Filming Location
Brooks and Red’s Grocery Store

Brooks and Red find employment at a local grocery store. This store is located in the United States, specifically in Mansfield, Ohio. For a deeper exploration of this filming location, readers are encouraged to use the map pin icon provided.

“Thirty years I’ve been asking permission to piss. I can’t squeeze a drop without say-so.”

Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding

Where were the Grocery Store scenes filmed?

After leaving prison, Brooks and Red worked at a grocery store, packing groceries for customers in paper bags. These scenes from the movie were shot at 359 W 4th St, Mansfield, Ohio, United States. Although the store has been renovated since the film’s release, huge paintings of Red can be found both inside and outside the store, commemorating the iconic moments filmed there.

More about Mansfield, Ohio

Mansfield, located between Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio, is a city rich in history and culture. Established in the foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, it’s recognized as “The Fun Center of Ohio” and the “Carousel Capital of Ohio.” The heart of the city, the Richland Carousel District, invites visitors with attractions and arts venues. Downtown Mansfield frequently hosts concert events at the Brickyard venue, attracting large audiences. Additionally, the city is home to the historic Renaissance Theatre, which annually hosts Broadway-style productions, concerts, and other arts events. For those keen on dance and music, downtown offers performances by NEOS Ballet Theatre, Richland Academy Dance Ensemble, and the Mid-Ohio Opera. A visit to Mansfield isn’t complete without appreciating its architectural past, with the notable Oak Hill Cottage standing as a testament to the city’s rich railroad history.

Scenes filmed at the grocery store in Mansfield, Ohio

Brooks’ Struggle at the Grocery Store
After being released from Shawshank, Brooks (James Whitmore) starts working at a grocery store. Though he tries, he struggles to keep up with the pace and demands of the job. In a particular scene, a woman complains to the store manager that Brooks didn’t double bag her groceries the last time, leading to the bag’s bottom nearly giving out. The manager reprimands Brooks, instructing him to “double bag like the lady says” in a stern tone. In his personal narration, Brooks admits his feeling that the store manager might not be fond of him.

Red’s Restroom Challenge
Upon his release, Red (Morgan Freeman) finds employment at the same grocery store where Brooks once worked. In stark contrast to his life in prison, Red faces difficulties in adjusting to his newfound freedom, particularly when it comes to taking restroom breaks. He habitually asks his boss for permission every time he feels the need to use the restroom. Eventually, his boss tells Red he doesn’t need to ask every time and should just go when he needs to. Red internally struggles with this newfound autonomy, revealing that for 13 years in prison, guards dictated when he could use the restroom, and now, he finds it challenging to decide on his own.