Gemco Department Stores
Guestbook 2011-2013
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and to post.
Back to Gemco
Department
Stores
Gemco Department Stores
Guestbook 2011-2013
Back to Guestbook
and to post.
Back to Gemco
Department
Stores
| Name: | Douglas Dameron |
| Email : | douglas_dameron@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Just want to say Happy New Year to everyone. I worked for GEMCO from 1975-1978. Started in Anahiem then to Santa Ana, back to Anahiem, to Yoba Linda then San Gabrial. I worked in the shoe dept. If you remeber me dont hesitate to drop me a line @ douglas_dameron@yahoo.com. |
| Name: | mark sanders |
| Email : | nauhoopssanders@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Here's one for you all. My dad opened/worked at both the La Puente and San Gabriel stores back in the 1960's! He was one of the developers of the "THINK GEMCO" and "SMART LUCKY" pricing codes. He was/is also an amazing man. While I didn't know it at the time, he was way ahead of his day. I found out many, many years later that he was instrumental in hiring and promoting women and minorities for GEMCO, often at the expense of his own promotion due to it being very out of step with the bigoted times of the day. I've always been extremely proud of him for taking such a self-sacrificing stance, especially when he was the sole finincial provider for us, his family. Ironically (and as a fun fact), many years later, I worked as an assistant manager for a store called L & G Sporting Goods. One in Cerritos and one in El Toro. As you might have guessed, the 'L' stood for Lucky's & the 'G' stood for Gemco! |
| Comments: | My dad's name is Irv Sanders. Many some/one of you have a connection? |
| Name: | Matt |
| Email : | poorman977@charter.net |
| Comments: | I worked with you Diane at Glendora and Chino. Drop me a line. |
| Name: | Joe Placentia |
| Email : | mspillman@stjosephplacentia.org |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | We had some great times. My employees had lots of spark. Some I hope still have it. |
| Comments: | I'm currently retired. When I cashed out of the stock market, the timing couldn't have been better. After building my house, there was enough leftover to renovate my church. And get their site a facelift. I thank God every day. He must like fast cars too! |
| Name: | Diane |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked at the Glendora store, met future husband (now ex). Transferred to Chino location, promoted to Rancho Cucamonga Office Manager. Many wonderful memories, miss those I worked along side. We were a family back then and the Gemco model is needed today. |
| Name: | Aleta Dorado |
| Email : | prettylittlewings@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My all time memory was applying for a job at the Las Vegas store on Boulder Highway and they called me back before I got home. No cell phones yet. So I drive all the way back to be interviewed by this handsome manager. I think his name was Joe Placencia not sure on last name. Anyone know him????? Had a big crush on him. He hired me that day....... Woman's Dept. Write me if so. |
| Name: | GENE FAIRCHILD |
| Email : | GENEANDMOLLIE@LIGHTBENDER.COM |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | OPENED THE INDIO STORE AND WORKED THERE UNTIL 1979. GREATEST JOB EVER HAD. FUN WATCHING RUDY THE STORE MANAGER GET SHOOK UP WHEN BIG BOSSES WERE COMING TO VISIT, HE WAS GREAT TO WORK FOR. WAS THE BEST COMPANY THAT HAVE EVER WORKED FOR. |
| Comments: | WORKED SPORTING GOODS DEPT AND MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE. DEL THE #2 AND LARRY MILLER THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH. ROY #4 AND LARRY ROWLAND PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO. ANYONE WORKING THOSE YEARS PLEASE GIVE ME AN EMAIL. |
| Name: | Christine |
| Email : | fit4him35@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I did not worked for GEMCO but my favorite memory was visiting my aunt while she was on her break and looking around the store. She worked at GEMCO in Claremont. |
| Comments: | Hello. I am trying to find anyone who knew/ worked with my aunt, Geraldine (Jeri) Evans. She worked at the GEMCO in Claremont back in the 80's. I am not exactly sure what years but I know she was there 1984-1985 time frame. She worked in the produce/deli section and the hours were, if I remember correctly, 4 am until 2 pm. She also worked with a young man named, Nick (I do not have a last name for him). If anyone has worked with them, please drop me a line! Thanks so much! |
| Name: | Larry Easton |
| Email : | itsthemusicinme2@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I'm trying to find Ron Spencer. |
| Name: | Douglas Dameron |
| Email : | douglas_dameron@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Christmas week, 1977 @ Anahiem Gemco. I worked in the shoe department next to the exit. A woman shopper got to the exit and realized she didn't have her child with her. They alerted a missing child. About an hour later the y found the child......at the KMART in cypress. Thats a 25 min drive away. She left KMART and drove to GEMCO Ana., did her shopping, all without her child. Oh my gosh!. |
| Comments: | Does anyone know what happened to Debbie Walker? She worked
in the Santa Ana GEMCO in the 70s. About 5'4"-5'5", red hair, Lived a
couple of blocks from the Ana GEMCO, drove a 71 brown Gremlin, should
be about 59-61yo by now.
