By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - Homer Bronston Brown Sr., founder of the Thriftway supermarket chain in Greater Cincinnati, died Saturday at his home. He was 96.

With partner Joseph Fay, Mr. Brown grew his supermarket chain from a single store in the early 1950s to eight by the time he sold his interest to the Lindner brothers in 1961.

Thriftway stores were hailed as progressive in the industry as each was bigger and more innovative than the last.

Mr. Brown was born in 1906 in Broadhead, Ky. He opened his first small grocery store in Covington with $40 in capital borrowed from his mother.

In 1939, he opened Brown's Supermarket in Maysville. In operation until 1955, this store was a pioneer in innovative merchandising and advertising. For example, Mr. Brown was an early user of loss-leader advertising - advertising some items at money-losing prices to lure in customers.

He was also one of the first to install self-service meat displays, in 1952.

Mr. Brown opened his first Thriftway Super Market in Loveland in the early 1950s. His manager was Clyde Barber, while Mr. Brown served as president of the company.

By the time he opened his second store, in Oakley in 1953, Mr. Brown had acquired Fay as a partner. Their third store opened in Anderson Township in 1955.

Four years later, he opened another store, in North College Hill, and added some new partners - Richard, Robert and Carl Lindner.

Stores in Mount Carmel, Norwood, Westwood and Monfort Heights quickly followed.

Mr. Brown sold his partnership in Thriftway to the Lindners in 1961 and resigned as president in April that year.

He subsequently opened a supermarket/department store on Ferguson Road in Westwood.

Over the years, Mr. Brown delved into other business ventures, including real estate, a dog food company, a broom factory, a hotel and a restaurant.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Stephens Brown; two sons, Homer Bronston Brown Jr. of Anderson Township and Ronald S. Brown; two daughters, Cathy A. Kirk and Nancy S. Monds; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mount Washington. The funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Anderson Hills United Methodist Church, 7515 Forest Road, Cincinnati 45255.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com