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History of Haddad's Market: |
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In 1915 Joe Haddad left his home in Lebanon and moved his family to America; settling in Peoria, Illinois. Four years later he opened a small grocery store in the front part of his home at First and Shipman streets on the city's south end. Joe's son Fred joined him in 1937 and they relocated the store to a larger location with about 800 square feet. The new store was located at Nebraska and Central in the middle of the city on the east bluff. Joe died in the 1940's and Fred was left to run the store himself. The store continued to grow and Fred began to look for a larger location to expand his market. In 1950 he found just the location at 1911 Wisconsin, between Nebraska and Kansas. This new location tripled the size of his market to 2,400 square feet and allowed him to become a full service market. In 1964 Fred's son Fred Haddad Jr. left the U.S. Air Force and joined his father in the family business. Later that year they opened a second store in West Peoria. Fred Jr. took over day-to-day operations for the West Peoria Store. This new store was a large step up for Mr. Haddad as it increased the store size to 4,000 square feet. The store was in a prime location sitting at the corner of Rohmann and Sterling. 1977 saw the Wisconsin store close its doors. Fred Sr. now moved to West Peoria to help with his son's store. The city was growing and the market had out grown its current location. A discussion was made to began to look for a new location to expand into. Four years later and a little luck the Postal Service left its West Peoria location. This location was ideal since it had also been a former grocery store. The Haddads' wasted little time making a move on the property that was less than half a block down the street. The store is still at that location, 2407 W. Rohmann Ave. The current size of 12,000 square feet is small in today's world of superstores but comfortable and allows us to maintain our neighborhood feel. Fred Jr. was ready to retire and get out of the business in 1996. His children showed no interest in continuing in the business so he sold the store to long-time employee Garret Wrhel. Garret has worked in the grocery business for nearly fifty years and was thrilled at an opportunity own this family business. With the help of his son, Mark, they continue on the history of Haddad's Market in the Peoria Area. In 2004, Haddad's has continued to grow and Garret is preparing to retire and allow his own son to take the family business into the 21st century.
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