In the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century the grocer’s shop was the place where you could find anything. In addition to foodstuffs such as sugar, flour and coffee, the grocer also sold paraffin and chamois leathers.
The cash register stood proudly on the grocer’s central counter protected by a low railing. Another important grocer’s tool consisted of the scales with weights. The grocer used them to weigh all the bulk wares that went into the various paper bags hanging above the counter.
The grocer used the coffee grinder to grind coffee as coffee beans can be kept longer than ground coffee. Herbs and spices are in the wooden jars atthe back of the rack and were weighed carefully, like the rest of the goods. Next to the counter there are various flasks with all kinds of oil. On the other side, various types of soap took pride of place.
The advent of packaging in boxes, such as soap and biscuits, brought the weighing of most products to an end. The paper bags were replaced by box packaging, with the product weighed by the manufacturer beforehand. Brands came on the scene, and the poster with biscuits on the back wall of the grocer’s shop is a nice example.
The grocer’s shop of the past was a small supermarket. It was stuffed to the brim and the grocer simply ordered whatever he did not have. The shop sign ‘Poer en Zaed’ (gunpowder and shot) is very typical for a grocer’s shop that stocked everything.