Date:  Thu, 12 May 1994 10:05:09 -0800

From:  Scott Schwenter <schwen[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSLI.STANFORD.EDU>

Subject: Re: genitive in names of businesses



>In central Illinois, when business have singular name there is a

>tendency to render the name in the genitive. Hence:

>Eagle Supermarket -------> Eagle's

>John Deere & Co. -------> Deere's

>

>It doesnt seem remarkable when the business ends in a name to bewgin

>with, e.g. Kroger---> Kroger's. But "Eagle's" -- wel, its not the

>eagle's business.

>

>ZIs this everywhere, or is a regionalism?

>

>Tim

Also, in Michigan, many people say 'Kmart's' or 'Walmart's'. But this seems

to be somewhat different since the person who owns the business isn't named

Kmart or Walmart (cf. Kroger).

Scott