As I mentioned in a previous post, it's been a lean year for sales, so I have to stretch the definition of "Halloween" a little. But I've always associated owls with Halloween, so hopefully I'm not stretching too much.
I picked up this can of Red Owl Ground Cloves at a garage sale a few weeks ago. They had an odd assortment for a private sale, mostly tools and utilitarian items, and the last thing I expected to find was a vintage can. This one dates from 1948.
I question the majority of their suggested uses for cloves. Chocolate pudding? Potato soup? Spaghetti?? I'll stick to using it in pumpkin pies and hams. Let me know any unique ways you use cloves in the comments.
Red Owl stores were a Minnesota grocery store staple from the 1920's until it was sold to the Supervalu chain in 1988.
The original Red Owl logo was a sterner looking chap; not quite the whimsical hooter we see on my can.
Perhaps Red Owl's finest hour was in the Mary Tyler Moore show intro when Mary Richards picks up a package of meat in a Red Owl grocery store meat department, gives the price and package a lookover and defeatedly throws it into her grocery cart.
How about you? Ever shopped in a Red Owl? Any Red Owl memories? Give a hoot and share.
That is awesome and I love owls! I think my Mother has vintage cans in her cabinet, although she would not call them vintage. lol
ReplyDeleteMaster Crypt Keeper,
Michelle
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle, and thanks for all you're doing this season to keep the Countdown running smoothly!
DeleteYour Red Owl can is very cute. I never would have known this scene from Mary Tyler Moore show was set in Red Owl - I never noticed the owl faces in the background. His Lordship and I watched about 5 seasons last winter. I still find it very funny.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lady M. I didn't know that scene was filmed in a Red Owl either until I wrote this post. It's been a while since I've watched MTM Show, but I need to add it to my rotation.
DeleteI do like the logo but sadly never stepped foot in one.
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing logo. For a while, Cub Foods had retro Red Owl items for same; styrofoam coolers, etc. My girlfriend and I both got a T-shirta with the logo from Etsy. But it was funny, because we did them in different orders, but the same seller. Hers shipped. Mine, Etsy refused it, saying the seller didn't have permission to use the logo. An email to them, pointing out how they shipped one but not the other was silly, and that the seller publicly mentioned that he had permission to recreate the logo right on his page.
ReplyDeleteA shirt would be really cool. It kind of annoys me when there's a market for something, but the copyright owner doesn't do anything with it, but enforces others from not using it.
DeleteLove owls, but never heard of the store before. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't either until the last few years. It was mainly in Minnesota, although there were some in Wisconsin as well.
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