Sidney Applebaum was a kind man with big dreams. Everyone called him Sid. He built a huge grocery chain in Minnesota. He started with nothing but worked hard every day. His story is about family, effort, and helping others. This article tells his life story. It covers his childhood, his business success, and his lasting impact. We also explain a funny TV joke about his name. Everything here comes from real sources like old newspapers and family stories. No made-up stuff—just the true story of a great man.
Early Life: A Kid Who Worked Hard
Sidney Applebaum was born on February 28, 1924, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His parents, Oscar and Bertha, came from Russia. They moved to America during their honeymoon. Life was hard. Oscar sold fruits and vegetables door-to-door with a horse and wagon. Minnesota winters were cold, but he kept going.
Sid was the youngest of nine kids—seven brothers and one sister. The family didn’t have much money, but they were close. Oscar wanted a better life. He borrowed $65 from his oldest son and opened a small fruit stand at St. Peter and 7th Streets in Saint Paul. That stand became the first Applebaum’s Food Market. It was small but a big step.
As a kid, Sid helped a lot. He was young but worked like a grown-up. He packed soap, bagged rice, put boxes on shelves, and ran errands. Sometimes, he rode his bike to deliver fresh fruits. Sid learned that hard work matters. He saw his dad smile when customers came back. That taught him trust builds a business.
Sid went to school in Saint Paul. He made friends in the neighborhood. The Jewish community was like a big family. They ate together and went to synagogue. Faith kept them strong. As a teenager, Sid wanted to make the family store bigger. He dreamed of many stores, not just one.
World War II came, and Sid joined the U.S. Army. He learned about working as a team and staying strong. After the war ended in 1945, he came home. That year, he met Lorraine Smith. She was kind and tough. They fell in love fast. On September 17, 1946, they got married at the Commodore Bar and Restaurant in Saint Paul. It was a simple wedding, but their love lasted almost 70 years. Lorraine helped with the business and raised their kids.
Sid and Lorraine had three children: Nancy, Jay, and Ellen. Their home was full of love. Sid shared stories from the store. He told his kids, “Work hard, but be fair.” They always ate dinner together, talking about their day. Even when work was busy, Sid made time for family. His early life was simple but full of heart. It prepared him for big things.
Growing the Family Business: Applebaum’s Food Markets
After the war, Sid worked full-time at the family store. His dad, Oscar, was getting old. Sid and his six brothers and brothers-in-law took over. They turned Applebaum’s Food Market into a chain of stores. They grew slowly but surely.
In the 1950s, people wanted more than just fruits. They needed all kinds of groceries. Sid made it happen. He added meats, breads, canned goods, and fresh baked treats. The stores were clean, and the workers were friendly. Sid taught them, “Treat customers like family.” That made people keep coming back.
By the 1960s, Applebaum’s had stores all over the Twin Cities—Saint Paul and Minneapolis. By the 1970s, there were 30 stores. That was a lot for a family business. Sid took care of buying and planning. He drove to farms to get the best deals. He knew every supplier’s name. Quality was everything. He never sold bad products.
Big companies like National Tea came to town. They had more money, but Sid fought back. He started home delivery for older customers. He made sales fair, with no tricks. People trusted Applebaum’s. In 1979, the family sold the chain to National Tea. It had 30 stores, plus one in Duluth. Sid could have stopped working, but he didn’t. He stayed to keep the stores special.
National Tea had problems, and in 1982, they sold to Gateway Foods from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Sid liked Gateway’s boss, D.B. Reinhart. They worked well together. They had a new idea: turn some Applebaum’s stores into big, cheap, bright stores. This idea became Rainbow Foods in fall 1983. Sid picked the name “Rainbow” because it felt fresh and fun. On opening day, people lined up for the low prices and big choices.
Rainbow Foods: A New Kind of Store
Rainbow Foods was a big deal. Sid and D.B. Reinhart started it together. They made old stores into warehouse supermarkets—big places with lots of deals. They kept things simple but offered great value. The first stores opened in 1983. By 1984, there were ten. They grew fast.
Sid was president until 1996. Under him, Rainbow grew to 40 stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. It was the second-biggest chain in the Twin Cities, after Cub Foods. Sid made sure stores were in places where families lived. He kept shelves full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sid was great at advertising. He used bright signs and fun ads. One ad showed a rainbow with happy shoppers and said, “Taste the rainbow of savings.” People loved it. Other store owners came from far away to learn from Sid. He shared his ideas because he wanted everyone to do better.
Rainbow used new technology. They added barcodes to make checkouts faster. Electronic cash registers stopped mistakes. Later, they added self-checkout lanes. Sid said, “Make it easy, and people come back.” In the 1980s, some Rainbow stores had Leeann Chin food counters for fresh Asian food. Shoppers could eat while shopping.
The company changed owners. In 1994, Fleming Companies bought Gateway and Rainbow for over a billion dollars. Sid kept running Rainbow. Some deals didn’t work out, like when Albertsons almost bought Rainbow in 2000 but backed out. Sid stayed focused. He gave local people jobs with good pay and fair hours.
