Business & Tech
Graul’s Market - Four Generations of a Family Business
Cape grocery store focuses on community connections.
For more than 50 years, of Cape St. Claire has been serving the Broadneck Community. The original “Graul’s” was a corner store in Baltimore City which was opened in 1920 by the late Fred and Esther Graul.
On the day after he returned from serving in World War II, Harold Graul, son of Fred and Esther, took over operating the family business.
In the early 1950s, Harold and his wife, Mary, bought a summer home in Cape St. Claire. Mary and Harold opened Graul’s Market in Cape St. Claire in 1958, and moved permanently to the Cape where they raised their four children, Harold, Jr., Tom, Susie and Fred.
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Through the years the family has grown, and so has the family business. There are now six Graul’s stores, each managed by members of the family.
Today, the Cape St. Claire market is run by Fred Graul, and his son Bryan, representing the fourth generation of the family-owned business. Fred said that having grown up in the family business, he "never thought about doing anything else for a career."
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One of the fundamental concepts Fred’s family adheres to is support of local charities and community involvement.
“That’s the way we were taught,” said Fred.
The ballpark across from the Cape shopping center is named after Fred's father, Harold, in recognition of his contributions and community service.
Fred and the Cape Graul’s are strong supporters of the community and local charities such as the SPCA, Hospice of the Chesapeake, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Special Olympics, and many others. Fred serves on the board of directors for several of these important charitable organizations.
Fred credits the good core of employees and their connection to the customers as an important part of the Cape Graul’s Market. Many of the employees have worked at Graul’s for more than 20 years. Donna and Bob have both worked there for more than 40 years. Many of the Cape Graul’s employees know their customers by first name.
Our very own grocery store with a wide variety of groceries, produce, seafood, meat and prepared foods, as well as wonderful people, is another reason the Cape is such a great place to live.