Book Nook: The Great A&P and the Struggle for Small Business in America, by Marc Levinson

Dec 6, 2012


The author shifted his focus to the astonishing history of the A&P store chain. 100 years ago in 1912 the Hartfords implemented what became a seismic shift in retailing. They began opening what they called Economy stores. By 1929 the A&P's expansive presence and aggressive discounting had made them such a dominant force that they became the first company to ever rack up a billion dollars in annual sales.

By then chain stores like the A&P had become political targets. By the 1940's the Hartford brothers were found to be guilty of criminal anti-trust activity. Their crime? Low prices. Too low. This government action ultimately led to the decline and eventual demise of that entire store chain.

Levinson tells a fascinating tale here. And on a side note; in this interview the author recalls his time at Antioch College back in the 1970's when he used to read the news on an eclectic little radio station known as WYSO.