Quigley's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founder | Roger Bemis (R. B.) Quigley |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles County, California |
Area served | Los Angeles County, California |
| Products | Variety store merchandise, junior department store goods |
Quigley's—also known as Quigley's Department Stores or Quigley's Variety Stores—was a chain of variety stores and junior department stores operating in Los Angeles County, California from 1936 until 1990.
The inaugural Quigley's store was launched in 1936 by Roger Bemis (R. B.) Quigley, after his retirement from Woolworth's. This first location was situated near the intersection of Sunset and Fairfax, just north of the present-day boundary of West Hollywood. During that era, competition from supermarkets was minimal for the product types typically offered by variety stores (often referred to as "five and dimes"). Quigley's adopted the motto "Basic merchandise at a reasonable price."
By 1948, ownership and management of Quigley's included R. B. Quigley himself, alongside J. H. (James Harold) Quigley and W. S. Manning.
Expansion
The following table outlines the cities and neighborhoods where Quigley's stores were established, along with their locations, opening dates, and additional remarks:
| City/Neighborhood | Address | Opening Year | Remarks | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood | 7916 Sunset Blvd. at Fairfax Ave. | First appeared in phone directories during the 1930s | ||
| Los Feliz | 1815 N. Vermont Ave. | by 1947 | ||
| Westchester | 8816 S. Sepulveda Blvd. | 1953 | The building later housed Bed Bath & Beyond until 2021. | |
| Burbank | 1611 W. Verdugo Ave. at Olive | 1945 | Employed 20 staff members in 1948; approximately 8,500 sq ft (790 sqm) | |
| Windsor Hills | 4435 W. Slauson Ave. | |||
| Van Nuys | 6711 Van Nuys Blvd. at Vanowen | 1948 | ||
| Long Beach | Plaza Shopping Center, 6428 E. Spring St. | 1953 | ||
| Sherman Oaks | Chase Knolls Shopping Center, 13401 Riverside Dr. at Fulton Ave. | 1955 | Approximately 18,000 sq ft (1,670 sqm); closed in 1990. | |
| Lakewood | Carwood Shopping Center, 4240 Woodruff St. at Carson St. | June 7, 1956 | ||
| Belmont Shore | 5026 E. Second St. | May 4, 1961 | This was the chain’s eighth store overall and fourth within the Long Beach-Lakewood region. | |
| Downey | Downey Shopping Center | Post-1961 | ||
| Azusa | 305 E. Gladstone St. | Post-1961 |
The Sherman Oaks location was the final Quigley's store to close its doors in 1990. Although the company referred to itself as a department store throughout its history, the Los Angeles Times consistently classified it as a variety store. The publication noted that employees took pride in their slogan: "If you can’t find it any place else, Quigley’s has it."
Readers of columnist Tim Grobaty in the Long Beach Press-Telegram frequently cited Quigley's outlets in Belmont Shore and the Plaza as among the most fondly remembered and missed retail establishments in Long Beach.
External links
- Image depicting Quigley's location in Burbank
- Photograph of Quigley's store in Belmont Shore, Long Beach