The Chain Store

A&P began in 1859 importing tea directly, and settled its shape with the «Economy Store» of 1912: no delivery, no credit, cash and carry only, in small shops replicated on one identical system. By 1930 it had fifteen thousand stores and $2.9 billion in sales — twice Sears, and the largest retailer in the world. Being that strong had consequences. Between 1923 and 1938, state legislatures saw 1,312 bills proposing punitive taxes to break the chains, and 62 passed. A federal act of 1936 still carries the nickname «the anti-chain-store law». The argument about big stores hollowing out a town's trade has never gone away; it has only changed shape.