As a result of having only a “dorm” fridge for the moment, I find myself going daily to the grocery and using only the hand-carry basket to shop. Consequently I began wondering about the invention of the shopping cart. Research has revealed that Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Humpty Dumpty stores in Oklahoma, came up with the idea in 1937. Mr. Goldman noticed that shoppers stopped shopping when they couldn’t fit or carry anything more in their wicker baskets. Purportedly he put together an ersatz cart comprised of lawn chair frames, a couple of baskets and some wheels. At first the carts weren’t well received - men felt strange pushing the contraption around and women liked their wicker - so Goldman had employees pose a shoppers until the idea and convenience caught on.

Filed Under: Culinary History