The Efron Family

From Poland (& St Louis) to a wide range of Aiken businesses

Marital connections played an important role in how the Efron family came to Aiken.

The story begins when Morris Efron (1868-1918) marries Ida Surasky (1867-1949) in Poland in the early 1890s. Morris & Ida had three children in Poland (Jake, Max & Harry) before he left for America around 1897, settling in St Louis. Ida subsequently joined him to St Louis around 1900 and they had five additional children there (Isadore, Anna, Dena, Dora & Lillian).

After Morris died unexpectedly in 1918, Ida moved to Aiken to be closer to her Surasky brothers. Initially, the Surasky’s set Ida up in the grocery business on Laurens Street. And in time, many of her Efron children moved to Aiken where they ran a variety of businesses.

Jake Efron (1893-1968) came to Aiken in 1921 to help run his mother’s grocery business. He subsequently moved the business to Park Ave (where it operated until 1966) and named it the Efron Red/White Super Market. Several of Jake’s children were also involved as merchants in Aiken:

• Daughter Minnie Efron (1916-1982) married Sam Shanker (1912-1988) and they opened a second grocery business Sam’s Super Market on York St on the north side serving many African American customers. Sam’s Super Market operated from around 1942 to around 1956 and shared advertising and operations with the Efron Red/White Super Market.

• Daughter Mollie Efron (1912-1975) married Marvin Rifkin (1912-1990) and opened Marvin’s Esso Station and Drive-In Restaurant on York Street that operated in the 1950s

Isadore Efron (1903-1980) came to Aiken in the 1920s and opened a taxi business catering to Winter Colony visitors arriving by train. By 1930, I Efron Garage & Taxi Service had expanded into related businesses (car storage, car rental, auto service) and located the business in the property now occupied by the Carriage House Inn – where he ran a boarding house that also functioned as the family’s home.

One of the stories of this period is that he was asked to pick up a young George HW Bush who was sent by train to visit his mother’s family – the Walkers – in Barnwell. The business continued to operate until 1976 eventually succumbing to the decline in the Winter Colony and reduction and ultimate elimination of passenger train traffic.

Max Efron (1865-1938) came to Aiken in the late 1920s from Illinois and set up a trucking business. This business grew rapidly to become one of the largest such operation in the State of South Carolina with control of the business passing to his son Julius in the 1940s.

Harry Efron (1896-1999) came to Aiken in the 1920s where he ran a variety of businesses. He ran the Good Luck Bargain Store before opening the Sunset Hill service station which he sold in 1937. He then ran Efron Liquor store at the corner of Bee Lane & The Alley until 1947. And during this time, he also worked in Isadore’s taxi business.

Anna Efron (1905-1983) was a nurse at the Aiken County Hospital where she trained nurse’s aides, including holding classes for African American women. In the 1950s she opened Anna Efron Shop, a women’s clothing store on Lauren’s St in part of the location now occupied by Plum Pudding; this business operated in the 1950s. And, she also owned apartments on Laurens St (above the current locations of Cindy’s Sweet Shop & The Whitney) which she operated as rental properties.

Lillian Efron (1913-2005) moved to Aiken in the 1920s and married Sol Passink here in 1932. Sol ran a shoe repair business which operated until 1944

While no Efrons remain in Aiken today, the family continues to be interested in preserving this history. The Efron family was an important part of the Aiken commercial scene for over 50 years. Over time, these businesses faced pressure from changing competition (e.g. chain supermarkets) and the decline of the Winter Colony – but they provided a good life for the family and important services for the local Aiken economy.

Efron Family, circa 1911

Seated: Morris & Ida Surasky Efron with Sophia Surasky (Ida’s mother). Standing: Annie, Harry, Jake, Helen (Jake’s wife), Max and Isadore.

efron family grocery store ads

• Aiken Variety Store, Journal & Review, 5-10-1922

• Efron’s & Sam’s Markets, Aiken Standard & Review, 10-1-1956

• Efron’s Market, Aiken Standard, 8-13-1964

i Efron Garage & Taxi Ads

• I Efron Garage Ad, Aiken Journal & Review, 1-1-1930

• Railroad Schedule w/ I Efron Ad, courtesy of Aiken County Historical Society

• 1931 New Year Ad, courtesy of Adath Yeshurun archives

max efron trucking

• M Efron Trucking, Journal & Review, 8-21-1929

• Efron Trucking Expands, Aiken Standard & Review, 4-14-1939

anna efron — nurses aide classes

• 5 Additional Nurses Aides Capped, Aiken Standard & Review, 12-13-1944

• Class in Nursing for Negroes, Aiken Standard & Review, 5-22-1942

other efron business ads

• Marvins Esso Station & Dining Room (Marvin & Mollie Efron Rifkin), Aiken Standard & Review, 6-1-1949

• Sol’s Shoe Repair (Sol & Lillian Efron Passink), Aiken Standard & Review, 12-6-1944

• Sunset Service Station (Harry Efron), Aiken Standard & Review, 3-6-1936