EMail me if you know. We were good pals back then. Thanks. |
| Name: | Douglas Dameron |
| Email : | douglas_dameron@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | This is not a fovorite but quite a memorie. 1977, christmas week @ the anahiem store. I worked in the shoe dept. and there was an alert for a missing child. The woman shopper made it all the way to the exit before relizing she didn't have her child with her. After about an hour, they found the child......at the KMART in cypress, about a 25-min drive away. She drove all that way, did her shopping and didn't relize her child wasn't with her till she reached the exit. Oh my gosh! |
| Comments: | Does anyone know what happened to Debbie Walker. She worked in Santa Ana Gemco in the 70s as womans appearal manager and lived a couple of blocks from the Anahiem store. Red hair, about 5'4" to 5'5", should be 60-63 years old by now. I had mentioned this before but forgot to add where she worked. We were pretty good pals back then. |
| Name: | David and Cynthia Sherman |
| Email : | snake1975@verizon.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | We both work at Gemco 501 in Anaheim!!
Used to meet at a pizza joint right next-door. To many fun memories to list!!! |
| Name: | David and Cynthia Sherman |
| Email : | snake1975@verizon.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Too much to describe!!!! |
| Name: | Brian Nebeker |
| Email : | brian@mrmicropc.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Pushing carts in from the parking lot to get tickets for a change to win stuff. |
| Comments: | We lived in Lancaster, CA and the GEMCO was just a few blocks away from our house. It was the only place close to get food and just about anything else you might need. I was about 12 at the time. After moving away and finding myself back in CA 30 years later I happened to have an occasion to go back to Lancaster. The place was like a different planet, I could not even find the road where the GEMCO once was. |
| Name: | daniel E |
| Email : | scififann2@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | GEMCO 814 'BAKERSFIELD' |
| Comments: | Is there no love for Gemco 814 Bakersfield?
Is somebody out there other than me? A been there done that 29/99 at Gemco! |
| Name: | Douglas Dameron |
| Email : | douglas_dameron@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I have sooo many memeories from Gemco. Still my most favorite job ever. Stated in shoes @ Anahiem in 1975. Became asst.mgr.and worked in sant ana, back to anahiem, to YorbaLinda then san Gabrial until oct 1978. Met and dated some nice gals. |
| Comments: | does any know what happened to Debbie Walker? Red hair and managed the womans dept. |
| Name: | Roy |
| Comments: | Thanks for the post Eric Riggert and recalling how we met. You were great with our C64 demos and I knew you would be an asset to Gemco. Thanks for everything and I'm very happy that you have a great family. |
| Name: | Pat Haddox |
| Email : | kokopelliph@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I was the store secretary at Indio and Catedral city until closing. I love all the wonderful people I worked with and have MANY fond memories. Would love to hear from anyone. We are trying to get a reunion put together for 2014. |
| Name: | Eric Riggert |
| Email : | e_riggert@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Throwing CD's around and scratching them up and they still
played PERFECTLY to demo the new Philips and Sony CD players that
played a single disc and only cost THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
Another one was LOSING Andy's keys to the warehouse cage one day at the Northridge store while closing alone... yikes! |
| Comments: | My parents shopped at the Granada Hills Gemco all the time,
and as I got older I stopped following them around and started camping
out in the Audio department by the exit, where I'd drool over the new
Commodore home computers. I taught myself how to program on those
computers, waiting for Mom to swing by the exit! Roy noticed me and
told me to let him know when I was old enough to apply for a job, which
I did, and worked in the department from just after the Strike ('84? or
early '85?) through Christmas. I met a lot of great people there,
including Roy, Dave Epstein, Dave Schipper, Gabrielle Benitez. I knew
computers. They taught me about home audio, car stereo, grades of VHS
tapes and record player needles, cartridges and styluses. And
registers, money handling, the TRW check credifier!
