Catonio’s Groceteria

These businesses were once a commonly seen in older neighbourhoods, in towns both big and small. We’re talking about the humble corner store, even if many, like the one spoken of here, were actually located somewhere mid-street. These were the 7-11s and Macs Circle-Ks of the day, convenient and close to home. We’re in the Crownsest Pass of Alberta and our subject was long ago home to Catonio’s Groceteria.

The business dates from 1929 and first operated by Italian born Giovanni Battista (GB) “John” Catonio, who came to the Pass the decade before. Later some of his immediate family came on board and the business changed its name to Catonio Brothers. Still, to everyone it was plain old Catonio’s or sometimes mentioned as GB Catonio’s Grocery in various ads.

This firm operated out of this building into 1965 when they moved to a new location right across the tracks in downtown Blairmore. The last phone book reference we can find of them was the early 1980s and then they seem to vanish. It’s understood they offered Italian specialties the whole time, in addition to groceries in general.

Meanwhile, GB Catonio seemed to have moved to Calgary about 1960-ish before passing on in 1967. His address in town here puts him at the very centre of what today is the business district of trendy Inglewood.

As was common at the time, Catonio’s store is attached to a house. The business owner lived where they worked and had the shortest commute on the planet. It’s the building on the left side in the photos, although the home to the right is close to touching the store’s west wall and from certain angles also looks connected.

A couple plumbing and heating firms worked out of the old store in the 1970s-1980s period and for a time (early 2000s? – records are missing) the building was part of a Bed and Breakfast (operating out of the old house?). There’s more gaps in the data, but anyway, left over signage for the Bee Hive B&B, perhaps the last tenant, can still be seen on the window.

Otherwise, the old Catonio’s Store has been vacant for long stretches and looking inside as best we could, suggests it been a while since anyone went inside.

Pop companies would often pay for a grocery store’s signage in exchange for advertising and on the west wall look for a faded Pepsi logo from the 1950s-1960s period. It almost appears it was painted over another sign and some (perhaps) older lettering can be seen at the top. To the right, “Catonio’s Bro’s” is pretty clearly seen.

The building is typical, with big picture windows to display the wares, and set back door. You can look at it, even from a distance, and know instantly it was a corner store. They all shared certain design characteristic and if you’re like us, seeing that recognizable form inspires a flood of memories.

The folks would send us down to the store for the paper, or smokes, and always included an extra dime or two for penny candy. Deciding on what to choose could easily eat up ten or fifteen minutes and for a child were some of he most difficult decisions in life, up to that point. Mojos or spearmint leaves – a question for the ages. I know…BOTH!

These old family-run stores were a treasure, personable, friendly and a place to catch up on local gossip. Present day versions seem so impersonal in comparison, but such is progress I guess.

We’re regulars in the Crowsnest Pass (loved as our second home) and have explored towns in the area extensively, but we really didn’t know about Catonio’s until fairly recently. That’s how it goes sometimes – you think you know a place well then comes a special surprise like this. What a cool little building and while we don’t have an intimate connection to it specifically, we do with places very similar. It’s the exact same store from our childhood, only in a different town.

It’s easy to picture Catonio’s open, long ago, and busy with customers. How fun it is to imagine.

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Date: August, 2021.
Location: Crownsnest Pass, AB.
Article references and thanks: Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta Culture & Multiculturalism, FindaGrave.com, plus Alberta Government Telephone records @ Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society and Calgary Public Library.

Ghost signage in the Crowsnest Pass.

This was Catonio’s Groceteria.

The business dates from the late 1920s…

…And operated out of the building into the 1960s.