El Sobrante in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

First Supermarket

Foster's Freeze

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2016

1. First Supermarket/Foster's Freeze Marker

Inscription.
The large building at this site was the home of El Sobrante's first supermarket, which opened in 1951. Owned by the Louis Store chain, the store was re-named LoRay in 1965 when the business was bought by Loretta and Ray Dickenson. A portion of the building also housed housed Fowler's Variety Store owned by Logan and Mary Ellen Fowler. Adjacent to the right, El Sobrante's first Foster's Freeze, opened in 1950, giving way in 1961 to the Park Pharmacy building.

Erected 2014 by El Sobrante Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.

Location. 37° 57.869′ N, 122° 18.969′ W. Marker is in El Sobrante, California, in Contra Costa County. It is on San Pablo Dam Road near Hillcrest Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3730 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante CA 94803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally,

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it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ranchos to Ranches (within shouting distance of this marker); Park Theatre (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); California & Nevada Railroad (about 500 feet away); Arrival of the Strip Mall (about 600 feet away); El Sobrante's First Bank (about 700 feet away); Cowboy Country (approx. 0.2 miles away); El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office (approx. 0.2 miles away); El Sobrante Chevrolet Service (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Sobrante.

Additional commentary.
1. Badly Faded
I went to visit this marker along with a number of nearby markers in El Cerrito and El Sobrante. Sadly, many of these markers are badly faded and unreadable at this time. We are thankful for the pictures that were previously submitted.

— Submitted March 9, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California.

First Supermarket Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rover Spotts, March 7, 2026

2. First Supermarket Marker

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2016

3. First Supermarket/Foster's Freeze Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 694 times since then and 64 times this year. Last updated on June 15, 2025, by John D Grabenstein of Easton, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2. submitted on March 9, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California. 3. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.