Zody's
Encyclopedia
Zodys was a chain of discount retail stores
that operated in the United States
from 1960 to 1986. The chain operated locations in California
, Arizona
, Nevada
, New Mexico
, and Michigan
.
The first store in this Southern California-based discount chain opened June 13, 1960, in Garden Grove, California. By 1969, there were nineteen stores. In 1972, the Hartfield-Zodys parent company acquired the Yankee Discount Stores chain of Flint, Michigan
, briefly re-branding the stores as Yankee-Zodys, and later as Zodys. The Michigan stores proved unprofitable, and were sold off in 1974 when Hartfield-Zodys filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A brief period of prosperity brought expansions into Arizona
, Nevada
and New Mexico
. In 1979, there were thirty-seven stores.
Bankrupt again by the early 1980s, the parent company, now known as HRT Industries, began closing stores in 1984. The remaining Zodys stores in California were shuttered in March 1986, with many locations being sold Federated Stores, the parent company of the Ralphs
, a supermarket chain.
Discount store
A discount store is a type of department store, which sells products at prices lower than those asked by traditional retail outlets. Most discount department stores offer a wide assortment of goods; others specialize in such merchandise as jewelry, electronic equipment, or electrical appliances...
that operated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1960 to 1986. The chain operated locations in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
The first store in this Southern California-based discount chain opened June 13, 1960, in Garden Grove, California. By 1969, there were nineteen stores. In 1972, the Hartfield-Zodys parent company acquired the Yankee Discount Stores chain of Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, briefly re-branding the stores as Yankee-Zodys, and later as Zodys. The Michigan stores proved unprofitable, and were sold off in 1974 when Hartfield-Zodys filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A brief period of prosperity brought expansions into Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. In 1979, there were thirty-seven stores.
Bankrupt again by the early 1980s, the parent company, now known as HRT Industries, began closing stores in 1984. The remaining Zodys stores in California were shuttered in March 1986, with many locations being sold Federated Stores, the parent company of the Ralphs
Ralphs
Ralphs is a major supermarket chain in the Southern California area and the largest subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger. It is the oldest such chain west of the Mississippi River. Ralphs also operates stores under the Food 4 Less and Foods Co. names in California.-History:Ralphs Grocery Company...
, a supermarket chain.
External links
- L.A. things that aren't around anymore
- Article discussing replacements for Zody's and Gemco
- May 14, 1984
- Article regarding closing of Zody's stores March 17, 1986
- http://www.mrsmolin.com/lecturenotes.phpThe Girl From Zody's, from The Miranda Complex by Barry SmolinBarry SmolinBarry Smolin is an American radio host, teacher, composer, and writer.He is best known as the longtime host of The Music Never Stops, a psychedelic radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles, California for which Smolin won the first ever Jammy Award for "Best Radio Show" in 2000...
]