White Front Ceramic Ornament
Round / One size
$15.99
Sale price
$15.99
Regular price
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GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Remember White Front’s story with an ornament inspired by a distinctive chapter in western retail. From its 1929 beginnings as a small Los Angeles grocery, the company grew into a chain spanning California, Washington, and Oregon. Its stores changed over time, from groceries and appliances to a wider discount selection, before the remaining locations closed in 1974. This keepsake honors the chain’s regional reach and enduring place in local memories, making it meaningful for retail-history collectors and former shoppers.
White Front began in 1929 as Harry Blackman’s small White Front Market on South Central Avenue in Florence, Los Angeles. Starting with groceries, the business added radios and household appliances, then opened a major-appliance shop after Blackman returned from military service following World War II. By 1954 it was known as White Front Stores, with a broader range of goods. A second store opened in Van Nuys in 1957. Interstate Department Stores acquired the two-store chain in April 1959 and financed rapid expansion across California. White Front later opened stores in Washington, beginning in Seattle in 1967, and in Portland, Oregon, in 1970. At its mid-1972 peak, the chain had 37 stores in three states. Interstate announced in December 1972 that 21 stores would close; the remaining discount stores and appliance centers closed after Interstate sought Chapter 11 reorganization in May 1974. Former locations passed to a range of retailers, including Valu-Mart/Leslie’s, J.C. Penney’s The Treasury, Gold Circle, and Mervyn’s. Some independent pharmacies retained the White Front name, but were unrelated to the former chain.
White Front Ceramic Ornament
$15.99
Sale price
$15.99
Regular price
Remember White Front’s story with an ornament inspired by a distinctive chapter in western retail. From its 1929 beginnings as a small Los Angeles grocery, the company grew into a chain spanning California, Washington, and Oregon. Its stores changed over time, from groceries and appliances to a wider discount selection, before the remaining locations closed in 1974. This keepsake honors the chain’s regional reach and enduring place in local memories, making it meaningful for retail-history collectors and former shoppers.
White Front began in 1929 as Harry Blackman’s small White Front Market on South Central Avenue in Florence, Los Angeles. Starting with groceries, the business added radios and household appliances, then opened a major-appliance shop after Blackman returned from military service following World War II. By 1954 it was known as White Front Stores, with a broader range of goods. A second store opened in Van Nuys in 1957. Interstate Department Stores acquired the two-store chain in April 1959 and financed rapid expansion across California. White Front later opened stores in Washington, beginning in Seattle in 1967, and in Portland, Oregon, in 1970. At its mid-1972 peak, the chain had 37 stores in three states. Interstate announced in December 1972 that 21 stores would close; the remaining discount stores and appliance centers closed after Interstate sought Chapter 11 reorganization in May 1974. Former locations passed to a range of retailers, including Valu-Mart/Leslie’s, J.C. Penney’s The Treasury, Gold Circle, and Mervyn’s. Some independent pharmacies retained the White Front name, but were unrelated to the former chain.
| 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