Bliss Shurfine Foodmart originally opened June 7,1957 as an IGA Foodliner. The original store occupied 6000 square feet and was built on property purchased from Russell Adams. In 1960 a White-Westinghouse Laundromat was constructed adjacent to the Grocery store. 1960 also brought the affiliation with Olean Wholesale Grocery Co-op an affiliation that continues to this day. The store at this time changed from the Foodliner banner to the Shopwise banner, which was used until the mid 1980’s when the name changed to Foodmart. The store has undergone several additions and changes during its 51-year history. A Doctor’s office was added between the store and the Laundromat in 1961, the doctor’s office was later used as a barber shop/beauty saloon and then a Napa Auto Parts until the late eighties. The grocery store itself was doubled in size in 1972 along with the construction in the plaza of an Ice Cream Store, which eventually became the Manchester Post Office in 1994. 1988 brought a large addition that brought a branch of Canandaigua National Bank along with a much larger deli. In late 2000 another major remodel of the plaza and store occurred this time a new bottle redemption center was added in the lobby, the Laundromat was totally remodeled and all new equipment added, it was also at this time that Red Jacket Pharmacy was welcomed to the plaza.
Harlan Bliss and Walter Barry operated the original IGA Foodliner. The partnership was short lived and Bliss purchased Barry’s interest in 1960.From 1960 on Harlan Bliss operated the grocery store with his wife Josie and family until his death in 1972. After Harlan’s passing in 1972 the business was operated by Josie and her sons David and Gary. In the mid 1980’s David had left the business to pursue other interests. Josie continued to operate the business until her death in October of 2000. The torch was passed to Gary who became chairman of the corporation and President until he passed the title of president to his son Jeffrey in 2005 who had joined the business in 1987 after graduating from The Citadel that same year.
In the 51 years of operation the changes to the business and the community have been staggering. The Bliss Family is now into its 3rd generation of operation and we have employee’s that are also 3rd generation. As much as the business and community changes there are still constants like home town service and the trusted Shurfine name that span three generations in the Twin Cities Of Shortsville and Manchester and the surrounding communities that we serve. In a climate of bigger chains and supercenters, Bliss Shurfine Foodmart thrives on old fashioned service and value we still have butchers you can talk to and customize your meat selections, our Deli still makes salads and entrees from scratch and we offer all the service you’d expect with over 50 years of experience.