The Frog Pond Grocery in Olympia, located at 2102 Capitol Way South, is a neighborhood grocery store. But long before the landmark green frog sign was set up, this thriving mom-and-pop shop was known as the Lincoln Grocery.
Olympia History: Lincoln School, Lincoln Grocery
The land that the grocery was built on once belonged to Margaret McKenny, famed environmental activist, mushroom expert and author. The property changed hands and in 1922 Leo Woods took out a building permit to construct a 26 by 50-foot building for $2,300 at the intersection of Main Street (now Capitol Way) and 21st Avenue. Work began on April 19 and was completed by the end of August.
This “confectionary and school supplies store” was built to be near the new Lincoln School, which opened its doors that fall. Wanting to bring in students and their families, Woods placed an ad in the Morning Olympian on September 1, offering a free Oriole candy bar with each quarter worth of school supplies bought at the Lincoln Store.
The store would be called many different names over the decades, but Lincoln Grocery was the name that stuck.
In November 1922 a postal substation was established at the store, with Woods as clerk in charge. Grocery deliveries were made by young boys on bicycles.
Historic Olympia Grocery’s Changing Ownership
In August 1925, Clyde C. Field began leasing the Lincoln store. Three years later the Lincoln Grocery became part of the new retail grocery organization, United Purity Stores. Organized by the wholesale Tacoma Younglove Grocery company, it brought together independent grocers, 184 in Tacoma and 60 in other communities. By working together, Purity gave grocers greater buying power, which allowed them to pass competitive savings onto customers.
Despite being part of a chain, the Lincoln store sold local products like Olympus Ice Cream, Capital City Creamery goods including frozen strawberries, and Chambers Packing Company’s meats.
In April 1929, Woods sold the Lincoln Grocery to Maynard Ebbutt for $10,500 cash. With his brother William, Maynard operated the Ebbutt Brothers Grocery at 124 Fourth Avenue. Field continued to operate the Lincoln Grocery until his lease expired.
The Great Depression in Olympia
After Field’s lease expired on June 1, 1930, Maynard and William took over management, renaming the store Ebbutt Brothers No. 2. They renovated and redecorated the business and proclaimed it, “one of the most modern in the city.” Maynard oversaw fresh produce at both stores in Olympia, which continued to be part of United Purity with its distinctive blue and white labels.
The writer of the Daily Olympian shopping column, “Doing the Markets With Helen” praised the newly reopened store on June 13. “All manner of specialties,” she wrote, “may be found there and the service afforded by the managers makes it especially attractive. Located as it is in the residential district, this store has an appeal to the home keeper who runs out of cream or mayonnaise or butter or flavoring just before the meal is ready to be put on the table. However, a complete line of staple groceries makes it just as convenient for the home keeper who believes in a well-stocked pantry.”
But the Great Depression brought more changes and challenges. Ernest Van Walker became manager, and unable to offer credit, the store became the Van Walker Cash Grocery or Lincoln Cash Grocery in 1932.
In January 1936, Paul Fay andhis wife Louisepurchased the Lincoln Grocery. Moving from Wolf Point, Montana, they operated the store together. The business reopened as Fay’s Red & White, part of the Chicago-based chain of independent grocers Red & White. Often the store was simply known as the Lincoln Red & White or Lincoln R & W.
Becoming the Frog Pond Grocery
The end of the World War II brought more changes to the store. Paul Fay died in 1945. The store passed to Wilbur Keller by 1946, who ran it alongside his wife Gladys. The business continued with the Red & White chain. Sometimes it was called Keller’s Lincoln Grocery, Keller’s Lincoln Market or Keller’s Red & White.
In April 1961, the store reopened again under the ownership of two couples, Robert “Mac” and Helen Butcher, and Ernie and Dorothy “Tootie” May. They renamed the Lincoln Grocery the “B & M Grocery,” playing off the last names of the owners. But only a few years later Ronald C. Pannell bought the store. He called it Ron’s Grocery.
In 1967, the Lincoln Grocery was purchased by Dick and Bev Andrews. They named it the Green Frog Grocery, for a grocery Dick had worked at in California. After they began specializing in wines in 1975, they renamed the store the Frog Pond Grocery.
And that name has stuck, through the decades since and more changes of ownership. The landmark community store is a good place to shop. That hasn’t changed from Leo Woods’ time to today!
