Remember when grocery shopping was an adventure rather than a chore? Before self-checkout lanes and online delivery services, the supermarket was a magical place of discovery for us kids of the 1960s. Those linoleum floors and fluorescent lights housed countless small thrills and mischievous moments that defined our childhood experiences, creating memories that still bring a smile decades later.
1. Stealing Sips from the Water Fountain by the Restrooms
Those little metal water fountains were irresistible pit stops during long shopping trips with Mom. The water always tasted slightly metallic and was never quite cold enough, but there was something rebellious about breaking away from the shopping cart to quench your thirst. Mom would pretend to be annoyed as you wiped your mouth with your sleeve, but she understood the importance of this ritual. As to whether this is sanitary today, Chicago Faucets has some helpful points to consider for today’s world.
The real challenge was reaching the button without assistance as your fingers stretched and pushed with all their might. Often, an older sibling would help by pressing it for you, resulting in an unexpected face wash when the water pressure turned out stronger than anticipated. The puddles that inevitably formed below were perfect for making subtle skid marks with your PF Flyers sneakers while no one was watching.
2. Riding on the Bottom Rack of the Shopping Cart
The ultimate grocery store thrill was convincing Mom to let you ride on the bottom rack of the metal shopping cart. With knees hugged tightly to your chest and fingers gripping the wire sides, you’d bounce along as the cart’s wheels clattered over every tiny floor imperfection. You’d have to adjust your position every time a heavy item was added to the cart above your head. Mental Floss paints a picture of the shopping cart’s history that’s surprisingly sprawling and interesting, as fun to learn about as they were to ride.
The real professionals could maintain this uncomfortable crouch for nearly the entire shopping trip, despite legs falling asleep and the occasional box of cereal tumbling onto your head. The forbidden move—one that would earn you an immediate “get up from there right now”—was dragging your fingers along the floor while in motion. The resulting screech would echo through the entire frozen foods section, drawing disapproving glances from elderly shoppers.
3. Spinning the Number Wheel at the Deli Counter
The red plastic take-a-number dispensers at the deli counter were simply too tempting not to play with. You’d pull endless tickets while Mom wasn’t looking, fascinated by the satisfying “click” sound with each number advance. The deli workers would shoot knowing glances as the number on the electronic display jumped from 42 to 97 without explanation. Supermarket News puts into perspective just how vast the history of the deli counter is, when it eventually made its way to American grocery stores at a surprising way.
Sometimes you’d collect an entire handful of numbers before someone noticed, and you’d quickly stuff them in your pocket when caught. The small rebellion felt somehow significant—a way of leaving your mark on the adult world of commerce. Eventually, the deli manager would reset the system, undoing your mischief with the turn of a key that seemed to hold magical powers.
4. Begging for Toys in the Seasonal Aisle
The seasonal aisle was a child’s paradise, filled with cheap plastic toys and colorful trinkets that seemed absolutely essential to happiness. You’d linger there, strategically placing yourself between items and your mother’s line of sight to maximize begging time. The toys were often flimsy, but the packaging promised adventures far exceeding their actual capabilities.
Each season brought new treasures—water guns in summer, plastic pumpkins in fall, and stocking stuffers in winter that somehow appeared in October. The negotiations that ensued were early lessons in diplomacy: “If I help unload all the groceries without complaining, can I please have this 39-cent balsa wood airplane?” Sometimes your persistence paid off, leading to the sweet victory of watching the cashier scan your prize at checkout.
5. Sneaking Samples from the Bulk Candy Bins
The unguarded bulk candy bins were an irresistible temptation for small fingers and sweet tooths. A quick glance to ensure no employees were watching was all the permission needed to pinch a jelly bean or chocolate-covered raisin. The contraband tasted infinitely sweeter because of the mild danger involved in procuring it.
Parents would pretend not to notice this petty theft, understanding it as an unwritten childhood rite of passage. The real pros developed techniques: the casual walk-by grab, the “I’m just looking” dip, or the classic distraction method with a sibling as accomplice. Sometimes guilt would set in later, making you insist that Mom add a quarter-pound of gummy bears to the shopping list to make amends.
6. Pressing Your Face Against the Glass of the Lobster Tank
The seafood department’s lobster tank was better than any aquarium, featuring creatures that looked like they belonged on another planet. You’d press your nose against the glass, fogging it up as you watched the rubber-banded claws and slow movements of these mysterious beings. Sometimes you’d tap on the glass (despite signs telling you not to), hoping for some acknowledgment from the crustacean residents.
The fascination was tinged with a hint of horror when you realized these creatures were destined for someone’s dinner table. You might have even named a particular lobster, pleading with your mother to rescue “Mr. Pinchy” from his watery prison. The moral quandary of seafood selection was perhaps your first introduction to life’s difficult ethical questions.
