Now that a new Grocery Outlet is under construction at the Rheem Valley Shopping Center, it’s safe to say that there hasn’t been this type of retail development or construction in the area for decades. 
 
    When it comes to grocery stores, Rheem has seen five different markets come and go.  The Saint Mary’s College annex was once a Lucky Store.  T.J. Maxx was a Safeway.  At one point in time, Home Goods used to be Apple Market, and before that it was Petrini’s (1986).  The very first grocery store in Rheem was Clark’s Market in 1954, when the shopping center first opened.

    About the only business that hasn’t changed (other than modern upgrades) is 1957’s Rheem Theatre.  In an area north of Park Street and Rheem Boulevard was the Carroll Ranch Club with a 9-hole golf course, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and Mr. B’s Restaurant.  It was located just south of what is now Campolindo High School.  The 24 Hour Fitness gym once housed a Thrifty’s Drug Store famous for their inexpensive and oddly-shaped scoops of ice cream. 

    There were several stores that specialized in either women’s, men’s or children’s clothing.  A hardware store stood next to Charles Drugs which was a large store and has since been replaced with three businesses – Nation’s, Subway, and the now closed pet shop.  Beaubell’s Real Estate currently houses Moraga Art Gallery, and Neldam’s Bakery has become Dover Saddlery. Today’s post office used to be Jo and Eve’s Variety Store (that also sold donuts). 
    Blockbuster Video occupied the space before Dollar Store moved in around 2011. Longs Drugs opened in 1984, and eventually the chain was sold to CVS Pharmacy in 2008.   There was a Fotomat kiosk in the parking lot where a Bank of America ATM machine now stands near Taco Bell (which used to be T-Bone Drive In).  Also in the vicinity is Rheem Valley Automotive (1998), a stand-alone building formerly a Crocker Citizens Bank. 
    
    Across the street from Rheem Valley Shopping Center, on Moraga Road, is the Rheem Veterinary Hospital whose current employees are proud to boast that they’ve been in the same location since the 1960s.

    Last, but certainly not least, was the Rheem Valley Bowl.  Built in 1960, by Donald L. Rheem, the venue played host to bowlers of all ages.  Kids came out for bumper bowling, Saint Mary’s College students took a break from studies there, and adults joined leagues inspiring local competition.  The Fireside Lounge offered food and drink, and pinball machines occasionally coughed-up small prizes to anyone with quarters to spend.  The bowling alley saw its last pin fall in July 1999.  The building was demolished in April 2004.  The lot stood dormant for eight years before medium density homes finally broke ground. 

    The Rheem Valley Shopping Center has gone through a revolving door of business changes over the last 60 years; most recently attributing closures to either COVID or online shopping.  While there’s no crystal ball that can predict the future of retail, it might be prudent for potential shopkeepers to follow the practice of “give the customer what they want,” or at the very least, figure out what they want before they want it.

    Special thanks to Moraga Historical Society President and longtime resident Susan Sperry.