On August 12, 1948 Calvin D. Mayne and Frank Y. Sakada opened the original Dorothy Lane Market as a fruit stand on the corner of Dorothy Lane and Far Hills Avenue. The receipts for the first day of business totaled $35.00. Despite many hardships, hard work enabled the partners to expand their business and, in August of 1953, Dorothy Lane Market was moved to its present location at 2710 Far Hills Avenue. Major remodeling followed in 1958, 1968, 1978, and 1988. The second store at Washington Square was opened in 1991. In 2002, the third store opened at Settler's Walk in Springboro.

In 1958, Frank Sakada sold his interest in Dorothy Lane Market to Calvin Mayne, who continued to operate the store until his death in 1972.

Cal Mayne was probably the best known independent grocer in the United States -- maybe even the world. He traveled extensively in this country and abroad speaking to grocers and other retailers about his business philosophy and practices that made Dorothy Lane Market so successful. Mr. Mayne summed up his beliefs by saying, ``My methods are merely common sense and a deep concern for human beings. The secrets are how you price your goods, the productivity of your personnel and how you care for their welfare, tremendous emphasis on community service and, most important of all, unceasing attention to public goodwill.'' The sound business practices enabled Mr. Mayne to fight the big chains and win.

Ownership of Dorothy Lane Market remains in the Mayne family.

Dorothy Lane Market is recognized throughout the country as one of the leading independent grocery stores. Its reputation has attracted visiting grocers from around the country and from as far away as Europe, Japan, and Australia.