Headquarters

Nordstrom Corporate Office

John W. Nordstrom was a Swedish emigrant who arrived in the United States in 1887. He struck gold while prospecting and used this money to open a shoe store, Wallin & Nordstrom with co-founder Carl F. Wallin in 1901.

When the company opened its second store in 1923 Nordstrom’s son, Elmer J. Nordstrom, was put in charge of it. Elmer’s brother Everett, joined the business in 1928 when he and Elmer bought the co-founders shares when they reached retirement. A third brother, Lloyd, joined the business in 1933. The three brothers ran the business together for 40 years.

In 1958 Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores.

In 1971 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ. The shares were changed to the NYSE in 1999.

From 1978 to 1995 Nordstrom opened 46 full-line department stores.

Today Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale fashion retailer that has 252 stores in 34 states, 52,000 employees, and had $8.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

Nordstrom, Inc.

In 1958 Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores.

History

In 1971 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ. The shares were changed to the NYSE in 1999.

From 1978 to 1995 Nordstrom opened 46 full-line department stores.

Today Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale fashion retailer that has 252 stores in 34 states, 52,000 employees, and had $8.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

The Pantry Corporate Office

The Pantry was founded in 1967 in North Carolina by Sam Wornom and Truby Proctor, Jr.

The company grew slowly but steadily throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, with the owners taking out loans on existing stores to buy new stores.

The company began to have problems in the 1980’s and Wornom sold his share in the company to Montrose Capital in 1987. Montrose later gained control of the company when it bought half of co-founder Proctor’s shares in 1990.

Proctor sold his remaining shares to Freeman Spogli & Co., a Los Angeles-based investment firm, in 1995.

In 1997 The Pantry bought Lil’ Champs, a 479-store chain, with stores in Florida and Georgia. This kicked off a buying spree for The Pantry, and it acquired 350 stores buy buying out small chains.

The company went public in 1999.

Today The Pantry is the largest independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States. The Pantry has 1,655 locations in 13 states.

The Pantry

The Pantry was founded in 1967 in North Carolina by Sam Wornom and Truby Proctor, Jr.

The company grew slowly but steadily throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, with the owners taking out loans on existing stores to buy new stores.

History

Proctor sold his remaining shares to Freeman Spogli & Co., a Los Angeles-based investment firm, in 1995.

In 1997 The Pantry bought Lil’ Champs, a 479-store chain, with stores in Florida and Georgia. This kicked off a buying spree for The Pantry, and it acquired 350 stores buy buying out small chains.

The company went public in 1999.

Today The Pantry is the largest independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States. The Pantry has 1,655 locations in 13 states.

Casey’s General Stores Corporate Office

Casey’s General Stores began in 1959 when Donald Lamberti leased a service station from his father in Des Moines, Iowa. After operating it for nine years, he purchased a service station in nearby Boone, Iowa and named it Casey’s after the friend that gave him the tip on the sale.

This location was a success, and Lamberti began to buy more stores in small towns of less than 5,000 people.

In 1970 Casey’s had 118 stores and opened its first warehouse.

In 1982 the company opened a distribution center, and in 1983 began publicly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: CASY

In 1996 Casey’s opened it’s one-thousandth store and exceeded $1 billion in sales.

In 2010 the company expanded to Oklahoma, in 2011 to Arkansas, in 2012 in Kentucky, and to North Dakota in 2013.

In January 2020, Casey’s announced plans to build about 350 new locations over the next three years.

The company also had the honor of ringing the bell to start off the offical trading on the NASDAQ.

In September 2023, the company hit record sales with its ready-to-cook pizza.

Today Casey’s General Store is a chain of 2,500 convenience stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Arkansas. Casey’s has 36,000 employees and had $9.35 billion in revenue in 2019.

Casey's General Store

This location was a success, and Lamberti began to buy more stores in small towns of less than 5,000 people.

History

In 1970 Casey’s had 118 stores and opened its first warehouse.

In 1982 the company opened a distribution center, and in 1983 began publicly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: CASY

In 1996 Casey’s opened it’s one-thousandth store and exceeded $1 billion in sales.

In 2010 the company expanded to Oklahoma, in 2011 to Arkansas, in 2012 in Kentucky, and to North Dakota in 2013.

