G. E. M. Membership Department Stores

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G.E.M.
Fate Closed
Founded 1956
Defunct 1973
Location Detroit, Michigan
Industry Retail
Products clothing, footwear, housewares, sporting goods, hardware, toys, electronics, appliances, cameras, food, drugs, auto repair

G. E. M. Membership Department Stores, also known as G.E.X. or G.E.S., was a chain of discount stores in the United States and Canada. The chain extended membership to government employees; the name was an acronym for "Government Employees Mart."[1]

Appliance and electronics departments in G.E.M. stores were operated by Wards Company, which later changed its name to Circuit City.[2]

The stores closed during the discount store shakeout of 1973.

Canadian pharmacist Murray Koffler was an investor in the G.E.M. chain, bringing the first G.E.M. store to Toronto in 1959. He eventually subleased the G.E.M. drug department in several Toronto area stores. Following the G.E.M. discount model, Koffler later opened one of the first "big box" store chains, Shoppers Drug Mart.[1]

[edit] Former Locations

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Former G.E.M./G.E.X./G.E.S. Locations  

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Woodward, A.. Company History: Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation. International Directory of Company Histories. The Gale Group, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  2. ^ Circuit City Stores, Inc. Company Timeline. Circuit City Stores, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
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