North Elevation in Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Tenth Avenue Grocery
North Elevation Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
1. Tenth Avenue Grocery Marker
Inscription.
Tenth Avenue Grocery. North Elevation Historic District. One of two existing storefronts in the North Elevation Historic District, this one-story Western Commercial style grocery store features a stylized stepped parapet and large display windows. Sam Chichas, the Greek proprietor of a grocery on North Twenty-fifth Street, opened his second market here in 1921. When announcing his new venture, he promised to keep “a complete line of staple and fancy groceries ... on hand.” Chichas soon changed his mind about branching out, however, and in 1924 Canadian immigrant William MacFarquhar purchased the building. MacFarquhar, who renamed the business the Tenth Avenue Grocery, personally managed the store until his retirement in 1939. In the early 1930s, he and his wife Margaret lived on the premises with their teenaged son. Other longtime owners included Carl and Madaline Clavadetscher, who purchased the market in the 1950s. Close to McKinley Elementary School, the grocery, which carried a large stock of penny candy, was beloved by local children. Through its many owners, the store remained a neighborhood gathering site and service-oriented business that, into the 1990s, offered home delivery and credit to long-time customers.
One of two existing storefronts in the North Elevation Historic District, this one-story Western Commercial style grocery store features a stylized stepped parapet and large display windows. Sam Chichas, the Greek proprietor of a grocery on North Twenty-fifth Street, opened his second market here in 1921. When announcing his new venture, he promised to keep “a complete line of staple and fancy groceries ... on hand.” Chichas soon changed his mind about branching out, however, and in 1924 Canadian immigrant William MacFarquhar purchased the building. MacFarquhar, who renamed the business the Tenth Avenue Grocery, personally managed the store until his retirement in 1939. In the early 1930s, he and his wife Margaret lived on the premises with their teenaged son. Other longtime owners included Carl and Madaline Clavadetscher, who purchased the market in the 1950s. Close to McKinley Elementary School, the grocery, which carried a large stock of penny candy, was beloved by local children. Through its many owners, the store remained a neighborhood gathering site and service-oriented business that, into the 1990s, offered home delivery and credit to long-time customers.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
Location. 45° 47.308′ N, 108° 31.106′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in North Elevation. Marker is on 10th Avenue North near North 32nd Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3115 10th Avenue North, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
2. Tenth Avenue Grocery and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 7, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
