Disneyland of Dairy Stores (Stew Leonard’s nickname)
Stew Leonard’s is a supermarket chain that began in 1969 in Connecticut, but also has a store in Yonkers, New York. The store has been called the “Disneyland of dairy stores” because of the entertainment provided in the product displays.
“Some people say we’re the Disneyland of food stores,” owner Stew Leonard said in a 1982 syndicated newspaper article.
Wikipedia: Stew Leonard’s
Stew Leonard’s is a chain of four supermarkets in Connecticut and New York which Ripley’s Believe It or Not! deemed “The World’s Largest Dairy”, with Fortune magazine listing Stew Leonard’s as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For”.
“Anyone who comes from Connecticut or thereabouts knows this landmark chain of grocery stores where mechanized cows sing and roosters crow,” according to a writer for the Sun-Sentinel of Florida. A typical Stew Leonard’s store will attract customers from a wider geographic area than a typical supermarket because customers are willing to drive longer distances. The store’s fame comes from its innovative in-store marketing, which includes a barnlike wood decor, a winding path for shoppers instead of straight, parallel aisles, and animatronic singing animals perched above the shelving.
Founded in 1969 with seven employees in Norwalk, Connecticut, there currently are also stores in Danbury, Connecticut; Yonkers, New York; and Newington, Connecticut.
22 August 1982, Mobile (AL) Press Register, “A supermarket safari” by Martin Sloane, pg. 15-G, col. 1:
“Some people say we’re the Disneyland of food stores,” he (Stew Leonard—ed.) replied with a smile.
New York (NY) Times
IN NORWALK, A ‘DISNEYLAND’ DAIRY STORE
By BRYAN MILLER
Published: June 22, 1983
NORWALK, Conn.— ‘‘MY dream ever since I was a little boy was to be a milkman,’’ Stew Leonard recalls, leaning back in a chair in his office here.
(...)
Stew Leonard’s, which bills itself as ‘‘The World’s Largest Dairy Store,’’ is a most remarkable success story in American food retailing. More than 100,000 customers enter his sprawling, aseptically clean milk plant-grocery store annually. Mr. Leonard’s role model is Walt Disney, whom he calls ‘‘the greatest marketing genius ever,’’ and the influence is evident throughout the store.
Google Books
Strategy and Organization:
A West Coast Perspective
By Glenn Carroll and David Vogel
Marshfield, MA: Pitman
1984
Pg. 103:
Interestingly, Perdue’s number one customer is Stew Leonard’s, “the Disneyland of dairy stores,” as it is called by The New York Times.
4 September 1988, Augusta (CT) Chronicle, “‘Different Dairy’ has Disney feel” by Nancy Shulins (AP), pg. 3E, col. 1:
It’s not a theme park, it’s “The Disneyland of Dairy Stores,” as Rich Milk puts it.
Google Groups: alt.usage.english
“And” in numbers
Frances Kemmish
3/17/02
Richard Fontana wrote:
>
> On Sun, 17 Mar 2002, Frances Kemmish wrote:
>
> > One of our local supermarkets - Stew Leonards - used to do this with
> > cheques.
>
> I wouldn’t call Stew Leonard’s a supermarket. But others might ...
> It offers a lot of the same merchandise, of course.
The Disneyland of dairy stores? it’s a supermarket.
Twitter
Julie DenOuden
@jmdenouden
We’re going to Stew Leonard’s…I’m not really sure what this is but I’m told its like the Disneyland of grocery stores
12:46 PM - 28 Nov 2009
Twitter
Christopher Ly
@therealchinaman
Stew Leonard’s is like the Disneyland of supermarkets.. first time I’ve ever gone.. and I will definitely go again
3:37 PM - 1 Feb 2010
Business Insider
Stew Leonard’s is called the ‘Disneyland of dairy stores’ — and after one visit, I totally get the hype
HOLLIS JOHNSON
Jul. 24, 2015, 11:45 AM
(...)
The supermarket’s reputation for customer service and quality precedes it, and I had heard rumors of animatronic singing produce. I had to check it out.
With the moniker “the Disneyland of Dairy Stores” — given by The New York Times back in 1983 — I knew I was in for an experience. But I had no idea just how delightful it is to grocery shop at a Stew Leonard’s store.