Red and White Grocery
Fred Reeves and his wife Rhea opened the Powell Red & White Grocery Store in 1937 at 21 W. Olentangy Street. A previous grocery occupied the building, which had been erected in 1906. Fred had been employed by Kroger in Columbus for 14 years. At first Fred, Rhea and their 9-year-old son Mac lived in three rooms at the back of the store. The Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall occupied the upper floor. The photos show the store before and after Fred did extensive remodeling in 1949 to add modern lighting and equipment, a new store front, and to make it self-service. The store was open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fred became involved in the community, organizing the Liberty Township Fire Department in 1949 and serving as chief for 24 years. At various times, he was also Powell mayor, school board president, a substitute mail carrier and the town Santa Claus. After he retired and liquidated the grocery store in 1973, many businesses operated at this location. In 2014 the Prohibition Gastro Pub opened there.
