Above the store was an apartment where some of the Stater family lived. first entry into this new era of grocery retailing came in April 1948 when they opened a 12,500-square-foot supermarket in Riverside. Upon their discharge from the service, the Stater twins returned to the business and were joined by another brother, Lavoy.ĭuring the postwar years of the late 1940s, as the Baby Boom generation was born and their parents moved en masse to new suburban housing developments, grocers began to open larger formats, 'super' markets, which were actually modest in size compared to most contemporary stores. As a matter of necessity, in order to keep all the stores in operation, they sold half-interests to each store manager, a move that made sense at the time but would later cause legal problems. While they were serving as Army Air Corps pilots, their parents, Clarence and Mary, were forced to step in to run the business. The Staters' careers were interrupted in the 1940s by America's entry into World War II. In 1937, they opened a grocery store in Redlands, followed in the next two years by stores in Bloomington, Colton, and Fontana. At the same time, they were committed to providing their primarily working-class customers with the lowest possible prices, leading to the company's motto: 'The low price leader in your hometown.' This approach quickly proved successful, as the Staters began to expand their operation in San Bernardino County. In this way, they would buy only what they truly needed. As a result, they agreed to avoid credit and pay for everything with cash. In the midst of the Great Depression of the 1930s, it was difficult to meet the monthly $300 payments. So the Stater brothers developed their own niche.' Frugality, on a number of levels, also became a watchword for the brothers. This was cement plant country and a railroad town-very blue collar. Years later Stater recalled, 'He just looked at me and said, 'If is crazy enough to sell you his store, then I'm going to be crazy enough to give you the money.'' The brothers opened for business in August 1936.Īccording to Jack Brown, the area east of Los Angeles was not an attractive market at the time: 'The L.A.

Cleo decided to take a chance, and he approached rival grocery store owner, as well as the richest and meanest man in town, D.M. With their cars serving as collateral, he brothers were only able to borrow $300. Because they did not have the money, he would further accommodate them by accepting just $600 down and the balance through $300 monthly payments. Davis, told the young man that he was willing to sell the store to Cleo and Leo for $10,000. At the time, 24-year-old Cleo, a high school dropout, was working at a small grocery store in Yucaipa, California, earning ten cents a hour to man the cash register, stack the shelves, work the meat counter, and sweep the floor. was founded by twin brothers Cleo and Leo Stater in 1936. is a private company owned by La Cadena Investments, a general partnership majority owned by the chain's chairman, chief executive officer, and president, Jack H. Markets as the best place to buy groceries in southern California nationally, the chain ranked ninth. In 2003, Consumer Reports ranked Stater Bros. has been built on the principle of low shelf prices combined with outstanding customer service. From the start of its history, Stater Bros. In addition, beards are banned, and mustaches must be closely trimmed. The chain, the largest locally owned in southern California, is known for its strict adherence to an appearance and dress code, which requires that store-level employees wear white shirts or blouses and have closely trimmed hair. In addition, it has some stores on Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.

owns and operates some 158 supermarkets concentrated in Riverdale and San Bernardino counties, the so-called Inland Empire. Markets.ġ936: Cleo and Leo Stater acquire their first store.ġ968: The company is acquired by Petrolane, Inc.ġ986: Brown wins a proxy fight for control of the company.ġ999: The company acquires 43 stores in a merger divestiture.īased in Colton, California, Stater Bros. Since that first day in 1936, serving our 'Valued' customers with the lowest prices on name brand and quality merchandise has been the goal of Stater Bros. NAIC: 445110 Supermarkets and Other Grocery (Except Convenience Stores)

Stater brothers market