ABC Stores (Hawaii)

An ABC Store in Honolulu, Hawaii
An ABC Store in Tamuning, Guam

ABC Stores is a chain of convenience stores based in Honolulu owned by MNS Ltd. The chain operates 73 stores, 57 of which are located in the state of Hawaii, with the remaining locations in the Mariana Islands and Las Vegas. The company now generates more than $230 million in annual profits and employs over 1500 staff, and is described as the 37th largest company in Hawaii.[1]

The company also has 7 stores operating under the Island Deli brand, with a focus on groceries and fresh foods.[2] In 2017 they opened a restaurant and food hall known as the Dukes Lane Eatery in Waikiki.[1]

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.

History

The chain was started by Sidney Kosasa, who opened his first store in Waikiki 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 Waikiki, Hawaii in 1964.

Locations

The stores are now ubiquitous in the tourist-oriented Waikiki neighborhood. There are 35 store locations within a one-mile radius of Waikiki alone and consequently many of these sit in close proximity to one another. The intersection of Kalakaua and Seaside Avenue alone has four ABC Stores.[3] Many retail analysts believe this is an attempt to block other convenience stores from entering the Waikiki market and thus prevent competition.

In total, there are 37 stores on O'ahu, 12 on Maui, five on The Big Island and three on Kauai.

There are eight stores in Las Vegas, currently the franchise's only mainland location.

There are also ten stores in the Mariana Islands, eight in Guam (in Tumon) and two in Saipan (in Garapan).

References

  1. 1 2 Mari Taketa (September 26, 2017). "ABC Stores Ventures into Upscale Dining with Dukes Lane Market & Eatery". Honolulu Magazine.
  2. ↑ https://www.abcstores.com/island-deli-hawaii
  3. ↑ Song, Jaymes (2004-06-04). "Ubiquitous ABC Stores score well with Hawaiian tourists". Deseret Morning News. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
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