Pamida Ceramic Ornament
Round / One size
$15.99
Sale price
$15.99
Regular price
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GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Celebrate a remembered hometown retailer with a Pamida ceramic ornament. Pamida began in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1963 and grew into a familiar department-store presence across Midwestern and West Central communities. Its journey from the Gibson's franchise period to Pamida-branded stores, Shopko ownership, and Shopko Hometown locations makes it a meaningful name for regional retail collectors. Hang it during the holidays or display it year-round as a small tribute to everyday shopping memories.
Pamida was a Midwestern and West Central U.S. department-store chain founded by D.J. Witherspoon and Lee Wegener in 1963. Its roots reached back to a rack jobber business started by Jim Witherspoon in 1938, which became known as NuWay Drug Service by 1948. After Witherspoon acquired a distribution business in 1962, Wegener joined the company and Pamida Inc. was formed as a holding company for Witherspoon's businesses. The first discount outlet opened in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1963, followed by Oskaloosa, Iowa. Early growth included Gibson's Discount Center franchises, and Pamida became Gibson's largest franchisee with 74 stores. By the late 1970s, it withdrew from the franchise and concentrated on larger Pamida-branded stores in established markets. Employees bought the company in 1981; a Citicorp unit gained controlling interest in 1986. Shopko bought Pamida in 1999, separated it in 2007, and merged it back in 2012. Most stores became Shopko Hometown locations, which closed in 2019 during Shopko's bankruptcy and liquidation.
Pamida Ceramic Ornament
$15.99
Sale price
$15.99
Regular price
Celebrate a remembered hometown retailer with a Pamida ceramic ornament. Pamida began in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1963 and grew into a familiar department-store presence across Midwestern and West Central communities. Its journey from the Gibson's franchise period to Pamida-branded stores, Shopko ownership, and Shopko Hometown locations makes it a meaningful name for regional retail collectors. Hang it during the holidays or display it year-round as a small tribute to everyday shopping memories.
Pamida was a Midwestern and West Central U.S. department-store chain founded by D.J. Witherspoon and Lee Wegener in 1963. Its roots reached back to a rack jobber business started by Jim Witherspoon in 1938, which became known as NuWay Drug Service by 1948. After Witherspoon acquired a distribution business in 1962, Wegener joined the company and Pamida Inc. was formed as a holding company for Witherspoon's businesses. The first discount outlet opened in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1963, followed by Oskaloosa, Iowa. Early growth included Gibson's Discount Center franchises, and Pamida became Gibson's largest franchisee with 74 stores. By the late 1970s, it withdrew from the franchise and concentrated on larger Pamida-branded stores in established markets. Employees bought the company in 1981; a Citicorp unit gained controlling interest in 1986. Shopko bought Pamida in 1999, separated it in 2007, and merged it back in 2012. Most stores became Shopko Hometown locations, which closed in 2019 during Shopko's bankruptcy and liquidation.
| Heart | Round | |
| Diameter, in | 3.21 | 2.80 |
Product features
- 100% white ceramic construction — strong and durable
- Double-sided print with matte finish option
- Golden hanging string included
- UV-decorated for lasting color
- Available in white or gold gift packaging (single ornament per pack)
Care instructions
- Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt build-up. Avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners. Instead, dampen a cotton wool swab in warm water (just a few drops per liter of water) and gently roll the swab over the ornament and refrain from scrubbing
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt build-up. Avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners. Instead, dampen a cotton wool swab in warm water (just a few drops per liter of water) and gently roll the swab over the ornament and refrain from scrubbing