Melrose Meat Market - Oakland

1949 ⁵

The Melrose Meat Market, also known as Aldinger and Lapp, was a meat market on E14th St. (International Blvd.). It was run by Carl Aldinger and his brother-in-law Emil Lapp, from 1910 to c.1940. The Melrose Meat Market was around until c.1973. ⁴

A 1949 article says it was started in 1901. ⁵ But no listing has been found before the 1910 directory, which lists Schaerer and Lapp as the proprietors of the Melrose Meat Market. [ An obituary for George Janssen (1882 – 1958) who was on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors from 1933 to 1955 says he owned it, though not which years. The 1910 directory lists him with the "The Melrose Market" at 4709 E14th, which also sold meat. ]

In the 1915 directory, Aldinger and Lapp is listed at 5109 E14th, with Carl Aldinger's residence the same. By the 1928 directory, the market had moved a couple doors over to 5133 E14th, and Carl and his wife Albertine Aldinger had moved to 2122 - 62nd Avenue. The 1912 Sanborn also shows some minor renumbering.

By the 1940 directory, Carl's son Herman K. Aldinger was also working at the market. ²

1928 directory1940 directory ²

c.1940, it was sold to William Carstens, ³ and became once again the Melrose Meat Market. Also listed is K. F. Addington. Carl and Herman were still working there. The 1949 photo included above shows that Mr. Carstens operated an "East Oakland sausage kitchen" in the building identified as 1367 52nd Avenue, adjacent to the market building.⁵ The building is also identified as a sausage factory on the 1950 Sanborn map.

1941 directory1941 directory

In 1969, an exploding bomb in a residential laundry room adjacent to the sausage factory damaged both the factory and the meat market.⁶ In 1970, roof fires were started at the nearby Fruitvale Motor Parts (5103 E14th) and the Melrose Meat Market. Arson was suspected.

The Melrose Meat Market & Sausage Kitchen, Inc. is listed at 5133 E14th in the 1973 reverse directory. A 1974 ad for Packers Outlet describes it as "in the former Melrose Meat Market."