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Purity Stores

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Purity grocery stores were established in San Francisco in the mid-1920s. The chain expanded throughout Northern and Central California. These concrete buildings were designed by Harry Weese in the early 1940s. This design preceded quonset huts.

former Purity store
Burlingame, CA
This former Purity store was built in the 1940s. The rooftop sign was installed then. It has since been painted over. In 1963, the building became home to a Stanaway Brothers Food Market. The building has housed a Walgreens since 2000. [map]

Colusa

former Purity store
Delano, CA
This former Purity store building has housed a Bank of the Sierra branch since at least 2007. [map]

former Purity store
Dinuba, CA
This former Purity store building has houseed an auto parts store since at least 2007. Although most former Purity stores have added drop ceilings, this interior photo provides an idea of what the building looked like inside originally. [map]

former Purity store
Dunsmuir, CA		 former Purity store
Healdsburg, CA
This former Purity store building in Dunsmuir now houses the Dunsmuir Supermarket. [map]

This former Purity store building in Healdsburg now houses multiple tenants. [map]

Hayward [vintage; gone]

former Purity store
Livermore, CA
When it was built in 1941, this former Purity store looked just like the others on this page. The store closed in 1959. The building was later subdivided and this zigzag canopy was added. The building has housed the Donut Wheel since 1962. It was originally known as Jack's Donut Wheel. It was apparently part of a chain with other locations in the Sacramento area. [map]

former Purity store
Lodi, CA		 former Purity store
Madera, CA
This former Purity store in Lodi has been subdivided since at least 2009 to house two different restaurants/bars. [map]

This former Purity store in Madera was built in 1947. It now houses the Yosemite Mostly 99 Cent Store. [map]

Merced [vintage; gone]
Millbrae [vintage; gone]

former Purity store
Nevada City, CA
This former Purity store was built in 1940. The building has housed the Bonanza Market since at least 2008. [map]

former Purity store
Orland, CA
This former Purity store has housed a couple of different restaurants in recent years. The building is vacant now. [map]

former Purity store
Pacific Grove, CA		 former Purity store
Paso Robles, CA
This former Purity store in Pacific Grove was built in 1951. The building now houses the Grove Market. [map]

This former Purity store building in Paso Robles now houses an antiques store. For more, see this website. [map]

Petaluma [vintage; gone]

former Purity store
Porterville, CA		 former Purity store
San Bruno, CA
This former Purity store building in Porterville is now subdivided for several businesses. [map]

This former Purity store in San Bruno most recently housed the Paper Moon Restaurant. This photo is from 2014. In 2016, the building was being remodeled. It now houses the Isla Restaurant. [map]

former Purity store
San Francisco, CA		 former Purity store
Sausalito, CA
This former Purity store building in San Francisco now houses multiple tenants. [map]

This former Purity store in Sausalito was built in 1941 and closed in 1968. It was converted into a mini-mall and then remodeled in the 1970s. The building now houses the Barrel House Tavern. For more, see this website. [map]

former Purity store
Seaside, CA
This former Purity store was built in 1940. It has housed the Mi Tierra grocery store since at least 2008. However, it closed "temporarily" in 2022 but has not reopened. [map]

Tracy [vintage; gone]
Turlock
Ukiah

former Purity store
Vallejo, CA
This former Purity store has housed a Kelly Moore Paints store since at least 2007. [map]

former Purity store
Willits, CA		 former Purity store
Woodland, CA
This former Purity store building in Willits now houses the City Hall and Community Center. [map]

This former Purity store building in Woodland now houses All Action Awards. [map]