Gerrard's Timeline
Late 1800's
Albert C. Gerrard worked at Pioneer (Meat) Market in Riverside, California.
1900
A.C. Gerrard and younger brother Hugh open “Triangle” market in Pomona with their life savings of $300.
1907
A.C. moves to Orange County from Pomona.
1910
A.C. purchases a Santa Ana market. Managed by Hugh, A.C.'s younger brother.
1914
A.C. Gerrard’s small Meat Market at 265 W. Second Street in Pomona was renamed “Triangle Grocerteria.”
1915
A.C. relocates Triangle Grocerteria to a larger store one block westward. Their slogans are: “Wait on yourself. No clerk” and “We stretch your dollar until the eagle screams.” Products were put in alphabetical order to avoid confusion. Hence, the name Alpha Beta.
1919
In Pomona, a second Alpha Beta store opens; the fourth Alpha Beta in Southern California.
1923
By 1923, there were twelve Alpha Beta grocery stores in Southern California.
1928
Rapidly expanding Alpha Beta had twenty four stores by 1928.
1929
Alpha Beta Incorporates. A. C. Gerrard is President and on the Board of Directors. Later that same year, A.C. Gerrard resigns from Alpha Beta, and his brother, Hugh, becomes president.
1930
A.C. Gerrard purchases a few small grocery stores in Pomona, Avalon, San Bernardino, and Redlands (305 Orange Street).
1936
The Gerrard’s Redlands store is relocated to 333 Orange Street on a lease. A.C. Gerrard and his sons sell off all remaining Alpha Beta stock. In the early to mid 1930’s Paul Gerrard worked at the family’s business in the Produce Department while he attended Redlands High School.
1942
A.C. Gerrard passes away.
1946
Paul Gerrard, now out of the U.S. Army, assumes managerial duties of the Redlands store, and unsuccessfully runs for Redlands City Council.
1949
Paul purchases the building and land at 333 Orange Street, which includes a hotel on the second floor.
1951
The Redlands store undergoes a complete remodel using empty hotel rooms for warehousing of products and utilizing conveyor belts to move heavy cases of merchandise.
1964
Paul purchased land on the corner of Cypress Avenue and Center Street for the construction of a new store.
1966
The new Redlands Gerrard’s at 705 W. Cypress Avenue has its grand opening.
1971
Gerrard's at Cypress and Center is expanded another 5,000 sq. feet and indoor fountain.
1979
Paul purchased four acres for an East Redlands store, but the construction is put on hold.
1986
Paul builds the East Redlands location. Paul's children, Jim and Gail, each manage a store. Paul continues to oversee operations
2007
Gene Thorpe passes away at the age of 59.
Feb 26