DRISCOLL’s MARKET

It’s no secret that Albion is now down to just 1 grocery store. Years ago of course, there was much more competition here. There were not only the “super” markets, but the neighborhood grocery stores and meat markets as well. One long-time Albion grocer many of our readers may remember was Harold Driscoll (1909-1997), operator of Driscoll’s Market.

Coming to Albion from Jackson, during the 1940s Driscoll’s Market was located at 204 S. Superior St. During the 1950s the store was located on the SW corner of E. Michigan Avenue and Newburg Roads in the building which is today Complete Electric at 1670 E. Michigan Ave. Then in September, 1962 Harold opened a new store at 2498 E. Michigan Ave. which he and his wife Isabel (1912-1995) operated until their retirement in 1975. The building was subsequently purchased by the Eagles several years later which is located there today. The family home was at 602 E. North St., and the Driscoll’s spent their retirement years at Morrision Lake near Coldwater.

Harold’s daughter Mary Jo Zurn recently wrote yours truly: “We bought land out near the new bowling alley and put in the new store. Dad had visions of the future when he moved in that store. He sold groceries, beer, wine. He added a complete line of magazines, shoes and clothing. He had a custom meat market and did all the work himself! We cooked hamburgs and I delivered them to Brooks Foundry employees. He sold flower and vegetable plants. He catered to the southern customers by ordering soul food items like: Chittlings, hog mauls, trip, mountain oysters, head cheese, and greens. He catered to Mexicans by getting flour and corn tortillas, sweetbreads and Mexican spices. The store was the only one to ever be opened on a holiday back then. There was always something people needed for the holiday dinner or for themselves to just go to Driscoll’s and see old friends and have a nice visit.”

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a 1970s era photo of Driscoll’s Market building on E. Michigan Avenue, and a photo of Harold. How many of our readers remember Driscoll’s Market?

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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