Dart Drug
Encyclopedia
Dart Drug is a now-defunct chain of discount drug stores in the metropolitan Washington, DC region. It was founded in 1955, by Herbert Haft
and his wife Gloria in Adams Morgan
. The chain expanded to over 100 stores, and became a vehicle (as Dart Group) by which Herbert Haft engaged in greenmail
activities against other public companies. It spun off Trak Auto and Crown Books
. Dart Drug was sold to a management group in 1984, bought by Bud Fantle in 1987 and renamed Fantle's, entered bankruptcy in 1989, and was eventually dissolved in 1990. The leases for Fantle's stores were acquired by competitors.
Dart Group remained a viable company that was involved in a vicious family feud (see Herbert Haft
for details).
The store's logo depicted a dartboard-like circular pattern. While the monochromatic pricetag seen at right features a symbol nearly identical to that of the Target Corporation
department store chain, actual Dart store signage featured a multicolored bullseye
design with a triangular "dart" overlaid upon it.
Herbert Haft
Herbert H. Haft was a Washington, D.C. based businessman who was famous first for the development of discount stores in the drug store, bookstore, and auto part businesses, and later as a corporate raider...
and his wife Gloria in Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is a culturally diverse neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., centered at the intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road. Adams Morgan is considered the center of Washington's Hispanic immigrant community, and is a major night life area with many bars and restaurants,...
. The chain expanded to over 100 stores, and became a vehicle (as Dart Group) by which Herbert Haft engaged in greenmail
Greenmail
Greenmail or greenmailing is the practice of purchasing enough shares in a firm to threaten a takeover and thereby forcing the target firm to buy those shares back at a premium in order to suspend the takeover....
activities against other public companies. It spun off Trak Auto and Crown Books
Crown Books
Crown Books Corporation was a bookseller headquartered in Lake Arbor, an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, near Largo and Upper Marlboro. It was founded in the Washington, D.C., metro area by Robert Haft in 1977...
. Dart Drug was sold to a management group in 1984, bought by Bud Fantle in 1987 and renamed Fantle's, entered bankruptcy in 1989, and was eventually dissolved in 1990. The leases for Fantle's stores were acquired by competitors.
Dart Group remained a viable company that was involved in a vicious family feud (see Herbert Haft
Herbert Haft
Herbert H. Haft was a Washington, D.C. based businessman who was famous first for the development of discount stores in the drug store, bookstore, and auto part businesses, and later as a corporate raider...
for details).
The store's logo depicted a dartboard-like circular pattern. While the monochromatic pricetag seen at right features a symbol nearly identical to that of the Target Corporation
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
department store chain, actual Dart store signage featured a multicolored bullseye
Bullseye (target)
The bullseye, or bull's-eye, is the centre of a target , and by extension the name given to any shot that hits the bullseye...
design with a triangular "dart" overlaid upon it.