People You Know: Remembering George Anast

In memory of a remarkable resident

and businessman who helped shape our community

George Anast

When you talk about the heart of old Granger, sooner or later, the name George Anast comes up — and always with a smile.

Born in Tripoli, Greece, George came to America in 1913 at the age of eight, joining his father Chris Anast who had come ahead to work with Utah Copper. Together, in 1917, the Anasts opened the Granger Market at 1989 West 3500 South — the first grocery store between the Jordan River and Magna, and the heart of a growing community.

In those early days, the Granger Market wasn’t just a store — it was a lifeline. George and his father sold groceries, gas, and coal, delivering supplies by horse and wagon along dirt roads. Their little store even had its own trunk line connecting to the old Orem Railroad, ensuring that the settlers of Granger could get what they needed to build their lives.

George Anast became a symbol of hard work, kindness, and quiet leadership.
His employees spoke of him not as a boss, but as family.
“He never bossed us around," said Muriel Losee, one of his longtime clerks.
"We worked together just like a big, happy family," echoed Ethel Lyre, another lifelong friend and employee.

Despite arriving in the Salt Lake Valley without knowing a word of English, George thrived. He attended Plymouth and Monroe schools before joining his father full-time in the family business. Over the decades, he watched Granger grow from a handful of houses to a thriving town.
“At one time, I knew everyone between the river and Magna by their first name,” he would say, his eyes twinkling with pride.

More than just a businessman, George was a community builder. He helped develop the Granger Park subdivision, encouraged new businesses along 3500 South, and quietly supported community projects behind the scenes. A charter member of the Granger Lions Club and an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church and AHEPA, George lived his belief that strong communities are built by giving back.

He and his wife, Lorraine Bawden of Granger, raised three children — Connie, Tessi, and Chris — each carrying forward his legacy of hard work and service.

George Anast passed away about forty years ago, but his influence is still deeply felt today.
The land he once farmed and the roads he helped line with businesses have blossomed into the vibrant city we now call home.
And in every memory shared — a kind word at the counter, a delivery made on a snowy day, a helping hand when it was most needed — George Anast’s spirit lives on.

Granger, and now West Valley City, is better because he was here.