28 Amazing Vintage Photographs of American Stores From the 19th Century

In Victorian era, it was very difficult to keep perishable food fresh. People in the Victorian period would go shopping everyday and bought small amounts of groceries.

There were no supermarkets in the 19th century, but little stores of different kinds. The Victorian stores opened six days a week and would stay open in the evening until the last customer left.

Poor people would often buy from street vendors as there were cheaper than the stores. They would often buy from markets or street sellers as these were cheaper than shops.

Take a look at these amazing vintage photos to see what stores of the United States looked like in the 19th century.

Exterior of Hardie & Darling store and auctioneer store, circa 1860s-1870s

Exterior of J.S. Lytle & Son's horse furnishing goods store, circa 1870s-1880s

People outside of general store, New York, circa 1870s

People outside of tinware store, New York, circa 1870s

Three women outside general store, circa 1870s

Exterior of F.W. Eaton & Co. Hay, Grain, & Coal store, circa 1880s

Interior of James Heaney's grocery store, circa 1880s

Man and woman outside tobacconist shop, circa 1880s

Man outside dress and cloak making shop, Gloversville, New York, circa 1880s

Men and boys outside Adam Wachter's Meat Market, circa 1880s

People outside grocery store, Washington St., Boston, MA, circa 1880s

People outside Locher's Drug Store, Philadelphia, PA, circa 1880s

Three men outside of F.W. Eaton & Co. Hay, Grain, & Coal store, circa 1880s

Two men outside corner general store, circa 1880s

Two men outside grocery store, circa 1880s

Two men outside grocery store, circa 1880s

Two men outside storefront, 2336 Broadway, New York, circa 1880s

Two women outside store selling Horton's ice cream, 352 Pleasant St., New York, circa 1880s

Butcher standing outside Otto Hoffmann Adirondack Market, circa 1890s

Exterior of tinware store, Boston, MA, circa 1890s

Interior of a shoe store, circa 1890s

Interior of hardware store, circa 1890s

Interior of Herman Lemp's jewelry and watch store, circa 1890s

Man standing outside Working People's Bargain Store, New York, circa 1890s

People outside Adam Wachter's Meat Market, New York, circa 1880s

People outside grocery store, circa 1890s

Three men at counter of grocery store, circa 1890s

Two men outside haberdashery, circa 1890s