Club Wholesale

Super S · Post by **Super S** » 18 Aug 2007 11:32

In the mid-80s, my Mother worked at a store called Club Wholesale in Boise, Idaho. The store was a lot like a Costco in the merchandise it sold, and as the name implied, required a membership like Costco. It was owned, I believe, by Elixir Industies, and was a chain headquartered in California. I was wondering how big this chain was, in both the number of stores as well as the areas they operated. This chain folded in the late 80s-early 90s, and the West Boise (Meridian?) store is the only full-scale warehouse I remember in the Boise area. However, around the time I left the area in 1988, they opened a couple of membership "specialty" stores, which I remember were either office supplies, or furniture. One was at a former Buttrey store on 16th, which currently houses TV station KBCI, and the other was located near the Fairview Ave. Shopko store.

Any information about the history of this chain is greatly appreciated.

submariner · Post by **submariner** » 18 Aug 2007 11:40

Looks like they operated 13 stores as of this March 1988 article, one as far south as ontario, CA:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... ai_6524239

...And a September 1990 article about the conversion to an office supply store format:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... ai_8870564

Sadly, it looks like they were driven out of the market first by Costco and Price Club, then later by Office Club (which was later purchased by Office Depot) and other office superstore chains.

lvkewlkid · Post by **lvkewlkid** » 18 Aug 2007 18:06

Does anyone know where the location in Vegas was?

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » 18 Aug 2007 20:13

Ontario off the freeway....hmm I cant remember where.

VibeGuy · Post by **VibeGuy** » 23 Aug 2007 03:10

It seems like the Salem location for sure, and the Eugene location (probably) ended up as PACE warehouses at one point.

E

Dean · Post by **Dean** » 23 Aug 2007 12:08

This thread had me thinking of all the other CLUBS that have come and gone.

Found the following breakdown:

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warehouse_club

It doesn't mention that PACE had been owned by K-Mart.

Funny how some of the sites have been a number of CLUBS.

For example, the current SAM'S in the City of Industry CA opened as PRICE SAVERS. It then became PACE. Then SAM'S.