ABC Stores
{{Short description|Chain of convenience stores based in Honolulu}}
{{for multi|Alcoholic Beverage Control stores|Alcoholic beverage control state|other uses|ABC store (disambiguation){{!}}ABC store}}
{{infobox company
| name = ABC Stores
| logo = 200px
| services = Convenience store
| founded = 1964
| type = Private
| former_name = Mister K
| founder = Sidney Kosasa
| key_people = Paul Kosasa
{{small|(President & CEO)}}
| parent = MNS Ltd.
| subsid = {{ubl
|Island Gourmet Markets
|Island Country Markets
|Island Deli
|Honolua Store
|Dukes Lane Market & Eatery
}}
| hq_location_city = Honolulu, Hawaii
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| website = {{URL|https://abcstores.com/}}
}}
File:An abc stores in honolulu hawaii by eekim 2012.jpg
File:ABC Store Guam.jpg in 2009]]
ABC Stores is a chain of convenience stores based in Honolulu. The chain operates 73 stores, 58 of which are located in the state of Hawaii, with the remaining locations in the Mariana Islands (1), Las Vegas (6), and Guam (8).{{Cite web |title=Find an ABC Store Near You |url=https://abcstores.com/store-mapper/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=abcstores.com}} The company now generates more than $230 million in annual sales and employs over 1500 staff, and is described as the 37th largest company in Hawaii.{{cite news|url=http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/September-2017/ABC-Stores-Ventures-into-Upscale-Dining-with-Dukes-Lane-Market-and-Eatery/|title=ABC Stores Ventures into Upscale Dining with Dukes Lane Market & Eatery|work=Honolulu Magazine|date=September 26, 2017|author=Mari Taketa}}
Products
The stores sell convenience items such as groceries, as well as tourist items and souvenirs. The chain's best-selling items are tourist-oriented products such as Macadamia nuts, sunscreen and sunglasses. {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}
History
The chain was started by a Japanese-American, Sidney Kosasa, who opened his first store in Waikīkī in 1964. The stores were originally named "Mister K." Later, in order to make the store name easier to remember, the name of the stores were changed to "ABC Stores." The last Mister K was changed to ABC in 2009.
The son of a first generation Japanese immigrant, Sidney Kosasa (or rather ‘Mr. K’- known by his ABC Stores ‘Ohana’ or family) was born in Palolo Valley, Hawaii in December 1919. His first experiences in retail began while working in his parents’ grocery store in Palolo.
In 1949, Mr. and Mrs. K. opened their first pharmacy/convenience store in Kaimuki, Hawaii – known later as Thrifty Drugs. As business grew, his entrepreneurial and business philosophies resulted in the opening of four locations within 10 years. While attending a business convention in Miami Beach, Florida, Mr. K noticed all the tourists near the large hotels and had a vision to build a chain of resort stores in Hawaii. The first ABC Store was opened on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikīkī, Hawaii in 1964.
Mr. Kosasa passed away on November 17, 2006. His son Paul is the current CEO of ABC. {{Cite web |title=Sidney Kosasa|url=https://encyclopedia.densho.org/Sidney_Kosasa |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Densho Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}
Brands
ABC Stores
The company's namesake brand is also its largest sub-brand, having more than 58 locations across the Hawaiian Islands and beyond. These convenience store style shops carry local Hawaiian products like macadamia nuts, chocolates, and coffee as well as apparel, groceries, and all types of alcoholic products.
Island Gourmet Markets
Island Gourmet Markets is described by the company as a "lifestyle market and gift shop."{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.islandgourmethawaii.com/about-us/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=ABC Island |language=en-US}} These large format stores carries a more expanded assortment of grocery items including fresh produce and meats as well as the traditional products find in standard ABC Stores like apparel, gifts, and snacks. This brand currently has two locations - one in Waikoloa's Queens’ MarketPlace and the other in the Shops at Wailea on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Similar establishments are also operated by them under another name at the Kapalua Resort on in Maui (the Honolua Store){{Cite web |title=Honolua Store |url=https://abcstores.com/honolua-store/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=abcstores.com}} and in Koloa on Kauaʻi (Sueoka Market).{{Cite web |title=Sueoka Market |url=https://abcstores.com/sueoka-market/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=abcstores.com}}
Island Country Markets
Island Country Markets are officially described by the company also as a "lifestyle market and gift shop."{{Cite web |title=Shopping in Ko Olina & Kapolei {{!}} Friendly Service |url=https://islandcountrymarkets.com/about-us/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=ABC Island Country Market |language=en-US}} Country Markets are generally smaller than the large Gourmet Markets but larger than the traditional ABC Store. They have a stronger emphasis on fresh and prepared food than ABC Stores but lack the same level of groceries available at their larger cousin. The brand currently has three locations; one at the Ritz Carlton Residences Waikīkī beach, one at the Ko Olina Resorts on the Island of Oahu, and one in Kapaʻa on the island of Kauai.
Dukes Lane Market & Eatery
In 2017, the company opened a restaurant and food hall known as the Dukes Lane Eatery in Waikīkī.
Restaurants
The company also owns and operates a number of restaurants with the most popular being Lineage in Wailea,{{Cite web |title=Lineage |url=https://abcstores.com/lineage/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=abcstores.com}} Basalt in Waikīkī,{{Cite web |title=Basalt |url=https://abcstores.com/basalt/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=abcstores.com}} and Island Deli locations in some of its various retail establishments.{{Cite web |title=Island Deli Products - ABC Stores |url=https://abcstores.com/island-deli/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=abcstores.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.abcstores.com ABC Stores of Hawaii]
{{Convenience stores}}
{{VarietyStores}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abc Stores}}
Category:Companies based in Honolulu
Category:Convenience stores of the United States
Category:1964 establishments in Hawaii
Category:Retail companies established in 1964
Category:Grocery stores in Hawaii