Up for sale is a wonderful collectible paper grocery bag from Schwegmann's, one of New Orleans, Louisiana's most beloved supermarket chains.  It is accurately dated (to the year 1969) by the presence, on the back, of the entire season schedule for then fledgling New Orleans Saints NFL football team!  This is an ORIGINAL bag, not a modern reproduction. 

The Schwegmann family, German immigrants, had been active grocers in New Orleans since the mid-1800s.  By the early 20th century, the Schwegmann's had already introduced larger store sizes, self-service, and a wider selection of foods (including fresh baked goods, seafood, and game meat), innovations that were unusual in the typical mom and pop corner groceries of that era.  But the chain's dramatic growth was mostly associated with the leadership of John G. Schwegmann (1911 - 1995), who dramatically expanded store size and inventory, ventured into non-grocery services, and emphasized "everyday low prices".  The Schwegmann's at 2701 Airline Dr., in neighboring Jefferson Parish, opened in the 1940's and was huge for its day (80,000 square feet, or over 1.8 acres).  And the Schwegmann's on Old Gentilly Road (near Chef Menteur Highway), which opened in 1957, was said to be "The World's Largest Super Market" (see the globe with this motto resting on the top of the market, on the bag I am selling), with a whopping 300,000 square feet (or more than 6.8 acres)!  This store also sold electronics and major appliances and provided many other "under one roof" services.  (The store used its roof for parking.)  John G. Schwegmann considered himself a "populist" in the Louisiana tradition, fighting price fixing and eventually serving several years as an elected Public Service Commissioner.   Despite the history of innovations, the Schwegmann chain eventually succumbed to competition and went bankrupt in the late 1990's.

The back of this grocery bag is devoted to the New Orleans Saints, who had begun as a National Football League expansion team in 1967.  On the left side is the 1969 schedule, including 6 pre-season games and 14 regular season games.   On the right side is a cartoon of a band playing "When the Saints Go Marching In!".  Notice that home games were being played at Tulane (University) Stadium in uptown New Orleans.  The Louisiana Superdome would not host its first Saints game until the 1975 season.  The 1969 Saints were coached by Tom Fears and featured Billy Kilmer at quarterback.  They finished with a record of 5 wins and 9 losses.  Several years later, after a succession of losing records, even much worse than in 1969, Saints fans took to wearing paper grocery bags (with eye, nose, and mouth holes) over their heads and became known as the "Aint's".  It's likely that many Schwegmann paper grocery bags of that era met this fate.  (Note:  The bag I am selling has no eye, nose, or mouth holes.)

The bottom of the bag states "An Olinkraft Bag" and documents the (unfolded) size as 12 x 7 x 20.5 inches.  Olinkraft, Inc. was established in 1967 as a subsidiary of the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, which had previously acquired the Brown Paper Mill Company of West Monroe, Louisiana in 1955.  (The bag I am selling was probably made in West Monroe.)   In 1979, Olinkraft was merged into Johns Mansville Corporation and renamed Manville Forest Products Corporation.

Please see above for full description of condition and for photos.  There are significant condition issues.  This bag will be shipped collapsed and folded up along its original folds (in so far as is possible).  Sold as is.

Attention US Buyers:  I will ship these using USPS Ground Advantage (until recently known as USPS First Class Parcel) or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Local pickup is also available, in Metairie, Louisiana, at no charge.

Attention International Buyers:  I am exclusively using e-Bay International Shipping.  If you win this auction, I will ship it to an e-Bay facility in the United States.  e-Bay will be responsible for sending it to your international address.  Please familiarize yourself with e-Bay International Shipping before bidding.  Thank you.