Heinen’s Memories: 90 Years in review

The new year is an exciting time where we reflect on the year that has passed and look toward the future. At Heinen’s, we’re welcoming 2019 by doing just that, but rather than looking back on 2018, we’re looking all the way back to 1929 because 2019 is the year Heinen’s turns 90!

From 1929, when Joe Heinen opened a butcher shop in Shaker Heights to 2019 where third-generation brothers Jeff and Tom Heinen oversee 23 stores in Cleveland and Chicago, it’s safe to say Heinen’s has seen a lot of changes in nine decades.

Yet no matter how much we’ve grown, at our core, we’ve never changed. Even after 90 years, we continue to live by Joe Heinen’s mission of being a local, family-owned grocer who is committed to providing our community with the freshest foods and world-class customer service.

To kick off our year-long 90th Anniversary celebration, let’s travel through history and discover how Heinen’s got to where it is today!

Key Moments in Our History

1929

At age 26, Joe Heinen opens a butcher shop on Kinsman Avenue, now renamed Chagrin Boulevard in Shaker Heights.

1933

Joe Heinen opens Cleveland’s first grocery store across the street from the original butcher shop and opens two more locations on Taylor Road and Van Aken Boulevard.

1958

Joe Heinen is named “Retailer of the Year” by the Retail Grocers Association.

1959

Heinen’s Green Road locations open in 1959, hailed as the largest grocery store in the state of Ohio at more than 28,000 square feet.

1960

Heinen’s opens its first warehouse, along with three new stores in Pepper Pike, Bay Village and Rocky River.

1970

Jack Heinen is named “Retailer of the Year” by the Retail Grocers Association.

1972

Heinen’s opens its second warehouse in Warrensville Heights, along with stores in Aurora, Mentor and Mayfield Village.

1980s

Heinen’s opens stores in Middleburg Heights, Willoughby, Bainbridge, Chardon and Twinsburg.

1995

Jeff and Tom Heinen are named “Retailer of the Year” by the Retail Grocers Association.

2000s

Heinen’s opens stores in Brecksville, Avon, Hudson and Strongsville and a corporate office in Warrensville Heights.

2012-2014

Heinen’s opens its first out of state stores in the Chicago suburbs of Barrington, Glenview, Bannockburn and Lake Bluff.

2015

Heinen’s opens it’s Downtown Cleveland location in the historic Cleveland Trust Building.

2017

Heinen’s opens a new location in Chagrin Falls, along with a manufacturing facility in Warrensville Heights.

2019

Heinen’s celebrates its 90th Anniversary and looks forward to the exciting future that lies ahead.

Join us for our year-long celebration of Heinen’s 90th Anniversary by sharing your favorite stories on Instagram and Twitter using #HeinensMemories.