Tidyman's

Tidyman's

Company type	Private
Industry	Grocery store
Founded	1968 in Spokane, Washington, United States
Founder	Jim Tidyman and Bob Buchannan
Defunct	2006
Headquarters	Spokane , United States
Area served	Washington, Idaho, Montana
Products	Grocery stores (Tidyman's, Dissmore's IGA, Northwest Fresh Marketplace, County Market)

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Tidyman's was a grocery store chain established and headquartered in Spokane, Washington. At its height, the company operated more than 20 locations across Washington, Idaho, and Montana, under various banners including Tidyman's, Dissmore's IGA, Northwest Fresh Marketplace, and County Market. The chain ultimately divested its remaining outlets in 2006 following a widely publicized 1996 sexual discrimination lawsuit that resulted in a $6.2 million judgment against the company.

Origins and Alliance with SuperValu

Jim Tidyman and Bob Buchannan launched their inaugural warehouse-style supermarket in Spokane, Washington in 1968. By December 1982, the chain had expanded to operate eight stores across Washington, Idaho, and Montana. In 1986, ownership transitioned when employees acquired the company.

In February 1992, after an investigation initiated in November 1991, Tidyman's was penalized $75,350 for employing 106 minors in breach of federal child labor regulations. The United States Department of Labor reported that all nine Tidyman’s locations had committed violations of child labor laws within the preceding two years. Authorities noted that the number of underage employees involved was among the largest recorded in the Pacific Northwest region.

In May 1998, Tidyman's entered into a letter of intent to merge with grocery wholesaler SuperValu. This agreement enabled Tidyman's to maintain majority ownership over its twelve stores branded as Tidyman's, along with eight County Market outlets in Montana and the Dissmore's IGA location in Pullman, Washington.

Sex discrimination controversy

In 1996, Connie Hemmings and Patty Lamphiear initiated legal action against Tidyman's, alleging breaches of federal and state anti-discrimination statutes. The plaintiffs contended that Tidyman's failed to provide them with wages and benefits comparable to their male colleagues, denied them promotions, and subjected them to retaliation following their complaints about discriminatory practices.

On April 13, 1999, the United States district court mandated that the grocery chain compensate the plaintiffs with $6.2 million (approximately $Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year), marking one of the most significant sex discrimination verdicts in the history of Eastern Washington. Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that Tidyman's lacked employment liability insurance at the time the lawsuit commenced, casting uncertainty over the company's future. Although Tidyman's acquired such insurance in 1997, this coverage did not mitigate the financial impact of the legal proceedings.

On April 13, 2002, a federal appeals court reinstated the punitive damages awarded to Hemmings and Lamphiear from the substantial lawsuit. Following this decision, Tidyman's was obligated to pay $4.5 million to the two women in addition to $650,000 in legal fees. This development came after U.S. District Court Judge Frem Nielsen had previously granted a post-trial motion by Tidyman's that overturned a jury award of $2 million in punitive damages. Subsequently, in 2003, Tidyman's settled by awarding Hemmings, Lamphiear, and their attorneys a total of $6.3 million.

Store shutdowns

Beginning in 2003, the retailer facing financial difficulties initiated the process of closing multiple locations. The first closures occurred in February 2003, involving two County Market outlets situated in Billings and Miles City, Montana.

In June 2004, Tidyman's proceeded to shut down six stores across Washington, Idaho, and Montana. These included five Tidyman's outlets—one in Spokane, three in Idaho (Moscow, Lewiston, Coeur d'Alene), and one in Missoula, Montana—as well as a County Market location in Helena, Montana. Later that September, as part of an effort to remain operational, Tidyman's revealed plans to construct three new stores within the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene region and to renovate six or seven existing stores. Additionally, the company aimed to begin a vigorous campaign to reduce its outstanding debt.

The initial six store closures were intended to mark the end of Tidyman's downsizing efforts. However, this strategy shifted when the Spokane Valley Tidyman's store was closed on October 31, 2005. In January 2006, two more County Market stores located in Billings and Great Falls, Montana were also shut down. Subsequently, on June 5, 2006, two additional Tidyman's stores in Spokane and one County Market outlet in Livingston, Montana ceased operations.

On June 20, 2006, Tidyman's declared its decision to sell off all remaining stores and discontinue business activities. As part of this process, the Dissmore's IGA store in Pullman was sold to McGregor's LLC, while the County Market store in Sidney, Montana was transferred to Buttes and Bluffs Markets.

See also

• Rosauers Supermarkets