After the holidays they had to cut back staff, and I was effectively laid off, but Roy and Andy and one other audio manager found work for me on different days at all of their stores, and so I worked some days at Granada Hills, some at Northridge, and some at Woodland Hills. Then an opening came up at the newly renovated store in Pacoima, and I worked there until closing in '86, and also worked the Granada Hills store a little more just before closing. I wonder what ever happened to my manager at that store - Marcel Bossier, where are you? |
| Name: | Thomas Dunning |
| Email : | tommyd@oh.rr.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | As a sixteen year old male working my first job I met Pete Harris who was in charge of all the Northern Virginia Memco Department Stores before finally moving to California to become the company president. He stopped me one day to tell me what a hard worker I was and that if I kept it up I would be a store supervisor before too long. As a sixteen year old working my first job this was a thrilling moment. From that day on any time Pete would visit our store, he always went out of his way to find me and say hello. As a teenager this made quite an impression on me. Five years later another huge impression was made upon me when it was announced that all the stores were closing. I watched twenty year veterans of the company holding each other tight, crying their eyes out. And just like that a great family was broken up and left us all without a way to support ourselves. It was a terrible experience to learn at only twenty-one years of age. |
| Comments: | I worked at Memco #560 in Reston, Virginia. I was sixteen and it was my first job ever. I started as a cart boy (29C), and a year later promoted to a clerk (10) in the domestics dept. A year later right after graduating from high school I was promoted to domestics dept. mgr. (7). The store supervisor was Jim Diermeier, and the number two was Jo Seeber. The number three was Scott Andrews. I started in October 1977 a month before the store opened, and worked there a little over five years until it closed in January 1983. I still have my five year diamond chip. As a first job it was an amazing learning experience from some outstanding people. Now over thirty years later I have the fine people of Memco to thank for teaching me a great work ethic that has stayed with me for the rest of my life. Miss ya Memco!!! |
| Name: | Loree McGowen |
| Email : | mcgowen.l@monet.k12.ca.us |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | There are too many to list!!! Such a fun bunch at the Modesto Gemco #27. We were like a family . |
| Comments: | Does anyone know the company that holds our Gemco pension? I was told it was Transamerica Company but I called and they have nothing for me. I moved after losing my job at Gemco and never recieved the paperwork regarding my retirement package. |
| Name: | Susan (Serio) Ridgway |
| Email : | s_ridgway@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The people were awesome. I worked at the San Bernardino store from 1982 - 1986, the I worked at the store in Anaheim from 1986-1987. People I remember...Banita Ung, Laurie Williams, Keith Williams, Eileen LaTourette, Mike Fogarty, Mr. Penn, Mike Barajas, Charles Williams, and so many more. My sister Rose (Serio) Stake worked at the Yorba Linda store. |
| Comments: | Please keep in touch! |
| Name: | Mike Romero |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Warehouse sales ... waxing the whse floors & watching Tony C run & slide chest down on the new waxed floor... eating Alex R homemade burritos (he kept them warm on the maintenance water heater) putting gas in Wally H car (store mgr) and cruising in his Mercedes for awhile ... a long while :) |
| Comments: | Started as a Courtesy Clerk at GEMCO Balboa Ave making $2.15/hr at age 16. Moved into Patio, Mens, Child's, Domestic Dept's. Met my wife who worked in the concession bar. Transferred to La Mesa 571 into the Whse & then Receiving Clerk under Bob Z & Seth J. Was in local 1222 and Teamsters 542. Great benefits & pay for the times (union wages & healthcare coverage) Stories by Jim P, Dale G & other store mgrs ... that was one wild retail store... good memories. |
