The Apex Companies

The Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based Apex Companies is a holding company that at different times since its founding had retail, online retail, commercial and residential real estate development, real estate management, specialty, wholesale and manufacturing businesses in New England.[1] Apex Companies is now centered on its retail division, Apex Stores, which includes apexstores.com, and a discount department store and the Apex Tire & Service Center, located in Pawtucket.

History

The Apex Companies were founded by Albert Pilavin in 1924. Apex started as a tire retreading, automotive service and manufacturing business.[1]

The 1938 New England hurricane destroyed Apex buildings in Providence, Rhode Island and Pilavin moved all Apex Companies operations to Pawtucket. To accommodate early growth, the tire business was separated from the retail store and the manufacturing operations creating the Apex Tire & Service Center.[1] The Apex Companies operated a retail store on Central Avenue in Pawtucket until it opened and moved to the Apex Mall in Pawtucket[1] in 1969.[2]

An Apex Card was started in the 1930s as one of the first customer retail discount card programs in the United States.[1] The Apex Card grew from being a discount card into a credit card and loyalty program. It continues as ApexAdvantage.[3]

In the 1960s, the Apex retail division opened an additional department store in Warwick, Rhode Island and then another in Swansea, Massachusetts. The Warwick and Swansea stores closed in 2001.[4][5]

Apex opened apexstores.com in 1996 as one of the first online retail stores.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Our History". Apex Companies. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ Lehnert, Tim (December 17, 2004). "The Apex of potential". Providence Phoenix. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  3. ↑ "ApexAdvantage has over 85 years of unmatched service". Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  4. ↑ Barnes, Jennette (January 25, 2001). "He saw start, now end for Apex". Cranston Herald. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Apex to close Swansea and Warwick stores, consolidate operations in Pawtucket". Providence Business News. January 23, 2001. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
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