Hinky Dinky and their leased grocery departments

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terryinokc
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Joined: 06 Nov 2005 23:34

Hinky Dinky and their leased grocery departments

Post by terryinokc »

Just read an interesing article about the history of this Nebraska chain. The article said that they had quite a large division that had leased food departments in discount stores of the 60's and 70's...one of the main chains mentioned was The Treasury and Treasure Island...something like locations in 21 stores. Anyone have info on this? Just wondered what other stores they might have had departments in....and also wondered what wholesalers they may have used for these stores.
Article mentioned that they were one of the original Topco members....anyone know if the Treasury/Treasure Island stores had their own grocery house brand....or if they sold Food Club?
On a side note...I am going to be in Omaha and Lincoln next week...anyone have ideas on any older stores to see? I have located a couple of marina Safeways that are still operating as grocery stores...one of them was a Safeway....then a Hinky Dinky...and now an Avanza (Nash Finch Hispanic store)......any other thoughts on places to see would be appreciated.
pseudo3d
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Re: Hinky Dinky and their leased grocery departments

Post by pseudo3d »

According to Wikipedia, "Supermarkets International" leased food departments in the Treasury discount stores (and even a few JCPenney stores). JCPenney bought them in '69 but shut it down a few years later.
KrogerTexas
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Re: Hinky Dinky and their leased grocery departments

Post by KrogerTexas »

There are some interesting PDF's about Hinky Dinky at this link

http://hinkydinky.net/category/artifact ... ts/page/3/
pseudo3d
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Re: Hinky Dinky and their leased grocery departments

Post by pseudo3d »

So all things being true, "Supermarkets International" was a division of Hinky Dinky sold to JCPenney in 1969 and shut down a few years later. By 1972, Hinky Dinky would become a division itself when it was bought by Cullum Cos., who, according to Wikipedia, basically ran them to fuel growth of Tom Thumb in Dallas and basically destroyed it, going from 50 stores to "a handful" (though HD had declined before Cullum took over, the Wikipedia page mentions that they took it when it was 34 stores).

My guess is that Hinky Dinky was already on the downturn by the late 1960s, forcing the closure/sale of stores, divesting Supermarkets International, and then finally selling themselves to Tom Thumb.
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