The communities of Crest and La Cresta relied on the small businesses due to the challenging road to town. Many stores came and went. Here are a few:
Stores of Suncrest and La Cresta
1926 – The First Store in Suncrest
The first store in Suncrest, located in a small log cabin on Suncrest Blvd. across from the Suncrest Clubhouse, was opened by Jim Coats This small store consisted of only bare essentials as everything had to be hauled up from El Cajon. Unfortunately, there are no photos of this first store.
The Suncrest Store 1929
The second and probably most memorable store was located on the corner of Suncrest Blvd. and Juanita Lane. Today, the Crest Library occupies this building. The store was first opened by Gertie and William Black. Mildred Black Zimmermam writes, “In 1929 my folks built the Suncrest Store. The store was in the front of the building with a bell on the door, so we knew when customers entered. Our living quarters were in the rear. My dad would travel every other day down the old grade to El Cajon to pick up fresh bread and milk. On Saturday, the best treat of all was ice cream for the weekend. If the ice cream did not all sell, we HAD to eat it since it was packed in dry ice. My dad went to the valley to pick up the Sunday morning newspaper which we would deliver upon his return. My brother and I would ride on the running board of our old car and run up to each house, deliver the paper, and collect the dime that was due. People liked to sit on the porch of the store under the umbrella and look down the street to see the people swimming in the swimming pool.” The Blacks’ ran the store until 1934.
It then had a variety of owners in the 1930s: Mr. and Mrs. Claude Crotzer, Al and Marie Teubert, Clark and Delma Woodland and their children, Thad and Lee Ann.
In 1941 the Woodlands sold the store to Beatrice and Edmund Dupuis. The Dupuis’ remodeled the building in 1944, adding a meat department. By this time bread, milk, and other groceries were being delivered. It was then owned by Mr. and Mrs. Shourds for a short period of time before selling in 1945 to Celia and John Scheutenhelm. The Scheutenhelms later built the fourth store on the hill which is now known as Crest Foods.
The market was then sold to Sal and Vi Arbassio. It was known as Sal’s Suncrest Market for several years. Julie Dutcher, daughter of Wendell & Martha Dutcher shared that her parents bought the store around 1961 or 1962. “My parents were very giving and were the last of the true ‘mom and pop’ grocers. They opened the store after hours for the dire needs of customers (like milk for babies and medicine for the sick). They sponsored several little league baseball teams and gave free credit to customers. She was a foster mother to 85 children during a 20 year span and was a well-liked business woman in Crest. Around 1970, my parents sold the store to Carl and Minnie Moline. They owned the store for one or two years.”
On October 14, 1976, what had been known for years as “The Suncrest Store” was converted into the Crest Library
1929 – The La Cresta General Store and Service Station
On December 12, 1930, the Standard Oil Company opened a service station at the corner of La Cresta Blvd. and Burdett Way. It is said to have filled a long felt need. Mr. O.V. Jarrett had charge of this station.
The La Cresta General Store, on the same property, was owned by “Pappy” Challand in the early 1930s. Later it was owned by Alma & Al Rice. The photo of the store shown was taken during a rare snow storm in 1949. The original building was torn down and rebuilt into the present cinder block building.
Other owners and operators of this property included the Elias Brothers and Paul and Jim Odish. Mark Mirza has operated the now Rainbow Market since 2001.
The Crest Country Store/Crest Foods
John and Celia Scheutenhelm built the Crest Country Store in 1960. It was located at the top of the La Cresta grade on La Cresta Blvd. and they owned it for a few years. A couple of years later the building was sold to a camper factory, then a pool table manufacturer. It then became Levicios Grocery Store, and later became Crest Foods owned by Tony and Pati Shammas and later by Kevin Delly. As of 2019 it was called Crest Foods and Liquor located at 1103 La Cresta Blvd.
As the Communites Grow More Stores Appear.
1947 – 1947 tells us that business in the Suncrest/La Cresta area was increasing all the time. There were two grocery stores in the area (Suncrest Market and La Cresta Store) as well as three garages (one known as Richey’s Crest Garage), a drugstore (Suncrest Pharmacy), malt shop (Penny’s Inn), department store (Hilltop Department Store), barber shop, fixit shop, and a new realty company
1950s – Crest continued to thrive in the 1950s. Research showed that Stanley Kubik, Alpha Realty, and Clyde Holmes were three local realtors. Marty Jacks Café located at 1629 La Cresta Blvd. offered homemade pies, cakes, and special chicken pies. Lewis De Garmo sold western and frontier styled pants, shirts, and jackets at his 137 Scenic Drive location in La Cresta. There was even a local dentist, S.P. Marshall, located 18 Scenic Drive, La Cresta. Sal’s Suncrest Market and General Store offered sundries, notions, and Dutch Boy Paint. You could call H4-3646 for free delivery.
1960s -There were two grocery stores, a tavern, and a malt shop which was located across the street from Nancy Jane Park. Another article states: Jewell’s Treasure Box, Sperry’s Student Art, Avon Products, Inc., Ted’s Barber Shop, Evelyn’s Beauty Shop, Mary’s Beauty Hut, Foster Construction, La Cresta Campers, Dr. McClurkens Physio-Therapy Chiropractic Treatment, Yoga, Ruth’s Hobby Shop-Ceramics, Amway, Charles Martin Locksmith, Hilltop Market, Suncrest Market, Rossney Drum, Mary Garzer, Notary, Charles Floto Piano Tuning, John Rodgers Furniture Refinishing, Garow Printing, Kubik Realty, Hilltop Inn, and Mt. View Electronics.