Luttrell Bros. Grocery & Market was a prominent grocery in Arlington for decades.
Luttrell Bros. Grocery & Market, also known as Luttrell’s Grocery, operated from 1900 to 1954 and was located at 115 S. Center Street for the majority of its run. The family-owned and operated business became one of the leading independent grocers in North Texas and a staple of Downtown Arlington.
Proprietor George Luttrell (1875–1955), an area pioneer, served on the Arlington City Council in the 1920s and was also a developer.
Luttrell Bros. Fancy Groceries, Abram & Center Streets, Arlington – ca. 1910
Photo Credit: Arlington Historical Society
Back in 1900, when Luttrell and his brother first started the business, Arlington’s population was only 1,500 people in and around the city limits, and the small town merely had two blocks of stores. It was certainly more rural than urban, with many living on farmland and where livestock was common. The dirt streets in town were either dusty or muddy, depending on the weather, and when it rained, wagons often got stuck in the mud, blocking the whole thoroughfare.
In the early days, swinging kerosene lamps lit the store and products were often sold from barrels. Luttrell’s store reportedly had the first refrigerator in Arlington, with ice hauled from Fort Worth to keep perishables fresh. Folks often bought items in bulk and loaded their wagons with as much as they could. Items sold commonly included sugar, flour, candies, dried fruit, crackers, bacon, turkeys, chickens, eggs, butter, a small selection of canned food items, chewing tobacco, and cigars. Bananas sold slowly as they were considered a luxury, and pickles had to be given away because few liked them at first. Fruits and vegetables were often seasonal, and many products were dependent on local sources.
As the oldest business in town, there was a big celebration for the store’s 40th anniversary in 1940. They gave away free groceries, had demonstrations and samples from vendors, and arranged special displays. The store’s appearance had changed over the years, making it more contemporary and sanitary. Buying habits had changed, too, with changing sizes, offerings, and varieties, reflecting the modernization of the town. Indeed, there generally weren’t wagons getting stuck in the muddy streets anymore.
Ad for Luttrell Brothers Grocery and Market
The Junior Aggie, Yearbook of North Texas Agricultural College, 1942
Photo Credit: The Portal to Texas History
Standing at the counter or looking out the window of Luttrell’s Grocery, one could observe a small town like Arlington change and grow. Though some things remained constant—flour and eggs haven’t changed that much over the years—Arlington evolved from a dusty hamlet of 1,500 in 1900 to a sizable small town of 44,000 by 1960.
In 1954, the same year that Luttrell’s Grocery closed, General Motors opened their assembly plant in Arlington, just a few miles down the street. While Arlington certainly still had grocers and other small businesses, the baton was being passed from one era to another. When Luttrell started his business, hitching posts were out front and in back for horses; when he retired, shiny cars with horsepower rumbled down the paved streets.
Arlington Firm 40 Years Old – Luttrell’s Grocery
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 10, 1940
Newspapers.com
Luttrell Bros. Grocery & Market
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – May 21, 2006
Newspapers.com
Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 10-08-25
Jason S. Sullivan 