(J. L. Lambert & Sons) (Red Front Cash & Carry)

Back in 1887 William D. Lambert’s father, J. L. Lambert opened a grocery business in Henderson that for years was prominent in West Kentucky trade as J. L. Lambert and Sons. That business later incorporated in 1905 as Phelps Grocery Co with W. D. Lambert listed as president and James L. and Phelps Lambert as directors.

In 1917 William D. Lambert started the Red Front Cash and Carry stores. This business was quite successful spreading across the area.

The Red Front sign disappeared from western Kentucky when the Lambert family sold the chain to Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Hollingsworth of Louisville, according to The Gleaner of Sept. 23, 1958, Gleaner. They changed the name to Sureway and consolidated operations into modern supermarkets.

Red Front Food Market at 600 N Green Street

“A Grocery Store is a Grocery Store, but, to a Red Front Customer, a Red Front Store is more than a Grocery Store. It is a store where you can buy the best of merchandise for a very little money. More for your Money all the time.”

RED FRONT CASH & CARRY STORES, INC.
No. 1 – 316 First Street (Visible below)
No. 2 – 1322 Clay
No. 3 – 213 N. Elm St.
No. 4 – 733 Second
No. 5 – 540 Dixon
No. 8 – 104 Holloway St.
No. 9 – 1400 Powell
No. 10- 600 N. Green St. (Visible here)
No. 11 – 500 S. Green St.
No. 23 – 1000 Second St.

Reference:

Red Front Cash and Carry Sureway chain has deep connections here By Frank Boyett Nov. 06, 2010

Driver Bob Lancaster prepares to pull out from wholesale grocer Phelps Grocery Co. on Outer Second Street, beside the present-day overpass, in 1945.
Lancaster worked for the company for 15 years.
Caption states NE corner of Green and Third Streets.