Peoples Grocery

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The Peoples Grocery was opened in 1885 in a Memphis neighborhood by three African Americans: Thomas Moss, Henry Stewart, and Calvin McDowell who were friends of Ida Wells^[1]. The owners were murdered by a white mob while in police custody in March 1892^[2].

[edit] Arrest and killing of owners

In 1892, the owners of the store were arrested after it was reported that they started a fight. It is possible that this complaint was made because some white people believed the People's Grocery was hurting the business of a nearby grocery owned by a white man^[3].

Moss, Stewart and McDowell were warned that a white mob was going to kill them^{[citation needed]}. The men fired on nine deputy sheriffs who came to arrest them after which they were arrested and jailed. The next morning a white mob kidnapped the three men out of jail and looted the grocery. The three men were later found dead. It is reported that many blacks left Memphis, fearing for their lives^[4].