7. Creating “Caves” Inside Circular Clothing Racks
Department store clothing racks were perfect hiding spots, especially the circular ones filled with dresses or coats. You’d duck inside, disappearing into this fabric fortress while your mother shopped nearby. The filtered light through the clothes created a magical atmosphere in your private domain, while adults’ legs passed by unaware of your secret headquarters.
The real challenge was staying perfectly quiet so you wouldn’t be discovered and scolded. Time seemed suspended in these hideaways, creating pockets of peaceful solitude amid busy shopping trips. Of course, the eventual “Where are you?!” followed by your mother’s frantic searching would end the game, teaching early lessons about the fine line between fun and causing parental panic.
8. Reading Comic Books Without Buying Them
The magazine aisle was a literary treasure trove where you could catch up on the latest adventures of Superman or Archie without spending your allowance. You’d carefully open the comic to avoid creasing the spine, standing there absorbed in the colorful pages until your mother found you. Some stores had actual spinning racks dedicated to comics, which seemed like the height of retail luxury.
Store employees developed a sixth sense for young readers with empty pockets, often appearing with a pointed “Are you going to buy that?” The true artists among us could memorize exactly where we left off, continuing the story on next week’s shopping trip. This free entertainment came with valuable skills development—you became an incredibly fast reader out of necessity.
9. Watching the Butcher Work Through the Window
There was something mesmerizing about watching the butcher at work behind the large glass window, cutting and wrapping meat with practiced precision. The white-aproned men with their impressive knife skills seemed to possess ancient knowledge as they transformed large cuts into family-sized portions. The rhythmic chop of cleavers on wooden blocks created a soundtrack to the meat department that no modern supermarket can replicate.
You’d stand on tiptoes to get a better view, fascinated by the blood and bone that adults seemed to take in stride. Sometimes a friendly butcher would notice your wide-eyed attention and show off with an extra flourish of knife skills or offer your mom an extra soup bone “for the kid.” This behind-the-scenes glimpse into food preparation sparked curiosity about where our meals actually came from.
10. Playing with the Mechanical Pony Ride (Even Without Coins)
The mechanical pony ride near the exit was the crowning jewel of grocery store entertainment. Even without the required dime, you could still climb aboard and pretend to gallop through the Wild West. The faded paint and worn saddle told stories of thousands of children before you who had traveled these same imaginary trails.
Sharp-eyed mothers knew exactly how long to allow this horseback fantasy before gently removing you from the saddle. On special occasions—perhaps after exceptional behavior or a straight-A report card—the magical coin would appear, and the creaky mechanism would spring to life. Those precious 30 seconds of actual movement were the highlight of the shopping trip, worth every moment of good behavior that earned the reward.
11. Squeezing Produce You Weren’t Supposed to Touch
The produce section was a sensory playground filled with forbidden temptations for little hands. Despite repeated warnings about not touching the fruits and vegetables, you couldn’t resist gently squeezing avocados or poking oranges to test their ripeness. Something about mimicking your mother’s selection techniques made you feel grown-up and important.
The worst offense—one that could earn you a stern reprimand—was pressing a finger against a soft peach or tomato hard enough to leave a mark. You’d quickly move away from the evidence, examining distant apples with sudden intense interest. Sometimes a produce manager would spot your fingerprints and shoot a knowing look that communicated volumes about your guilt without words being exchanged.
12. Making Faces in the Curved Security Mirrors
Those large, convex security mirrors mounted in store corners provided endless entertainment with their distorted reflections. You’d contort your face, watching your features stretch and warp in the curved surface while your mother selected canned goods. The simple entertainment required no batteries or quarters—just your imagination and a willingness to look ridiculous.
Security guards and store managers knew exactly what was happening when children gathered beneath these mirrors, but most allowed the harmless fun to continue. Sometimes you’d catch adults sneaking their own quick glance into the mirrors, their faces momentarily softening with the remembered joy of simple distortions. These silent interactions created a cross-generational understanding that some childhood behaviors never really change.
13. Creating Mini-Avalanches in the Stacked Can Displays
Those perfectly stacked pyramids of canned goods were architectural marvels that practically begged to be disrupted. You’d eye them with a mixture of admiration and mischievous calculation, wondering what would happen if you carefully removed one can from the bottom row. Sometimes you’d even give it a light nudge, just to test the stability of the structure.
Occasionally, miscalculation led to disaster—the crash of falling cans creating a soundtrack of childhood embarrassment that still echoes in your memory. Store employees would appear with remarkable speed, sighing as they began reconstruction while your mother apologized profusely. The incident would be referenced for weeks afterward: “Remember when you knocked over the green bean display and we nearly had to take out a loan to pay for the damages?”
The grocery stores of the 1960s weren’t just places to buy food—they were unofficial amusement parks with endless potential for both adventure and mischief. Today’s sleek supermarkets with their self-checkout lanes and online ordering options may be more efficient, but they’ve lost some of that homespun magic that made tagging along with Mom a weekly highlight rather than a chore. Perhaps it’s not just the stores that have changed, but also our willingness to find joy in life’s small moments.
