Eddie’s Market History
The first question that many people ask is “How are you allowed to use the name Eddie’s?” Jerry Gordon, the owner of Eddie’s Charles Village, smiles and says “That’s easy. We’re the real deal.” Now that’s no knock on the famous namesake just north of here, it’s just a family affair.
Many years ago when FDR was President, a man named Eddie Levy opened a grocery store and named it, surprise, Eddie’s Supermarket. He was successful and opened a second store. These stores were not like the super stores of today but more like neighborhood stores. Eddie Levy was not one to let a good idea rest. He decided to franchise the name Eddie’s Supermarket and found willing takers in his own family. His brother-in-law, Herman Kabik, Jerry’s grandfather, was one of the first franchisees. Others quickly followed.
Eddie’s franchise idea was a hit. At the height of the chain’s success, there were 26 Eddie’s Supermarkets in and around Baltimore. In 1962, a group known as St. Paul Supermarkets Inc. bought three stores, including the St. Paul Street Store. The three principals of the group were Morris Tossman, Irvin Falk, Mr. Tossman’s nephew by marriage, and Eddie Gordon, Jerry’s father. When Jerry was fourteen years old, Irv Falk picked him up and drove to the store where he was a bagger making $1.00 an hour. When Jerry enrolled at City College, he began working in the St. Paul Street Eddie’s. Forty-five years later and he’s still here. How good does it get?
Jerry took over the management of Eddie’s on St. Paul on October 30, 1980. Slowly changes took place including changing the name to Charles Village Eddie’s Supermarket. In 2006 the store was totally renovated and the name again changed, this time to Eddie’s Market / Charles Village. The new name better represents the intimate nature of a neighborhood store, where many customers are known by name. Charles Villagers as well as community members from Union Memorial Hospital, the Baltimore Museum of Art and Johns Hopkins University are enjoying the famous sandwiches from our deli, our terrific coffee and many of our unusual upscale grocery items on a daily basis.
Today we are the hub of the Homewood commercial community. We are enthusiastic supporters of Johns Hopkins Lacrosse and other Blue Jay sports. Many Hopkins groups as well as community organizations are recipients of Eddie’s support, including Friends of Wyman Park Dell, and the JHU Tutorial Project.
For your convenience, we’re now on the web. The staff at Eddie’s Market looks forward to serving you, whether you visit in person or have us deliver to your home or office. Welcome to the Eddie’s Family!
