Valu-Mart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Valu-Mart (Leslie's) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Discount store |
| Founded | Started in 1955 as a division of Weisfield's Jewelers. Name was changed to Leslie's in 1974 |
| Headquarters | Originally headquartered in Seattle (Georgetown), Washington. Relocated to Burien, Washington in 1972 with store locations in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington. Distribution center was located in Kent, Washington |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | clothing, footwear, housewares, sporting goods, hardware, toys, electronics, drugs, groceries |
| Website | None |
Valu-Mart was a chain of discount stores founded in Seattle in the 1950s. Its parent company was Weisfield's Jewelers.
Started as membership stores (similar to Costco) this requirement would disappear by the mid 60s as the stores would try to switch from a no frills warehouse look to a full service and more upscale look.
The original stores were built in Seattle (Georgetown), Tacoma (off 35th St.), and Spokane. The Georgetown location served as the flagship store for the chain until 1972 when the chain acquired a former White Front store in Burien and relocated their offices to the new site and shut down the Seattle location.
During the 1960s, stores were built in Kent (Midway), North Seattle (Greenwood), Everett, Yakima, Anchorage, as well as five stores in Oregon. Their distribution center was located in Kent.[1]
In 1974 the company decided to change the name of the company to Leslie's. It was a terrible marketing move and the inflation woes at the time didn't do the company any favors. By 1976 the chain was acquired by Portland based Fred Meyer and the stores were added to their chain.
The stores were a full service discount store. Valu-Mart had separate grocery sections within most stores that featured grocery pickup by placing the bags onto a conveyor allowing the customer to drive up to the front of the store to pick them up. Grocery sections were no longer managed by the stores in 1972. Instead they leased the area to other grocers to run. Most were acquired by AG (Associated Grocer) Member stores. Stores also contained automotive repair sections which served as Good Year Tire Stores as well.
The stores were a direct competitor to another Seattle based membership chain founded by Joe Diamond called Gov-Mart/Baza'r.
The company even sponsored a hydroplane in the early 70s that was known for having a unique hull design for it's days. The hydroplane would later carry the Weisfield's name in 1975.
Most former Valu-Mart stores are still standing today although most buildings have been extensively remodeled. Greenwood and Burien stores are still operating as Fred Meyer stores. The Burien location was extensively remodeled a few years ago to shed the original White Front design of the store including the trademark concrete arch which Valu-Mart covered up with a modern vinyl siding awning after they acquired the store. The original Midway store was torn down and is being rebuilt at this time. The new store should be done by late 2007 as a Fred Meyer. The Greenwood store still looks the same today while the Everett location served as a plant for Fluke Electronics. Built in the same design as the original Midway store in the mid 60s it could have been demolished since the building has been vacant for quite some time. The original Tacoma store is used by Pierce County as their annex offices for county services while the second store they acquired after White Front left the Seattle market is used by Michael's at this time (formerly a Jafco and Best store before that). The Georgetown location operated as Gamble's outlet store during the mid 70s but became vacant for sometime until Treasure House took over the site in the 1980's to make it a flagship store for their crafts business. Micheal's craft store acquired the company and used the site for sometime until it was converted into office space.
