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When you look at a map of Pamida locations, it’s easy to forget that Pamida started with just one store and one idea – to bring a greater selection of brands and products to small towns that people might otherwise have to drive a long ways to get, or go without. To meet these needs, Pamida has continued to grow, expanding our selection and our locations to better serve the needs of these communities.
Over the years, technology has changed the way people are able to live. But, it hasn’t changed where they choose to live – in the same hometowns their families have lived for generations. And as long as you do, you can continue to count on Pamida to be there for you.
| 1948 | Jim Witherspoon and Lee Wegener begin operating a “service merchandiser” business to provide supermarkets across a five-state area with softlines that include health and beauty aids, housewares, records and tapes, along with some clothing, footwear, jewelry, linens and towels. |
| 1963 | They open their first retail store in Knoxville, Iowa, as part of the Gibson Products Company. This store is so successful, a second location is opened in nearby Oskaloosa just two weeks later. |
| 1963-1970s | Rapid growth pattern continues as the popularity of this concept allows Witherspoon and Wegener to expand into small towns throughout the Midwest and West Central United States. |
| Late 1970s | As the decade comes to a close, so does the relationship with Gibson and the Pamida name begins to appear on stores. The name represents the first two letters of the first names of Witherspoon’s three sons – Pat, Mike and David. At this time, the company also operates its own Pharmacy division in addition to its expanding selection of hardware, housewares, automotive, electronics, sporting goods, health and beauty aids, toys, softlines and seasonal merchandise. |
| 1981 | After more than 30 years, Witherspoon and Wegener sell the company to the Pamida employee teammates through an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). |
| 1986 | CitiCorp Capital Investors, Ltd. acquires a principal financial interest in Pamida. |
| Late 1980s | Pamida modernizes the merchandising layout of its stores, converting them to a racetrack prototype with a special emphasis on apparel categories. Point of Sale (POS) technology is also installed into all Pamida stores. |
| 1990 | Pamida becomes a publicly traded company on the American Stock Exchange. |
| 1999 | ShopKo Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., purchases Pamida, operating the company as a separate division. |
| 2005 | ShopKo is purchased by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm. Pamida is separated from the ShopKo umbrella and reestablishes its corporate headquarters in Omaha, Neb. For more information, connect with Sun Capital Partners on LinkedIn. |
| 2007 | Pamida launches an aggressive growth plan, opening nine new stores, relocating three stores relocations and purchasing numerous pharmacies. |
| 2010 | To create greater value to customers, Pamida introduces several new savings programs including Super Savers, Incredible Values and Everyday Low Prices. Also, two new stores are added. |
| 2011 | Pamida Gives Back raises more than $1 million to support charitable efforts area food banks, schools, youth, families, seniors and non-profit organizations in Pamida communities. |