Pay 'n Pak

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Pay 'n Pak is a defunct home improvement chain that was based out of Kent, Washington. Pay 'n Pak began in 1962 and was founded by Stan Thurman, an electric and plumbing supply retailer from Longview, Washington. In 1969 Pay 'n Pak merged with Eagle Electric & Plumbing, a company run by Thurman protege David Heerensperger. Shortly thereafter, Stan Thurman was voted out and David Heerensperger became the chairman of the company until 1989 when he left to form Eagle Hardware & Garden. At the time of a hostile corporate raid attempt in 1987, Pay 'n Pak had 112 stores in the Western United States.

After bankruptcy in 1991, Thurman Industries Bought four Pay 'n Pak stores; those located in Butte, Montana, Billings, Montana, Moses Lake, Washington, and Wenatchee, Washington. They were operated as Thurman Pay 'N Pak home centers until March 2003 when Thurman Industries liquidated the stores and closed them down.

Pay 'n Pak was also a sponsor of an unlimited hydroplane racing team from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and won the points championship from 1973-1975. Legendary hydroplane racer Bill Muncey raced the boat during part of that time.

[edit] History

1962 Stan Thurman establishes Pay 'n Pak
1969 Pay 'n Pak merges with Eagle Electric & Plumbing and goes public
1969 Stan Thurman voted out and David Heerensperger voted in as chairman
1988 Pay 'n Pak goes private for $226 million after a corporate raid attempt
1989 David Heerensperger leaves as chairman
1991 Pay 'n Pak files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
1992 Pay 'n Pak liquidates its remaining stores and four of the former Pay 'n Pak stores were bought by Thurman Industries and operated under the name Thurman Pay 'n Pak
2003 Thurman Industries liquidates and closes the remaining four Thurman Pay 'n Paks