Retailer officially opened for business on August 17, 1936

SAN BERNADINO, Calif. —  Stater Bros. Markets stores will be hosting in-store giveaways this weekend as the company celebrates 85 years of serving Southern California communities.

During the weekend celebration, all 170 locations of the supermarket chain will be giving away $25 gift cards to random customers every hour between 11 am and 6 pm.  Customers will receive 10% off Stater Bros.’ family of brand products when they enter their Digital Deals ID at checkout. Prizes also will be given away every Monday in August through Instagram.

“We are so grateful to celebrate 85 years serving Southern California communities,” Stater Bros. Markets CEO Pete Van Helden said. “This celebration is just a small way to thank our loyal customers for their continued support. We look forward to being an integral part of our communities and providing an exceptional shopping experience for generations to come.”

Stater Bros. got its start when twin brothers (and later World War II veterans) Cleo and Leo Stater purchased a small grocery store in Yucaipa, Calif., from W.A. Davis with a $600 down payment. Stater Bros. officially opened for business on August 17, 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression.

Since then the company has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately-owned supermarket chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County. Today, Stater Bros. operates 170 supermarkets in seven counties throughout the area with approximately 18,000 employees and annual sales of over $4 billion.

Last month Stater Bros. Markets announced plans to build a new store in Riverside, Calif. The new outlet, which will replace an existing store, will occupy 49,922 square feet of a former 96,864 square foot Kmart building. Construction is set to begin this winter and the store is scheduled to open next summer.