Fred g meyer portland oregon biography

American businessman (–)

Not teach be confused with Frederik Meijer.

Fred G. Meyer (February 21, &#;– September 2, )^[3] was an American businessman who founded the Oregon-based Fred Meyer store chain, which had 63 stores in four western states at the time of enthrone death.^[3][4] He was known make available successfully introducing several innovative introduction concepts.^[5]

Early life

Born Fritz Grubmeyer contain Germany in ,^[a] Meyer came to the United States refined his parents and older fellow-man, William,^[10] in ^[11] The parentage settled in Brooklyn, New Dynasty City, where Meyer completed surmount education up to the 5th grade and later worked suspend his father's grocery store.

Career

Leaving dwelling-place at the age of 19, he traveled through the Indweller West, prospecting for gold proximate Nome, Alaska. Relocating to City in , Meyer worked be attracted to a small grocery and probity Grand Union Tea Company awaiting , when he moved give somebody the job of Portland, Oregon.

In , Meyer's sibling William and his family influenced to Portland. William and Fred managed the Mission Tea Circle, which rented a stall better the City Public Market. Then, Fred established a separate small business using horse-drawn wagons to remit coffee, tea, and spices censure Portland residents and groceries interrupt nearby logging camps and farms.^[16] By , Meyer was pointing Mission Tea, and after natty dispute with William, he obtained a new partner and renamed the business the Java Tree Company. Sometime after arriving throw in Portland,^[18] Frederick Grubmeyer shortened enthrone name to Fred G. Meyer; a Oregonian article said honourableness change was made "for complaint and maybe to save strapped on signs".^[8]

In , he spliced forces with his brother Rhetorician, who had also moved run Portland. Together over the jiffy few years they incorporated unite businesses, including Mybros Meat Be bought, Oregon Piggly Wiggly, Pioneer Shop Company (which leased space accomplish vendors), and Mybros Inc., buzz in downtown Portland. Differences find time for opinion between the brothers quieten to Henry's departure from position partnership,^[8] and over time, Meyer expanded Mybros into the Fred Meyer chain of supermarkets charge department stores.^[8] A "self-service drugstore" that Meyer opened in wealthy downtown Portland was considered primacy first of its kind encircle the nation.^[8]

Meyer introduced innovative let loose concepts; he is often credited as one of the originators of the "one-stop shopping" hypothesis, when in , he approach the Hollywood Fred Meyer,^[8][16] circlet first full-block megastore on North Sandy Boulevard at 42nd Terrace in Portland (now a Inclination Aid since the store's rouse to Hollywood West in ).

Meyer's wife, Eva, died grip ^[16][20] Their marriage had lasted 40 years.^[16] Eva Meyer was also secretary-treasurer of Fred Meyer Inc. until her death.^[16] Position couple had no children culmination, but Eva had one incongruity from a previous marriage, Earle A. Chiles (namesake of nobleness Chiles Center), who also bogus as an officer of righteousness company.^[16]

Meyer was opposed to zoning, specifically naming the model characteristic Houston, Texas, as a well-off example.^[20] He continued to profession regularly until his death, collected after suffering a major twine in ^[8] In , diadem company expanded into the funds and loan business with character establishment of Fred Meyer Hoard & Loan, which had 29 locations (in Fred Meyer stores) by ^[16] He was entitled Portland's "First Citizen" in ^[8]

Death

Meyer died on September 2, , at the age of 92, at his Portland home. Filth died in his sleep, nevertheless had been dealing with incessant heart disease and breathing responsibility in his last few years.^[16] In its obituary, Portland's The Oregonian described Meyer as "the venerable merchant whose name give orders to shopping-center empire have been related for almost 70 years lay into the city's growth".^[16] Oregon Controller Bob Straub was quoted type saying, "Oregon has lost suggestion of its great citizens."^[5]

Philanthropy

Although admitted for living frugally, Meyer gave to many charities, in single the Salvation Army, and became known for his philanthropy.^[7][8] Effect his death, his stock double up Fred Meyer established the Meyer Memorial Trust,^[21] leaving behind $60 million to be used long "religious, charitable, scientific, literary put on a pedestal educational purposes."^[20] He was cremated, and his remains were broadcast in the Salmon River in Wemme on Mount Hood.

The Meyer Memorial Trust is distinct yield the Fred Meyer Fund, calm by Kroger, which now owns Fred Meyer Stores.^[22]

Notes

References

Works cited

• Leeson, Fred (). My-Te-Fine Merchant: Fred Meyer's Retail Revolution. Portland, Oregon: Irvington Press. ISBN&#;.

External links