In 1888, two teenage boys opened a little grocery store using all of their savings. This gas lit, scrupulously neat and clean retail store was located at 42nd Street and Second Avenue in New York City. In those days, this location was far uptown, for the big shopping centers were downtown, Lord & Taylor on Grand Street and Macy's on 14th Street.

But the store of Diedrich (Dick) and Charles Gristede prospered, close by the fine estates along the East River. The boys went without luxuries and sometimes without necessities. They were industrious and worked hard. People liked the idea that whatever they bought at Gristede's was the best money could buy. Housewives arrived on foot or by carriage in bonnet and bustle. Each brought her own market basket and took her purchases home with her. After several years, the Gristede brothers had saved enough to open another store, much larger than the first. In following years more stores were added. Electricity supplemented gas lights, and old store fronts and fixtures have been replaced by modern equipment.

At one time Gristede's stores were located in Westchester County and in Connecticut. The supermarket chain pioneered in meat departments, believing correctly that the shopper found convenience in doing business with the butcher under the same roof as the groceries departments. By 1938, there were 161 stores including liquor stores which were opened after the repeal of prohibition in 1933. Vacations - unheard of in the retail food business in those days, have been given to employees since 1897. On May 22, 1938, the brothers Gristede organized a 50th golden anniversary dinner at the old Hotel Astor in New York for more than 600 employees. The employees presented Diedrich and Charles each with a gold tray on which were inscribed the well wishes of their employees. The brothers sold the company to the Southland Corporation in 1969, and in 1986, the firm was acquired by the Red Apple Group. Today, Gristede's proudly operates over fifty stores throughout New York City, Westchester and a single store in Locust Valley, Long Island. 109 years of Gristede's Progress continues. Management, as well as shareholders, can well be proud of the history attached to the name of this New York "landmark".