing a gradual shift in how employees and customers were treated.

Vitt, serving as the manager of the Boone store and as vice president, oversaw day-to-day operations as the store proved to be a quick success. The location in Ames opened soon after Boone, followed by expansion to Webster City, Fort Dodge, Estherville, Carroll, and Oelwein. Fareway's concept of a self-service grocery store, revolutionary at the time, allowed shoppers to pick out their groceries rather than submitting a list to someone who would package everything for the customer.

Today, Fareway is one of the largest employers in Iowa. With more than 130 store locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota, the store continues to offer full-service meat departments, farm-fresh produce, competitive prices, and the highest level of customer service. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar