An adopted Californian hailing from the Buckeye State, who has brought to his present responsible trade operations considerable commercial and governmental experience, is Benjamin E. Calkins, one of the proprietors of the Alpha Beta Store, of the Triangle Grocery Store No. 1, on Second Street and Park Avenue, Pomona. He was born at Toledo, Ohio, on November 11, 1890, the son of Benjamin R. and Matta M. (Plantz) Calkins, also natives of Ohio, and attended both the grammar and high schools of Toledo, getting his preparation for a brush with the great, wide world in the same stimulating environment so favorable to many distinguished Americans from that commonwealth.
In 1908 Mr. Calkins came to California and, living at Los Angeles, continued his studies under private instruction and at the Los Angeles Polytechnic, after which he gave instruction in the Wallace private school in Los Angeles. Then he went into business and was special agent for the bottled water of the Mountain Spring Water Company of Riverside County. Selling out in three years, he then became associated with the Union Oil Company as traveling salesman, remaining with them until March, 1917, when he entered the employ of the Government in the purchasing department of the shipyards in San Pedro.
Coming to Pomona in the summer of 1918, he bought an interest in the Triangle Grocery, and is half owner of the Alpha Beta Store No. 1, located at 480 West Second Street. This establishment moved into its new home in the summer of 1919, a headquarters fitted up most attractively—clean, sanitary and inviting.
Besides meat and groceries, there are departments for vegetables, fruit and candy, and all goods are arranged in alphabetical order, from A to Z, hence the name, Alpha Beta. The price is plainly marked on each article, and you select what you wish and pay as you go out. This system has proven very satisfactory with the buying public, and the store, which is one of a chain of eight, is enjoying a high degree of prosperity.
At San Diego on November 20, 1915, Mr. Calkins married Miss Helen G. Hall, a native of San Diego and the daughter of J. P. R. and Charlotte Hall; and they have one son, Bruce Calkins. The family attend the Christian Church of Pomona.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 1/12/09, Pages 757-758
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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