NOT COMPLETE - I AM WORKING ON IT
Emil Alex Hagstrom (September 26, 1885 – June 20, 1964) born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Immigrated to he U.S. in 1907
After saving enough money, he purchased a small creamery in Seattle. Hagstrom built the company for a year and subsequently sold it for a large profit. He then purchased and ran a creamery in Everett Washington, but due to economic trends, the business failed.
He moved to Oakland in 1915, and in 1917. with only $75 he opened a small creamery store Mutual Creamery, which expanded to include groceries.
By 1929, he sold the business which had developed into a chain of 335 (300? 340?) stores known as The Mutual Food Stores. In that same year, his chain was merged with MacMarr Stores which later became part of Safeway. 1
In 1932, he launched Hagstrom's Food Stores. Over the next 11 years, the one store grew to 51, with a total of 600 employees, and the successful enterprise eventually merged with present-day Safeway.
In 1940, the Hagstroms moved to Contra Costa County.
Hagstrom died in 1964. He and Esther are buried in Mountain View Cemetery.
Links and References
- Hagstrom's Sale Splits Market Between 2 Firms Oakland Tribune February 11, 1960
- Funeral Services Held For Emil A. Hagstrom Oakland Tribune June 24, 1964
- Emil Alex Hagstrom on FindAGrave.com