The sun., 1919-08-16
Skyscraper Private Shops Cut
Cost Of Living for
Thousands.
SAVING OF 20 PER CENT.
Liberty and National Bank Of
Commerce and Guaranty
Trust Workers Aided.


bank with a grocery store subsidiary.
owned and controlled by it's own en-
ployees, as their weapon against the
high cost of living is a twentieth CEN
tury departure from the narrow path Of
business as It used to be run.
Three such grocery stores, where one
who works for the bank may purchase
everything from the expensive egg to the
juicy prune at a price that at least
leaves few dollars left over out of the
the Wall street district. perched high up
above the ground. unknown and un-
sung except among the bank employees,
who patronize them every day. The
stores are maintained by the employees
clubs of the Guaranty Trust Company,
the Liberty National Bank and the Ma
tional Bank of Commerce. So success
full have they been in reducing day to
day living expenses that several other
banks in the Wall street district are
contemplating opening such institutions
for their employees.
The stores are self-supporting,I and
any profit that is made-and it is a
very small one at the outside-goes
the employees benefit.
Big Variety of Goods.
A trip through these stores yesterday
disclosed neat. we'll stocked shelves II
substantial foods. Eggs, coffee, sausage,
ham. bacon. butter. canned goods, crack
ers, chocolate. CONNECTIONS, candy, cigar
cites, cigars. in fact, everything that
goes to make up a first class grocery
store were on display. In the rear of
each display room. we'll crowded with
trim looking clerks and pretty stenog-
raphers shopping around for delicatessen
bargains, Is a large refrigerator full
and running over with fresh hams,
bacon and other appetizing meats.
"Our cooperative store has proved
big success" said H. p. Engle, secretary
OF the Guaranty Club, I'VE are doing
business at a lively rate. We have 1900
employees, and more than half of them
are steady customers at the grocery
store. The employees are able to pur-
chase food necessities here at about 20
to % per cent. less than they could pur-
chase the same articles-and probably
OF a lower grade-from retailers out
side"
Capt. F. d. Ryder. manager of the
grocery store for the Liberty Bank Club,
declared that where the employees buy
regularly at the bank store and buy for
their families, as most OF them do. the
saving amounts to from 81 TO IS eacl,
week. Sales at the Liberty Bank Club
grocery, which had membership OF 800,
many of them heads Of families, will
amount to approximately $4,000 a year.
according to Capt. Ryder.
The policy OF all three stores is the
same. An experienced food purchaser
goes to market. He buys only the best
grade OF goods at the closest price he
can obtain, and buys 1t at wholesale
prices. It is then transferred to the
refrigerator in the bank and retailed out
to the bank employee, who carries his
package home. OF course, the stores
have no delivery.
When we first started the store" said
Mr.. Engle of the Guaranty Club, I'VE
bought meats but once week. Some
times we sold $500 OF $500 worth OF
meats alone at the end of the week. But
now our buyer is In the market all the
time and we get fresh supply every
day Our sales now run from $4,000
to $4,000 a week. II is all the best and
most substantial food the market AFFORDS,
and It amounts to a saving OF approx
mately 20 cents on every dollar spent for
food by our employees"
A big slate on the front of the counters
prices daily. Bacon yesterday was quot
ed at AZ cents a pound, eggs at % cents.
and with other prices proportionately
below the price the retailer charges.
The men behind the counter were having
a busy time, too, wrapping up the pur-
chases The Guaranty Club grocery Is
probably able to purchase more cheaply
because It's supplies are bought In con-
nection with the banks own purchases
of foodstuffs. The Guaranty Trust Com
pany maintains a large dining room.
where all OF its employees are furnished
luncheon without cost every day.
However. the luncheon has no connection
with the grocery outside of the fact that
the products are purchased together The
grocery is strictly an employees affair.
Luncheon Club Planned.
At the Liberty Capt Ryder said that
the grocery department Is starting In a
small way and eventually plans to bloom
out with a luncheon club. I'VE find that
our grocery store means a great accom-
mediation and saying to employees.
Many of our boys ana girls live out in
the suburbs and own automobiles When
they get ready to go home on Saturday
some OF their household drive their cars
In and they go home fairly loaded down
WIN tiiiiBo VIC nav pSSh ociS W PiONiuS
for them.
I'VE sell everything here that one
could purchase in a first class grocery
store 1 might mention fresh eggs, OF
which we buy only the best grade ba-
con, ham. sausage. butter canned goods.
and the products of the big biscuit COM
panies. ! couldn't tell exactly the saving
to bank employees, but II is a consider
able one over the prices they would have
to pay at their own corner grocery store,
and our little store is becoming more
popular every day"
Capt. Ryder was for forty years a
steamship CAPTAIN and is able to regale
the bank employees with a salty yarn or
a chanty or 30 as he hands out the beans
and things to them.
Announcement has Just been made in the
financial district that the National City
Bank Club. composed of the employees
of that organization, will aid its members
in building and owning their own homes.
The Number Eight Realty Company has
Just been Incorporated to buili houses for
employees unable to secure adequate
housing accommodations. Employees
will contract to pay 10 per cent down
and l per cent monthly until the homo
Is paid for.
Butter Company Indicted.
TOLEDO, Ohio. Aug. 15.-The Rock
IaIand RNtter Comnanv ~ this lie, No.,