by Julie Wartman
Clarence Price “C.P.” Reeves started the family business in 1915 as a fruit peddler from Constance, KY, selling produce door-to-door throughout Ludlow and Bromley with a horse-drawn wagon. C.P. traveled to Petersburg and Cincinnati to purchase the produce he would sell. Eventually, he acquired a Model-T truck, which transformed the business. In the time it took to make one trip to Cincinnati in the horse-drawn wagon, C.P. was able to make three or four trips to Petersburg to buy cantaloupes and watermelons. After World War II, C.P.’s three sons, Charles “Burr”, Robert “Sid” and Jim “Goo-Goo” started working for their father. That’s when the business grew to enable the purchase of two additional trucks. This allowed them to add eggs and bottles of Coca Cola to the traveling inventory.
The Reeves family worked all year round, in good weather, as well as snow, sleet and rain. They would park in various neighborhoods, set up their goods in and around the trucks, and make their presence known by yelling out what they had for sale that day. People would come out of their homes from all around to make their purchases.
The impact of World War II was felt far and wide, resulting in changes in how the Reeves did business. As many women joined the workforce during and following the war, fewer people were home during the day. Peddling through residential neighborhoods transitioned to opening a retail store.
C.P., who owned a farm with his wife in Hebron, started growing Christmas trees in the 1960’s. His sons started selling them at their retail location in Ludlow at 549 Elm St.
In the mid 1950’s Reeves’ Dairy Cheer restaurant was opened in Ludlow. With great success at this location, a 2nd restaurant in Florence opened. The name was changed to Reeves Drive-In Restaurants. In 1966, a new building was constructed to house the Florence restaurant.
Throughout the 1960s, each Reeves brother managed a separate part of the business. Burr managed the produce, Sid managed the Florence restaurant, and Jim managed the Ludlow restaurant. Some long-time Ludlow residents may remember the original menu which included favorites like the Big Burr, the Steak Hoagie, the Footlong Hot Dog, and the Ham Deluxe…just to name a few. The restaurants thrived until the 1990’s. Charles W. “Burr” Reeves was a second-generation businessman. When he showed up at high school with burrs in his hair, he received the nickname Burrhead which was later shortened to Burr. When Burr retired at the age of 82, his nephew Steve Webb managed the market in Ludlow.
Operated now by 3rd generation Greg Reeves and family, upgrades have been made and new items added. Folks from all around the tri-state travel to Reeves for produce, jellies, jams and pickles, along with Amish cheeses and bakery products. Seasonal flowers are the most popular items sold here with local produce being the second most popular. Outdoor flowers are abundantly available in spring and summer. The annual Christmas tree sales start in late November, including many adorable novelties inside the store, which make for great gifts. Taking a walk through the rows of pine scented Christmas trees will certainly leave you in the Holiday spirit!
Today, 109 years after the horse and wagon carried food to area neighborhoods, Reeves Market remains where it began - at 549 Elm Street. Reeves Market is a Ludlow institution that we hope will continue to serve its residents well for years to come.
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