Valu-Mart (Leslie's) Ceramic Ornament
Round / One size
$15.99
Product Details & Size Guide
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Remember a distinctive chapter of Pacific Northwest retail with an ornament inspired by Valu-Mart and its related brand names. The chain began in Seattle in 1958, while Oregon stores carried the Villa-Mart name; in 1974, Valu-Mart became Leslie's as the company sought a fuller department-store identity. Its history reflects changing shopping habits, regional competition, and familiar sites that took on new uses. This ornament makes a thoughtful seasonal keepsake for former shoppers, local history enthusiasts, and brand collectors.
Valu-Mart began in Seattle in 1958 as a discount-store chain owned by Weisfield's Jewelers, which then shifted its focus to jewelry. Stores also operated in Oregon under the Villa-Mart name, beginning in Portland in the early 1960s and expanding to Eugene, Beaverton, Milwaukie, and Salem. Membership requirements ended in 1965 as the chain moved toward a fuller-service department-store format. By the early 1970s it had 21 locations across Washington and Oregon, with additional stores in Anchorage, Reno, and Great Falls. In 1973, Weisfield's sold its five Oregon stores to Fred Meyer and acquired former White Front locations in Tacoma, Burien, and Bellevue. The following year, Valu-Mart was renamed Leslie's, after Weisfield's president Leslie Rosenburg, in an effort to compete with larger retailers and nearby malls. The new upscale direction struggled amid the mid-1970s economic climate and Fred Meyer's expansion. Weisfield's began selling the remaining stores; by 1976, Fred Meyer had leased most of them. The company retained ownership of many properties until their sale to Kroger in the early 21st century.
Remember a distinctive chapter of Pacific Northwest retail with an ornament inspired by Valu-Mart and its related brand names. The chain began in Seattle in 1958, while Oregon stores carried the Villa-Mart name; in 1974, Valu-Mart became Leslie's as the company sought a fuller department-store identity. Its history reflects changing shopping habits, regional competition, and familiar sites that took on new uses. This ornament makes a thoughtful seasonal keepsake for former shoppers, local history enthusiasts, and brand collectors.
Valu-Mart began in Seattle in 1958 as a discount-store chain owned by Weisfield's Jewelers, which then shifted its focus to jewelry. Stores also operated in Oregon under the Villa-Mart name, beginning in Portland in the early 1960s and expanding to Eugene, Beaverton, Milwaukie, and Salem. Membership requirements ended in 1965 as the chain moved toward a fuller-service department-store format. By the early 1970s it had 21 locations across Washington and Oregon, with additional stores in Anchorage, Reno, and Great Falls. In 1973, Weisfield's sold its five Oregon stores to Fred Meyer and acquired former White Front locations in Tacoma, Burien, and Bellevue. The following year, Valu-Mart was renamed Leslie's, after Weisfield's president Leslie Rosenburg, in an effort to compete with larger retailers and nearby malls. The new upscale direction struggled amid the mid-1970s economic climate and Fred Meyer's expansion. Weisfield's began selling the remaining stores; by 1976, Fred Meyer had leased most of them. The company retained ownership of many properties until their sale to Kroger in the early 21st century.
| 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, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
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