Krombein's Grocery and Market
Krombein's Grocery and Market was founded by Reinhold H. Krombein, born on January 10, 1880, in Lublin, Poland, which was under Russian rule at the time. Reinhold, his wife Sophie, and three children immigrated to North America in 1911, first settling in Canada. The Krombeins relocated to Portland, where Reinhold initially worked as a carpenter. The entire family became naturalized U.S. citizens in 1916.
Krombein's Grocery and Market was operating by 1916 at the northeast corner of Union Avenue (now MLK Blvd.) and Failing Street. The store was well known and well patronized in the Volga German community.
Howard Bauer recalls:
Krombein's Grocery and Market was operating by 1916 at the northeast corner of Union Avenue (now MLK Blvd.) and Failing Street. The store was well known and well patronized in the Volga German community.
Howard Bauer recalls:
I used to work at Krombein's market. I was paid $5.00 per week when I worked after school and Saturdays and $10.00 per week during summer when I could work for 6 full days. Old man Krombein only came in to make ring sausages in the smoke house behind the store, that was in the Forties during the war. The sons ran the store by then.
Reinhold Krombein died November 19, 1970 in Portland.
Sources
U.S. Censuses, Portland City Directories and World War I and II Draft Registration Cards - Ancestry.com
Last updated October 27, 2023