The downtown Larkspur I grew up with was a place where the local resident could find all the basic necessities for coping with everyday life. There were hardware, variety, drug and dry goods stores, TV and shoe repair shops, a pet store, dry cleaning establishment, two barber shops, a beauty parlor, even a florist and caterer. There were also three bars for those who found they couldn't, or didn't want to cope.

We had two groceries, side by side: Fred Schefer's Food Center and Ernie Epidendio's Rainbow Market (though everybody just called them Fred's and Ernie's), each with its own butcher and full-service meat department. Typical of independent local grocers of the time, they both carried their own charge accounts for their customers.

My father, Guy Penna, worked at Ernie's for several years in the 50s, and is seen here in a white apron at the end of the aisle at the left.

click thumbnails below for more Rainbow Market photos