History of Y Food Store in Austin, Texas explored.

Y Food Store is forgotten staple of Oak Hill history. Not too much history of Y Food Store in Austin, Texas has been preserved. This news article will explain the history behind.

Elry A Hudson and Barbara Ragland Hudson opened the Y Food Store as the Y Grocery in 1950 inside of Oak Hill. The Y Food Store was located on family land near the Y in Oak Hill where US 290 and SH 71 meet. Y Food Store operated from 7 am to 11 pm for many years. (Ref: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55161046)

Now Y Food Store was located inside a single story rectangular building which an Exxon gas station located at 6800 West Highway 290. The building was a long narrow building. Y Food Store later opened a second location next to Country Grocery and Market which was located at 6850 West Highway 290. The Y Food Store sold their own t-shirts with a caption saying, “Eat at the Y”. 

Y Grocery had a rough reputation during the 1950s and 1960s. The store was even given the nickname “The Bucket of Blood” due to the fights, attacks, and burglary, among other mayhem that had occurred. Many burglaries took place at this store. This store was burglarized five times in the mid-60s.

Jerry Angerman purchased the Y Grocery from Elry Hudson and renamed the store to Y Food Store in 1965. He only purchased the inventory and business. Not the land as he with all the other land along US 290 and SH 71. Elry Hudson kept the back portion of the building for his deer processing business. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, 2004224274)

The Y Food Store was later converted into an indoor shooting range. Exactly when is unknown. The shooting range operated for nearly 20 years before shutting down.

TXDOT announced plans to expand US 290 into being a 4-lane highway in 2003. They acquired several parcels of land between Williamson Creek and US 290. In 2004, the building was demolished to making right of way for lane expansion of US 290. US 290 was expanded into a 4-lane highway.

Y Food Store was located at 6820 West US 290, Austin, Texas, US 78736. The original address for Y Food Store was 6800 West US 290, Austin, Texas, US 78736