By the 1990s, Rainbow served thousands of people every day. Sid walked through stores, talking to workers. He even knew their kids’ names. In 1996, he stopped being president but kept working. In 1997, he bought four Holiday Foods stores in Bloomington, Fridley, Plymouth, and Burnsville. He ran them for 18 months, then sold them to Supervalu, who made them Cub stores.
Rainbow changed hands again—Roundy’s in 2003, Supervalu in 2007, and later United Natural Foods. New stores like Aldi and Hy-Vee took customers. By 2014, Roundy’s sold 18 stores to Lunds, Byerlys, and Supervalu. The last Rainbow stores closed in 2015. But at its best, Rainbow showed what Sid could do. He built a chain that fed families for years.
Other Businesses: Liquor Stores and More
Sid didn’t just focus on groceries. In 1978, he started liquor stores with his kids, Nancy, Jay, and Ellen. They called them Big Top Liquors and Sid’s Discount Liquors. The stores were friendly, with good wines and beers at fair prices. Sid and his kids made it fun, not fancy.
These stores fit Sid’s style—good deals and kind service. He worked there even at 92. One time, police stopped him at 4 a.m. He told them, “I need to open the store!” That was Sid—always working.
Sid also helped his community. He was on boards for United Hospital, the University of Minnesota Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Highland Bank, and others. He gave money and time. He taught young store owners, saying, “Listen to your customers.” His work went beyond shops.
Family and Personal Life
Family was everything to Sid. Lorraine, his wife, was his best friend. They raised Nancy, Jay, and Ellen together. They had eight grandkids and five great-grandkids. Holidays were big, with lots of food and laughs. Sid made sure his workers had Thanksgiving meals if they couldn’t afford them. He said, “No one goes hungry.”
Sid was proud to be Jewish. He went to Adath Jeshurun Congregation and gave to Jewish Family and Children’s Service. He and Lorraine started a fund to help people quietly. Sid loved simple things—walks in Minnetonka, reading the newspaper, and talking business with Jay. Lorraine died in 2016, just before Sid. Their love lasted almost 70 years and stayed strong.
Final Years and Passing
Sid never stopped working. He went to the office early, even at 92. He passed away on August 6, 2016, at his home in Minnetonka. He was 92 and at peace. His family was with him. His funeral at Adath Jeshurun brought grocers, friends, and neighbors together.
In 1997, the Minnesota Grocers Association called Sid “Grocer of the Century.” He deserved it. His son Jay said, “Dad helped everyone.” Sid even bought Thanksgiving meals for workers who needed help. That was his heart.
Sid’s Legacy: Helping People Forever
Sid’s work lives on. Rainbow Foods changed how people shop. Big, cheap stores are common now because of him. He grew one fruit stand into 40 stores. He gave jobs to hundreds and trained new leaders. The Twin Cities grocery world owes him a lot.
His family keeps going. His kids and grandkids work in business. The Applebaum name means trust. In 2025, we still think of Sid—not just for stores but for kindness. He showed that kids of immigrants can do big things with hard work and care.
Sid’s funds help families. Hospitals he supported save lives. Young store owners still say, “Sid told me to keep it real.” His legacy is about people, not just money.
The SNL Joke: A Funny Moment
Sid’s name became famous in a funny way. In 2012, Saturday Night Live (SNL) did a skit. A character named Stefon, played by Bill Hader, talked about a Halloween club. He said it had a “Jewish Dracula” named Sidney Applebaum. The crowd laughed hard. Hader couldn’t stop laughing either.
The joke came from a 1975 movie, Love and Death by Woody Allen. In it, a French general says, “History will remember me… Sidney Applebaum!” The name sounds plain, not fancy, so it’s funny. Writer John Mulaney added it to the SNL skit at the last minute. Hader didn’t expect it, which made it even funnier.
Some thought the joke was mean, but Sid’s family laughed. It was just silly fun. The joke made Sid’s name known. In 2013, people searched “Sidney Applebaum SNL” online and found his real story. It connected his Jewish roots and grocer life. Sid would have laughed too—he loved a good joke.
Why Sid Matters Today
Sidney Applebaum was more than a store owner. He built stores, families, and trust. From a fruit cart to big warehouses, his story inspires. Work hard. Be kind. Help others. In 2025, that’s still important.
His life teaches us to start small and dream big. Keep family first. Even a TV joke added fun to his story. Sid lived a full life. He left a rainbow—bright and strong.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not advice, promotion, or an ad. We do not sell anything, and there are no affiliate links. All details come from public sources that we believe are correct at the time of writing. We do not claim every fact is perfect, and readers should check other sources if needed.
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Nelson Nash is an accomplished biography content writer with over five years of experience crafting compelling and authentic narratives. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Nelson specializes in bringing the lives and achievements of individuals to life through vivid, well-researched prose. His work spans diverse genres, capturing the essence of each subject with clarity and depth. Nelson’s dedication to his craft ensures every biography resonates with readers, making their stories both memorable and inspiring.