As I understand it, Randall's was owned by the Randall family of Houston, and Tom Thumb was owned by the Cullums of Dallas. The two families were friends, and when the Randall's last family member who wanted to stay in that business died, they sold the stores to the Cullums. (Or maybe the other way 'round, my chronology is fuzzy). Then a few years later Tom Thumb was sold to Safeway, and it deteriorated rapidly.
Pretty sure I read a year or two ago that Albertsons, (neƩ Skaggs Albertsons) Kroger, and Tom Thumb were merging, or being bought together by a bigger corporation.
And read yesterday that Warren Buffet was selling nearly a billion dollars of Walmart shares, because...Amazon. With Amazon's Fresh grocery, will brick and board groceries disappear, I wonder...or maybe return to their produce wagon origins origins?