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Handy Dan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Handy Dan Home Improvement was an American home improvement store founded by Amnon Barness, an Israeli immigrant. It went out of business in May, 1989.[1]

By 1972, the company operated 30 stores in California, Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma. It made an initial offering in November, which led to Daylin, Inc. owning 81% of Handy Dan.[1] Daylin filed for bankruptcy in February 1975, though its subsidiaries were not included in the Chapter 11 proceedings.[2] Handy Dan was one of the few assets the company didn't sell during this time.[3]

Bernard Marcus was CEO of Handy Dan in 1978 when he was fired along with company vice president Arthur Blank amid a corporate power struggle with Daylin CEO Sanford C. Sigoloff. Marcus and Blank went on to found Home Depot.[4][5]

Daylin was purchased by W. R. Grace and Company in 1979.[6] In 1986, Grace's retail home improvement division, which included Handy Dan and Channel Home Centers, was sold to the division's executives through a leveraged buyout.[7]

Handy Dan played a major role in getting Texas's religion-based blue laws repealed in 1984 by opening on Sunday and using white price stickers for goods that could be sold seven days a week, and blue price stickers for items that could not be sold on Sunday.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Equity Financing". The New York Times. 1972-11-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  2. ^ "Daylin, Big West Coast Retailer, Files a Petition for Bankruptcy". The New York Times. 1975-02-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  3. ^ Lindsey, Robert (1978-06-11). "Up From Bankruptcy: How Daylin Bid for Dymo". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  4. ^ "Bernie Marcus & Arthur Blank". Entrepreneur. October 10, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Loeb, Walter. "The Story Of Ken Langone, The Visionary Behind Home Depot". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  6. ^ "Grace Completes Purchase of Daylin". The New York Times. March 22, 1979. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "Grace Will Sell Home Centers". The New York Times. December 2, 1986. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  8. ^ "Home Channel News". Readers Respond: Handy Dan, Home Depot and Lowe's. Retrieved 2010-02-24.[dead link]