Chandler & Rudd: Partners Riven by Alcohol

It is not an uncommon story for partnerships to be broken up by liquor.  It is one of the most-cited reasons for divorce in America.  But for the well-known Cleveland grocery store called Chandler & Rudd, it was a different story.  That partnership dissolved not because of drinking alcohol, but because of a disagreement on selling it.

In 1864 in the waning years of the Civil War, a grocery specializing in imported foods opened on Euclid Avenue on the south side of Cleveland’s Public Square.  Called the Jones-Potter Company, among its original employees was William Rudd. In 1868 Rudd with partner George Chandler bought out the original owners and changed the name to Chandler & Rudd, beginning a 145 year run for the grocery.

The partners concentrated on fine imported foods, selling French peas, German pickles and English kippered herring.  On their shelves one could find such delicacies as cinnamon from Vietnam, marmalade from Scotland, anchovies from Portugal, and cheeses from all over the world. The Cleveland “carriage trade” took to the grocery enthusiastically.  So much so that the partners in 1889 opened a second store on at 6000 Euclid Avenue in the Willson area, show above. It was followed by third on Euclid in the wealthy suburb of Fairmont Heights.

The larger space allowed Chandler & Rudd to add a bakery. The company also pioneered in the use of taking telephone orders and delivering to customers wherever they lived in the Cleveland area.  Their staff, was known for accommodating any desire.  One said:  “We cater to Cleveland’s upper-income families.  They want the best and we supply it to them.”

Like most specialty grocery stores, Chandler & Rudd sold wines and whiskey to their customers.  The photo of the grocery staff  reveal behind them display cases filled with row after row of whiskey and wine bottles. The partners were selling whiskey, likely blended on their own premises, in ceramic jugs.  Shown below are quart (left) and a half gallon containers.  The label listed the three locations and bore the name “Rudd.” 

 

It was “Rudd’s Whiskey” and William Rudd, shown here, was having misgivings about selling alcohol.  The Temperance Movement had taken shape in the wake of the Civil War with Ohio as a particular “hot spot” for prohibition.  Legions of women were regularly visiting saloons and stores selling liquor and conducting “kneel ins” and praying.  They could count a number of successes as proprietors exited the liquor trade.  Whether it was his family’s importuning or his religious denomination turning against alcohol, Rudd, a sunday school teacher, demanded that the store stop selling wine and whiskey, particularly with his name written in capital letters on the bottles and jugs.

Chandler strongly disagreed, noting that for more than two decades their specialty grocery business had profited handsomely from whiskey and wine. Liquor was a large reason that their enterprise grew to three stores.  Chandler insisted  that the company continue to sell booze. As a result, in 1894, after 26 years of success, Rudd and  Chandler went their separate ways.  Alcohol had led to another bitter divorce.

While keeping the well-recognized name of Chandler & Rudd, in partnership with his brother, William continued in business, taking the Willson and Fairmont stores.   Things changed.  Chandler apparently fancied advertising trade cards that featured attractive women with some bosom evident.  Rudd, on the other hand, was drawn to precious scenes of children.  

Now William’s name was gone from liquor and “candy was dandy.”  Among offerings was Rudd’s Melt-O-Mints, advertised as “mints for the every day.” That slogan highlighted the fact that much of the grocery’s candy was expensive and given at Christmas in the baskets that were a company specialty.

In 1914 the Willson store burned.  Rudd’s brother-in-law was John D. Rockefeller who loaned him the money to rebuild.  By 1934 Chandler & Rudd had nine branch stores, from Lakewood to Shaker Heights.  The Rudd family sold the chain in 1960 to Fred Marino, a produce manager. The Marino family managed the grocery until 2009 when competition in the food business caused Fred Marino Jr. to close the doors permanently after 145 years.

Meanwhile Chandler had not abandoned specialty groceries nor the liquor trade.  He retained ownership of the original downtown store and advertised as the G. C. Chandler Company, Importers and Grocers.  Chandler was president and his son, George N., was secretary and treasurer.  The grocery offerings were still the fancy foods that Clevelanders desired and, of course, he continued to sell whiskey and wine.  Chandler’s enterprise did not endure as long as Rudd’s.  It seems to have disappeared from city directories after 1900.

In almost every divorce there is a winner and a loser.  Given the anti-alcohol fervor that had gripped Ohio, it would appear that Rudd came out on top.  Of course, it never hurts to have John D. Rockefeller as your brother-in-law.