The History of Williams Bros. Markets (1950-1994)
Many people have dreams, yet possibly having the courage to see the vision become reality is the most difficult.
Three brothers recently out of the military service at the close of World War II, having grown up in a share cropping family in Arkansas during the dust bowl days, had a dream and more than enough courage to see it fulfilled.
Three brothers recently out of the military service at the close of World War II, having grown up in a share cropping family in Arkansas during the dust bowl days, had a dream and more than enough courage to see it fulfilled.
Santa Maria - The Beginning
Ed, Lawson and Merrell Williams started a fruit stand in Wilmington, California in 1944 just outside of Long Beach. In one year the stand had formed into a market. By 1949 the Wilmington store was sold and the threesome headed for Santa Maria to begin their quest on the Central Coast, opening a grocery market at 115 E. Church St. in what used to be the Sears building.
Local Produce & Meats

Morro Bay Store #308 produce department circa 1993.
Williams Bros. were well-known for their customer service and successful niche in marketing to local communities by carrying locally grown produce and meats. A Santa Maria style barbeque wouldn't be complete without a trip to Williams Bros for tri-tip steak and locally grown pinquito beans.
Shoppers local favorites included San Luis Sourdough bread, Cattaneo Bros beef jerkey, F. McLintocks barbeque & steak sauces, Spice Hunter spices, Paso Robles wines and many more. The chain also hosted an annual Consumer Food Expo at the Santa Maria Fairgrounds to highlight the store's many local vendors. Visitors sampled a wide array of local products and usually left with a bag full of goodies.
Shoppers local favorites included San Luis Sourdough bread, Cattaneo Bros beef jerkey, F. McLintocks barbeque & steak sauces, Spice Hunter spices, Paso Robles wines and many more. The chain also hosted an annual Consumer Food Expo at the Santa Maria Fairgrounds to highlight the store's many local vendors. Visitors sampled a wide array of local products and usually left with a bag full of goodies.
Customer Service

Friendly grocery clerks walked customers directly to the merchandise, shoppers knew the butcher by name, produce clerks sliced open fruit to taste and boxboys would always insist on carrying out your groceries (even change a flat tire) without ever accepting a tip.
Their customer service was legendary and would often shock out-of-towners unfamiliar with their hospitality. This special brand of customer service was highlighted and exaggerated in the 1990 Steve Martin movie, My Blue Heaven. The grocery store scenes were filmed at three Williams Bros. Markets in San Luis Obispo (#316 & #319) and Pismo Beach (#321).
Their customer service was legendary and would often shock out-of-towners unfamiliar with their hospitality. This special brand of customer service was highlighted and exaggerated in the 1990 Steve Martin movie, My Blue Heaven. The grocery store scenes were filmed at three Williams Bros. Markets in San Luis Obispo (#316 & #319) and Pismo Beach (#321).
End of an Era

Vons lays off 52 Williams Bros employees.
Competing grocery stores could not break the chain's hold on the local grocery shopper hence the company's slogan "Choice of the Central Coast". After several unsuccessful attempts to overtake Williams Bros. dominance Vons stepped in and courted the family owned business.
In January 1992 Vons acquired Williams Bros Markets for $48 million in cash and a liability of $10 million on Williams Bros outstanding mortgages. At the time there were 19 Williams Bros grocery stores which Vons bought 18 except for one in Santa Barbara which was encumbered by lease complications. To avoid a public uproar, Vons promised to continue to operate the chain under its local branding and carry the same high quailty local products.
After Vons closed some of its central coast stores including a Safeway store. Employees were consolidated into existing stores and 52 Williams Bros employees were laid off. Another less publicized round of layoffs occurred by year's end. On January 12, 1994, as part of it's "V-Day" promotion to lower prices, Vons discontinued the Williams Bros. Markets name including some of its local products by converting the local chain into Vons stores.
In January 1992 Vons acquired Williams Bros Markets for $48 million in cash and a liability of $10 million on Williams Bros outstanding mortgages. At the time there were 19 Williams Bros grocery stores which Vons bought 18 except for one in Santa Barbara which was encumbered by lease complications. To avoid a public uproar, Vons promised to continue to operate the chain under its local branding and carry the same high quailty local products.
After Vons closed some of its central coast stores including a Safeway store. Employees were consolidated into existing stores and 52 Williams Bros employees were laid off. Another less publicized round of layoffs occurred by year's end. On January 12, 1994, as part of it's "V-Day" promotion to lower prices, Vons discontinued the Williams Bros. Markets name including some of its local products by converting the local chain into Vons stores.