The Shiffman General Store at 238 Manitoba Avenue was a popular one-stop shop in Selkirk from 1927 to 1970. It was especially known for its early soda fountain, which made it a social gathering place for the community. Despite challenges like the Great Depression, Ben Shiffman built a successful and trusted business that became an important part of local life.
238 Manitoba Ave
Peaking in popularity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, general stores strived to be a one-stop shop for community needs. Several general stores called Selkirk home, including Ben and Annie Shiffman’s general store, operating out of a building at 238 Manitoba Ave.
The Shiffmans owned and ran their store from 1927 to 1970, selling a wide range of household goods. What made their store especially memorable was in its earliest years it had a soda fountain, complete with ice cream parlor tables, and chairs, creating an inviting place where customers could pause and socialize while running errands.
Ben’s Journey to Canada
Ben Shiffman immigrated to Winnipeg in 1918, fleeing widespread pogroms as a Jewish Russian. After settling in Canada, he found work as a truck driver for Weidman’s Food Wholesale. It was through this job that Ben learned of a general store for sale in Selkirk. He regularly delivered goods to the store and was interested in purchasing it, but he lacked the required $500 down payment. Recognizing his dedication, Weidman’s Food Wholesale agreed to loan him the money. With that support, Ben took his first step toward becoming a business owner, establishing his own general store, complete with a soda fountain.
Dr. Jack Shiffman Reflects on his Family Business’ History
Ben’s son, Dr. Jack Shiffman, described the store’s early years as “a hangout for the teenage crowd who would buy an ice cream and a Coke and sit for hours.”
While the soda fountain drew people in, it proved less profitable than expected. Customers often lingered for long periods after purchasing only a single treat. Within a few years, Ben removed the fountain and refocused the business on food sales and clothing.
Jack remembers the store fondly. He described floor-to-ceiling shelves, the ice cream parlour setup, the wrapping paper fixture, a wooden cash holder, glass display cases for tobacco, chocolate, and candy, and the soda fountain positioned near the front window. After the fountain and seating were removed, the space was repurposed to accommodate bulk goods and more shelf-stable items such as canned and boxed groceries. The Shiffmans expanded their offerings to include fresh fruit –– stored in wooden baskets made by Ben –– along with meats, cheeses, fresh bread, and cookies. Non-food items included clothing and accessories.
Pushing Through the Hard Times
Like many business owners of the era, Ben faced significant challenges during the Great Depression –– particularly as someone who had started with very little. Over time, he established lines of credit with local farmers, allowing both his business and his customers to survive difficult times. Ben also accepted eggs, butter, poultry, and other farm products in place of cash, building trust and goodwill throughout the community. The credit system worked in his favour, and Ben became known as a reliable and respected businessman among local farmers and foundry workers.
Outside of regular store hours, Ben would load his 1932 Chevrolet with sacks of flour and deliver them directly to farms. These trips sometimes took longer than expected, as farmers often invited him to stay for a drink. Jack recalled that his mother would occasionally describe Ben coming home late and sometimes “tipsy.” Jack himself never remembered his father being drunk, though he did recall him returning home “as sick as a dog,” followed by his mother’s familiar refrain: “It serves you right!” Beyond these moments, Jack remembered his father for his warmth, humour, and ability to speak multiple languages with customers.
Home is Where the Heart is
The Shiffmans lived above their store, accessible by stairs. For the first few years of Jack’s life, their home consisted of three bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen. Their kitchen had a hotplate, cupboards, table and chairs and ice box, but no sink–– they had to haul water from the bathroom. At the time, they had indoor plumbing but not hot water. Ben later renovated their home, building a revamped kitchen and dining space with a sink and a wood burning stove and tank to heat water. He also installed a floor model radio with an outside aerial that could tune into United States stations. Jack also added there was a couch that his dad relaxed on if he had a minute to spare.
The store featured wood flooring that required regular oiling, a garage for storing large warehouse items, and a shallow concrete basement used for storage. The basement also housed a rainwater collection tank for washing and a wood-burning stove.
When Stories of Selkirk’s Pioneers and Their Heritage was published, Jack and his family still owned the original ice cream parlour table and chairs, which they had placed in their recreation room. Jack Shiffman passed away on October 6th, 2024, leaving behind cherished memories of a family business that once served as a cornerstone of the Selkirk community.
Shiffman’s General Store Collection
Click on images in enlarge
Ben Shiffman Inside his General Store, Date Unknown, The Gypsy Traders
Sources
The Golden Age of the General Store, Canadas History
Jack Shiffman, Saskatoon Funeral Home
Howard, K., Stories of Selkirk’s Pioneers and their Heritage
Instagram- @The_Gypsy_Traders, Aug. 29, 2020
