Skip to product information
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Bring a reminder of Pacific Northwest home center history to your space with this Pay 'n Pak Metal Sign. Founded by Stan Thurman in 1962, the Kent-based chain became a major Western retailer, reaching 112 stores by 1987. Its original Pay 'n Pak Mall stood out for organizing electrical, plumbing, and lumber departments as separate stores, with a coffee shop as part of the mix. A conversation piece for former shoppers and collectors of regional retail stories.
Pay 'n Pak was a home improvement chain based in Kent, Washington. Stan Thurman, an electrical and plumbing supply retailer from Longview, Washington, established the business in 1962. In 1969, Pay 'n Pak merged with Eagle Electric & Plumbing, a company led by Thurman's protégé David Heerensperger, and went public. Thurman was voted out that year, and Heerensperger became chairman, serving until 1989. The chain's original Kent flagship, Pay 'n Pak Mall, arranged its hardware departments as separate electrical, plumbing, and lumber stores and included a coffee shop. A larger store was built beside the mall by the 1980s, and the mall was sold. In 1987, the company faced a hostile corporate raid attempt; in 1988, it went private for $226 million. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991 and liquidated its remaining stores in 1992. Thurman Industries bought four former locations in Butte and Billings, Montana, and Moses Lake and Wenatchee, Washington, operating them as Thurman Pay 'N Pak home centers. Ernst took over the Kent store and distribution center. Thurman Industries liquidated and closed its four stores in March 2003. Heerensperger left in 1989 to form Eagle Hardware & Garden.
Pay 'n Pak Metal Sign
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
Bring a reminder of Pacific Northwest home center history to your space with this Pay 'n Pak Metal Sign. Founded by Stan Thurman in 1962, the Kent-based chain became a major Western retailer, reaching 112 stores by 1987. Its original Pay 'n Pak Mall stood out for organizing electrical, plumbing, and lumber departments as separate stores, with a coffee shop as part of the mix. A conversation piece for former shoppers and collectors of regional retail stories.
Pay 'n Pak was a home improvement chain based in Kent, Washington. Stan Thurman, an electrical and plumbing supply retailer from Longview, Washington, established the business in 1962. In 1969, Pay 'n Pak merged with Eagle Electric & Plumbing, a company led by Thurman's protégé David Heerensperger, and went public. Thurman was voted out that year, and Heerensperger became chairman, serving until 1989. The chain's original Kent flagship, Pay 'n Pak Mall, arranged its hardware departments as separate electrical, plumbing, and lumber stores and included a coffee shop. A larger store was built beside the mall by the 1980s, and the mall was sold. In 1987, the company faced a hostile corporate raid attempt; in 1988, it went private for $226 million. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991 and liquidated its remaining stores in 1992. Thurman Industries bought four former locations in Butte and Billings, Montana, and Moses Lake and Wenatchee, Washington, operating them as Thurman Pay 'N Pak home centers. Ernst took over the Kent store and distribution center. Thurman Industries liquidated and closed its four stores in March 2003. Heerensperger left in 1989 to form Eagle Hardware & Garden.
| 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.