In January 2020, Casey’s announced plans to build about 350 new locations over the next three years.

The company also had the honor of ringing the bell to start off the offical trading on the NASDAQ.

In September 2023, the company hit record sales with its ready-to-cook pizza.

A&P Corporate Office

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. was founded by George Gilman in 1850 as Gilman & Company as a leather tanning business. After Gilman’s father died he entered the coffee and tea business, turning the tanning business over to his brother.

Originally Gilman & Company was a wholesaler, but in 1863 the company entered retail, changing the name to the Great American Tea Company. By acting as both wholesaler and retailer, the company was able to offer low prices and quickly expanded.

In 1878 the company had 70 stores, in 1915 1,600 stores, and in 1925 13,961 stores.

A&P suffered greatly during a backlash against chain stores during the Great Depression, but ultimately survived.

In the 1950’s A&P began a dramatic downward spiral, which began a 50-year fall from the world’s largest retailer to bankruptcy.

In 2000 the company was down to 500 stores. In 2010 with its stock trading at less than $1, A&P filed for bankruptcy. The company emerged from bankruptcy a privately-held company with 300 stores.

Today A&P is a supermarket and liquor store chain. Its liquor stores operate under the name Best Cellars. Its supermarkets operate under the names A&P, Food Basics, The Food Emporium, PathMark, superfresh, and Waldbaums. A&P has 28,500 employees and had $6.7 billion in profit in 2012.

The company filed for bankruptcy in July of 2015 and closed all locations by November 2015, going out of business permanently.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.

In 1878 the company had 70 stores, in 1915 1,600 stores, and in 1925 13,961 stores.

History

A&P suffered greatly during a backlash against chain stores during the Great Depression, but ultimately survived.

In the 1950’s A&P began a dramatic downward spiral, which began a 50-year fall from the world’s largest retailer to bankruptcy.

In 2000 the company was down to 500 stores. In 2010 with its stock trading at less than $1, A&P filed for bankruptcy. The company emerged from bankruptcy a privately-held company with 300 stores.

The company filed for bankruptcy in July of 2015 and closed all locations by November 2015, going out of business permanently.

Advance Auto Parts Corporate Office

Advanced Auto Parts began when Arthur Taubman and one of his brothers began selling auto parts and household goods out of stores called Taubman’s. This business prospered until the Great Depression, when it was hit hard and eventually failed.

In 1932, Taubman bought a struggling three-store chain of auto parts stores called Advance Stores. He pawned his wife’s wedding ring for the down payment.

The federal government at that time was funding huge public works projects such as paving roads to give people jobs. This encouraged people to drive more and, along with the fact that people were holding on to their cars longer because of the poor economy, is reflected in the early success of Advance and other auto parts retailers.

After World War II Advance began to expand their product line to include batteries, tires, and seat covers at service bays that became part of the stores.

In 1978 the company changed its name from Advance Stores to Advance Auto and began to take steps to become a high-volume retailer.

In 1985 Advance Auto reached 100 stores.

In 1998 Advance acquired Western Auto from Sears, Roebuck & Co., therefore adding 598 stores to the company.

Today Advance Auto Parts is the largest automotive retailer in the United States with 4,912 stores, 68,000 employees, and $10.11 billion in revenue in 2020.

After experiencing customer retention problems in 2019, the company has returned to strong earnings in 2021.

The company maintains a corporate office in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Advance Auto Parts

In 1932, Taubman bought a struggling three-store chain of auto parts stores called Advance Stores. He pawned his wife’s wedding ring for the down payment.

History

After World War II Advance began to expand their product line to include batteries, tires, and seat covers at service bays that became part of the stores.

In 1978 the company changed its name from Advance Stores to Advance Auto and began to take steps to become a high-volume retailer.

In 1985 Advance Auto reached 100 stores.

In 1998 Advance acquired Western Auto from Sears, Roebuck & Co., therefore adding 598 stores to the company.

Today Advance Auto Parts is the largest automotive retailer in the United States with 4,912 stores, 68,000 employees, and $10.11 billion in revenue in 2020.

After experiencing customer retention problems in 2019, the company has returned to strong earnings in 2021.

The company maintains a corporate office in Raleigh, North Carolina.