very soon after opening the first king kullen, customers came from 100 miles away to shop there. the first store was ten times larger than the atlantic & pacific tea company stores in the market. the second store was opened a few miles away from the first store, on jamaica avenue in bellaire, queens. within two years of opening, the company operated eight stores. the early stores were 5200 to 6400 square feet big. within 6 years of opening, king kullen had 15 locations. by 1952, king kullen had 30 stores, ranging in size from 10,000 to 15,000 square feet.