White Front Heavy Knit Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt
Wear a tribute to the growth of western retail with this White Front Heavy Knit Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt. White Front began in 1929 as a neighborhood grocery in Los Angeles, added household appliances after World War II, and developed into a department-store chain serving three states. Its mid-1972 peak of 37 stores and later closures mark a remarkable rise and fall that still draws collector interest. From South Central Avenue to stores in Washington and Oregon, this piece honors the places and history behind the White Front name.
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.
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | |
| Width, in | 18.50 | 20.00 | 21.50 | 23.00 | 25.00 | 27.00 | 29.50 | 32.50 |
| Length, in | 25.50 | 26.50 | 27.50 | 28.50 | 29.50 | 30.50 | 31.25 | 32.00 |
| Sleeve length (from center back), in | 33.75 | 34.50 | 35.50 | 36.00 | 36.75 | 37.50 | 38.25 | 39.00 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Product features
- 55% cotton / 42% polyester / 3% spandex midweight blend
- Odor-resistant performance fabric
- Silver metal quarter-zip with metal pull
- Self-banded cuffs and hem for structured fit
- Medium-heavy fabric (9.73 oz/yd²) with subtle stretch
Care instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Iron, team or dry: medium heat
- Do not dryclean
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Mercer+Mettle™ MM3040, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Iron, team or dry: medium heat, Do not dryclean