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 Joe O'Malia
1920-1996
Joe O'Malia began his career in the grocery business in 1938,
as a clerk.
In 1940, at the age of 19, he was promoted to Produce Manager. After serving four years in the Navy during World War II, Joe resumed his career in 1945 and soon became a Store Manager. Shortly afterward, Joe joined the Stop & Shop chain as a Store Manager and, in 1954, after a series of promotions, he became General Manager for Stop & Shop. In 1962, he became part owner and Store Manager of a Preston's Supermarket then located at 71st and Keystone in Indianapolis.
Joe founded O'Malia Food Markets in March of 1966 when he opened his first store at 10450 N. College Avenue in Hamilton County. He brought his philosophy of service and quality, which he had formed through his 28 years of experience, to an area which was beginning to grow at a phenomenal rate. This store featured such innovations as wall-to-wall carpeting and a fireplace nook. Through his innovative ideas, Joe created a store
with a total atmosphere of friendliness.
The instant success of that first store led to Joe's opening a second store in Carmel in 1968. Next came Noblesville (1973), 56th St. (1976) and 116th (1978). In 1974 Joe took
a big step by opening a new office and warehouse facility. At about that time, Joe began to turn various aspects of the operations of the company over to others as he saw the need for help in managing our growing company.
The year 1982 saw two O'Malia stores opening one at 126th Street and Gray Road in Carmel and one at 86th Street and Township Line Road in Indianapolis. In 1985, we opened store No. 8 at 10th and Girls School Road (Chapel Hill Shopping Center) on Indianapolis west side.
The year 1986 was another landmark year for Joe and the company as we moved the Central Bakery facility from Noblesville to Carmel. That same year we added an
innovative food market in the heart of downtown Indianapolis – the Lockerbie
Marketplace Store.
From 1990 to date, we continue to react to the changing nature of the retail grocery industry. We closed two of the older, smaller stores (Range Line Road and 116th) and replaced them with a larger unit on North Meridian Street in the Meridian Village
Shopping Center; we also closed the Noblesville store when the lease ran out. We renovated the 56th Street Store in 1991 and nearly doubled its size; smaller renovations and upgrades have taken place at North Willow Mall and Chapel Hill. In1995 we did a major remodel at the Brookshire store. Most recently, in 2000, we opened Joe O'Malia Quality meats in Geist -- our first specialty store.
In 1983, Joe O’Malia was honored as a distinguished Citizen of Carmel and as Pike
High School Alumnus of the Year; in 1984 he was the recipient of the Horatio Alger
Award from the Boys Clubs of Indianapolis. The Carmel-Clay Sertoma Club honored
Joe in 1987 as its first annual Service To Mankind award recipient.
Joe was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. He also served on the Board
of Directors of Cathedral High School, St. Vincent Hospital, and Union State Bank.
Joe died in 1996 at the age of 75. His wife, Lois, to whom he attributed much of his success, died in 1991.
From one store in 1966 with about 30 employees to multiple stores and over 650 employees is growth that is the true measure of the accomplishments of Joe and our dedicated group of employees over these years.
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