Seen here is a 1935 photograph of the Nierstheimer Bros. grocery store at 428 North Main Street in downtown Bloomington. Back then, Henry Nierstheimer, Jr. operated this store while Frank Nierstheimer did the same at a second Nierstheimer's, 1402 West Market Street. Both stores remained in business through the early 1950s. Incredibly, in the mid-1930s there were more than 100 groceries in Bloomington Normal, the vast majority of the “mom-and-pop" variety. Do you have memories of shopping or working in locally owned corner groceries? Today, Crossroads, the popular fair trade handcrafts shop, occupies the main floor of this building.
