Celebrating 125 Years of Straub's
1901: Where it All Began
Our story begins in 1901, when William A. Straub founded Straub's Markets in Webster Groves with a simple mission: to provide the best in quality products along with exceptional customer service.
In the early days, service was a daily ritual for William A. Straub. He would hitch up his horse and buggy every morning to visit neighbors surrounding the store, personally collecting their orders by hand before returning to the store to fill them.
Here is our original location in Webster Groves, located in the old Bristol Building at Lockwood and Gore, just down the street from our current Webster Groves store.
Growing with St. Louis
Through the decades, Straub’s has evolved alongside St. Louis. We’ve opened and closed doors in neighborhoods like Brentwood, Crestwood, Northland Plaza, and Ellisville, and welcomed new generations of family into the business. From our vintage delivery trucks to our beloved lunch counters and in-store restaurants, we have always adapted to serve our customers best.
In the early 2000s, we pioneered a new focus on Chef Prepared Foods. While our sit-down restaurants eventually closed, we made a crucial decision to keep our full-service restaurant kitchens. This allows our delis to produce restaurant-quality meals, made from scratch, every single day.
Pictured: Our Clayton location on Forsyth, opened in 1948. At the time, it required special clearance to be just 3 stories tall—which is funny to think about when you look at Clayton today!
Five Generations of Quality
A St. Louis Legacy in Photos
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Our founder: William A. Straub. He & his family lived right down the road from the original Webster Groves store.
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Where the tradition began: Inside our very first store in the historic Bristol Building. It was located just down the street from where our current Webster Groves market stands today.
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Growing with the neighborhood: In 1926, we moved just down the street to our second location at 40 W. Lockwood, expanding our footprint while staying right in the heart of Webster Groves.
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The original online ordering: Our bustling team of operators working above the Clayton store, taking delivery orders by phone to ensure every neighbor got exactly what they needed.
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A snapshot of service in 1936: Delivery cars lined up and ready for the day at our original Clayton 'Hi Pointe' location.
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The standard starts at the top: Walter A. Straub personally inspecting the meat for quality, circa 1950s.
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Dining at Clayton: This beloved in-store restaurant operated until 1996. It occupied the exact space that is now home to our Produce Department.
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1991: Celebrating 90 years of Straub's and the arrival of our current CEO, Jack W. (Trip) Straub III.
More Than a Market. A Community Partner.
Recognized by the Community We Serve
