In his self-service store patent, William McCarty, founder of Jitney Jungle grocery chain, explained that the shelving in the store was low and the front desk was arranged “so that the attendant at the desk serves also as a watchman or detective without being considered as such by the customers.” US Patent 1,348,024. July 27, 1920.

The photograph of Biel’s Self-Service grocery store in Corpus Christi, Texas shows a more visible design for surveillance. The store manager had an expansive view of the store interior from his upstairs office.