The Lawrence We Remember: Waymire's Grocery

Posted by Dave Klamet July 9, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.

Back in the mid 70's when I was attending KU--the first time--I had a girlfriend who worked as a checker at Waymire's grocery store. Occasionally, I would drop her off or pick her up from work. As a student living in a dorm, with all my meals furnished, I don't think I ever had a reason to go in.

When I moved back to town in the early 80's it was gone. At least I don't recall it so I'm assuming it disappeared sometime while I was gone. The street it was on has changed enough that I'm not exactly sure which block it was on.

Does anyone else remember it?

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dancemomx2 (Sheila White) says…

The name does ring a bell. My mom or grandma would know but I'm sure they are in bed. The hubby thinks there was a grocery store at the NE corner of 9th and New Hampshire. I'm not sure but you got the wheels turning. Look forward to seeing what others remember.
July 9, 2009 at 9:50 p.m.
Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…

Was it at the northeast corner of 9th and New Hampshire? Was it an A & P store or were they two different stores? There was a grocery store at that location when I started KU in 1972..
July 10, 2009 at 3:25 a.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

NE corner of 9th and New Hampshire was a Kroger. A&P was NE corner of 11th and Massachusetts. Lived here since early '60s and can remember the Waymire name but not the location. Maybe Marion would know.............
July 10, 2009 at 5:51 a.m.
bloozman (anonymous) says…

Waymire groceries began in Ottawa, if that helps track it down.
July 10, 2009 at 9:47 a.m.
MattressMan (anonymous) says…

farfle, those were a couple of smart brothers there. I thought they dumped her near the RR tracks (suppose a body part could have been in the dumpster). Anyways IIRC the cops followed a blood trail in the snow back to their house (RI street?) and said they used a Waymires cart to push her around after the killing. Sick SOBs (I think) also ate a frozen pizza while she was still in the house.
July 10, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…

I worked with J.R. Waymire in the ealry 1950's at the "new" Rusty's IGA at the Checkers location on 23rd. JR was a meatcutter, he continued working there for many years, then opened his own store in Leavenworth, and later Ottawa (and others). The location in Lawrence (9th and New Hampshire) was correct.
July 10, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

I shopped at Waymires when I lived across the street from New York School.
There was also a Ben Franklin, a Woolworth's with a small cafe, and a J.C. Penny.
July 10, 2009 at 3:58 p.m.
Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…

farfle,

You just made an excellent argument against heterosexuality since incest within family members is typically not between members of the same sex. Incest is incest, regardless of the gender of the participants or victims. Good grief!
July 12, 2009 at 8:31 a.m.
justchuck (anonymous) says…

the small diner inside woolworth's was Drake
s diner. thesame owner now operates drake's diner on e. 10th st.
July 13, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
motocross (anonymous) says…

Does anyone know what the brothers names were?
I've never even heard of this story?!
WOW!
July 13, 2009 at 7:41 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/aug...
July 13, 2009 at 7:54 a.m.
motocross (anonymous) says…

I wonder if the people who live in that house now know what happened there?!
Pretty crazy!

I live in a house where someone killed themself.
Not too weird now, but when I first found out it was kinda creepy.
July 13, 2009 at 8:44 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

It is kind of sad that Waymire's is mostly remembered for the location of that murder instead of being the last downtown grocery store.
July 13, 2009 at 8:58 a.m.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…

Farfle, you're embarrassing yourself.
July 13, 2009 at 9:07 a.m.
motocross (anonymous) says…

blue73-

What kind of HD you ride?
July 13, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

FLH Electraglide - all original, even the paint. Usually ride it sans bags, tour pack and windshield. Changed the seat to a police solo but still have the original.
July 13, 2009 at 9:25 a.m.
krich (anonymous) says…

Dave,
It has been nice running into you twice in the recent weeks. I remember our time at SM. Funny how we can get off topic on these blogs. I remember the Krogers and A&P stores. Now can someone tell me where Earl's Pizza Palace was located?
July 13, 2009 at 9:35 a.m.
motocross (anonymous) says…

blue-

Awesome bike!
Until i can afford an HD, I cruise a Kawasaki Vulcan.
July 13, 2009 at 9:41 a.m.
hodgesmom (Dayle Hodges) says…

Earl's was downtown, but I am not sure exactly where. I do remember eating there as a very small child though. I also remember A&P, Kroger/Waymire's (which DID smell like fish), and the whole Maxey murder mess. There was a diner located inside of Woolworth's, but Drakes Bakery was between Woolworth's and Weavers.
July 13, 2009 at 9:56 a.m.
krich (anonymous) says…

First, sorry Dave, I was thinking of someone else! hodgesmom you are right Drakes Bakery was next to Woolworths but not part of the dime store. How many remember the Campus Hideaway? How about Edmonds Grocery (located across the street from the Yellow House?
July 13, 2009 at 10:18 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

There also used to be an auto parts store kind of behind Waymire's on 8th. I can't remember the name. I think it was locally owned, not a chain.

I do remember an accident that happened near there one morning. It was around 4 am. I was going in early on OT. I saw a totaled LPD car on New Hampshire near Waymires. The LJW the next day reported that a drunk tried to steal a pickup from behind the auto parts store. The problem was the drunk did not notice that a wheel and brake drum assembly had been removed and the truck was sitting on a log. The drunk got the truck started and proceeded down the alley toward Waymires. A cop spotted him and went in pursuit. Well, the cop got high-centered on the log that the truck drove off of. So he radioed for help. A second cop came screaming down New Hampshire as the three wheeled pickup pulled out of the Waymire parking lot. The cop T-boned the truck. Drunk 2, Cops 1. Unfortunately this happened WAY before you could post comments on articles!
July 13, 2009 at 11:01 a.m.
local_support (anonymous) says…

I used to live in a small house that I was told used to be a grocery store. It was on 13th in between Kentucky and Tennessee. It definitely has the shape of an old neighborhood grocery store and is practically a carbon copy of Footprints, the sandal store at 14th and Mass.

However I've never been able to verify this. Anyone know anything?
July 13, 2009 at 11:57 a.m.
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…

Edmonds was the last place I know that had frozen food lockers for rent. Before home freezers became available in the 1950's and when home refrigerators had only a freezer space for 2 ice cube trays, some grocery stores had "lockers" or freezer space for rent. If I remember correctly, Edmonds had bins that you could rent and lock; gaining access only when the store was open. It was a treat to go there in the summer and experience the sub-zero blast of the room.
July 13, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…

The auto parts store Harley mentioned was either Evans or Pipperts, both near downtown, I used to go to both but can't remember which was which.
July 13, 2009 at 5:36 p.m.
LadyJ (anonymous) says…

Earl's was next door to Francis sporting goods. It was a donut shop, restuarant after that at one time.
July 13, 2009 at 6:25 p.m.
LadyJ (anonymous) says…

I quess now it is called Lids, and I do remember the fish smell of Waymires too.
July 13, 2009 at 6:38 p.m.
eaglet (anonymous) says…

In the 900 Block of Massachusetts, Woolworth's had a lunch counter, then later added booths. Raney's Drug had a lunch counter mostly drinks, and Drakes Bakery had a lunch/breakfast counter.
July 23, 2009 at 9:27 a.m.