Simon David

Until its closing in 2010, Simon David was the oldest gourmet and specialty foods store in Dallas, Texas. Simon David was a long-time specialty retail brand and division of Tom Thumb Supermarkets. Tom Thumb became a division of Randalls in 1992, which itself became a 112-store division of Safeway Inc. in 1999.

Simon David
Grocer, Division of Tom Thumb
IndustryRetail
Founded1889 (1889)
DefunctMay 26, 2010 (2010-05-26)
HeadquartersDallas, Texas
Key people
TBA
Number of employees
TBA
ParentRandalls (1992-1999)
Safeway Inc. (1999-2010)

History

Named for its founder, Simon David opened in 1889 as the first food retailer and deliverer in Dallas to specialize in out-of-season items and imported merchandise. Originally a small brick structure adjacent to Mr. David's home in Uptown Dallas' historic State Thomas neighborhood, the business expanded to 4311 Oak Lawn Avenue in the 1920s and thrived under the supervision of second-generation owner Delmer David, who opened an additional wholesale outlet along with separate packing and shipping facilities that distributed Simon David products nationwide. The third location opened October 19, 1961, on Inwood Road, where the founder's grandson, Stanley M. David became the first grocer in Dallas to offer a liquor department before selling the franchise to Tom Thumb in 1963. A larger building replaced the original Inwood Road location in 1985 at the same address. While Tom Thumb would later market a statewide chain of Simon David stores, only the Inwood Road location retains the name of its founder.

Randall's Food Markets

Tom Thumb and its Simon David division were acquired by the Randall's Food Markets chain of Houston in 1992. Randall's retained the Tom Thumb and Simon David names in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, but would convert the seven Tom Thumb stores in Austin, Texas, to Randall's in January 1994, when it also converted nine newly acquired AppleTree Markets.[1][2][3][4][5] The Simon David in the Arboretum Market (opened in 1987) was not converted, but it would close in December 1996 and would be converted into a Saks Fifth Avenue.[6][7] Though after many customers lamented the loss of the city's only Simon David, Randall's decided in 1998 to make its Bee Caves store a Flagship Randall's supermarket, the first in the city and the eighth in the chain.[8]

Safeway

In 1999 Randall's and its Tom Thumb/Simon David divisions were acquired by Safeway. Safeway retained the Randall's name in Houston and Austin and the Tom Thumb and Simon David names in Dallas/Fort Worth. Safeway announced plans in May 2010 that the Inwood Road location, the last to use the Simon David banner, will be replaced with a Tom Thumb, pending permit approvals.[9][10]

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References
  1. Randalls shuts three AppleTrees; Nine other area stores are closed temporarily for conversion after grocery buyout, Austin American-Statesman, January 19, 1994.
  2. Clash of the titans; Industry giants Randalls, H.E.B. battle for bucks, buyers' interest, Austin American-Statesman, January 22, 1994.
  3. Updates from the aisles of Austin's new and changing food stores The goods on groceries, Austin American-Statesman, March 23, 1994.
  4. Grocery stores change names to Randall's, Austin American-Statesman, January 8, 1994.
  5. Randalls banner flies over old Tom Thumbs, Austin American-Statesman, January 13, 1994.
  6. Saks Fifth Ave. signs letter of intent Austin Business Journal, August 30, 1996.
  7. Constructors & Associates turns Simon David into Saks Austin Business Journal, April 18, 1997.
  8. Randalls brings Flagship specialty store concept to Austin, Austin American-Statesman, September 24, 1998.
  9. Safeway to close Dallas' only Simon David store, open Tom Thumb in its place Dallas Morning News, May 25, 2010.
  10. Last Simon David in Dallas closing; new Tom Thumb to replace it Dallas Morning News, May 26, 2010.
  • Uptown Dallas Historic Uptown Dallas/Simon David
  • Simon David expansion plans revealed on anniversary, The Dallas Morning News, October 10, 1960.
  • New Simon David opens tomorrow, The Dallas Morning News, October 18, 1961.
  • Simon David notes its 74th anniversary, The Dallas Morning News, February 24, 1963.
  • Cullum Co. buys David food store, The Dallas Morning News, September 28, 1963.
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