Pamida Metal Sign
7" x 5" (Horizontal) / 0.12''
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
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Give your wall a dose of small-town retail history with this Pamida metal sign. The design celebrates a department-store chain that began with its first outlet in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1963 and grew into a recognizable name across the Midwest and West Central United States. It recalls the Gibson's franchise years, Pamida's independent store identity, and the later Shopko Hometown transition. A strong display piece for collectors, former employees, and fans of regional shopping history.
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 Metal Sign
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
Give your wall a dose of small-town retail history with this Pamida metal sign. The design celebrates a department-store chain that began with its first outlet in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1963 and grew into a recognizable name across the Midwest and West Central United States. It recalls the Gibson's franchise years, Pamida's independent store identity, and the later Shopko Hometown transition. A strong display piece for collectors, former employees, and fans of regional shopping history.
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.
| 7" x 5" (Horizontal) | |
| Width, in | 7.00 |
| Height, in | 5.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.12 |
Product features
- 100% white aluminum composite — strong, rigid, and lightweight
- Matte full-color print on one side for crisp, non-reflective finish
- Eleven sizes available; horizontal, vertical, and square orientations
- Includes one mounting block, metal plate, and double-sided tape; customer assembly required
- Indoor use only — durable for interior displays
Care instructions
- Use non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.
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 non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.