| Name: | Dale Wittern |
| Email : | daleo4@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | 1972-76 Store 529 Bellflower |
| Comments: | Started out shagging carts and was running Mens Clothing-at
age 20- when I left in 76 making 6.75 hr-wow
Hit me up if you were there |
| Name: | Dave Hedman |
| Email : | hedmanfamily@comcast.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My favorite "Gemco" memory. The folks I worked with. Many friendships still going today. Store #807, Santa Maria, CA. The not so favorite memory was the morning I was in the Lancaster store to help with their remodel and seeing hundreds of copies of the LA Times, talking about Asher Edleman and his attempted hostile takeover. As Steve Ford said, we all thought it would go on forever!! |
| Comments: | The strange part of all of this was years later, while working for the Boston Stores. We had to close down due to the death of the company CEO and CFO in a plane crash. As a manager I was called down to the offices to meet with the liquidation company. Turned out to be the same folks that closed down the Gemcos. Too small of a world! |
| Name: | Rick Soto |
| Email : | Ricks@dmwk.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | To many list. |
| Comments: | First job after graduation started working at Gemco 502 La Puente in September 1980 until January 1985. Very special and fun time in my young adult life. Met and worked with a lot of good people who would become good friends. Trying to locate some of these friends. Fred Kostner, Cameron Sailor, Scott Sanches, Jose Cano, David Lillie, Scott Meloy, Karen Hoover, Linda Hunt, Julie Tuttle, Cathy Santangelo, Randy Lisle, Dan Ward, Gail Valentino, MaryAnn Mann are a few. If anyone reads this call me or email me loved to talk to all. |
| Name: | Debra Taylor-Russell |
| Email : | dt.russell@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I dated lots of my co workers;) |
| Comments: | I was 14 when I was initially hired as a "Bag Girl"...just for the holiday rush. The next year they hired me back as a greeter that ran the PA system, typed up cards and of course greeted:) I LOVED that job! Then about two months before I graduated from high school they called me up and offered me a cashiering position and I took it. Worked there until I met my first husband, about a year later. Wish I would have stayed with them and prospered rather than run off to get married now;) Nothing but fond memories of the place! |
| Name: | Brian Rich |
| Email : | bririch51@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | RIVERSIDE 526
Already commented on this site. Just thought I would update my information. Ive seen only one other Riversider |
| Name: | MARK NICHOLS |
| Email : | mark@marknichols.name |
| Website: | http://www.VarietyMarketplace.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA .. worked in TOYS, HARDWARE, AUTOMOTIVE. Started out pushing shopping carts. My department head "Mary Ann Lyle??" Worked with Matt and Russ. |
| Comments: | To think ... Gemco was what Walmart is today. Gemco was ahead of its time. This was my first job in retail ... and I loved shopping in the Pomona store when I was a kid. |
| Name: | Deni Richardson |
| Email : | reagan1955@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Doe's anyone know anything about Ron Spencer? |
| Name: | Kelly Kostecki |
| Email : | Kellyannk308@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Remember buying perhaps new TV or toaster at Gemco back in da day with the Mom |
| Comments: | My mom and I used go to Gemco store in Downey Store CA I
remmeber buying everything there I think you could safe to say it was
1970s Version of Target much better
I remember for while we used buy Bigelow Tea Plantaion Mint favor when Gemco closed we couldn't find until recently at Target I do remember buy Plantaion mint least two boxes between mom and me we go through just like that I miss Gemco LOL! I think my mom still have their Gemco card |
| Name: | Anja Simons Newkirk |
| Email : | syndarellie@comcast.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Getting my training bra has got to be my favorite memory. The
bras were located right across the isle of the shoe department. And
damned if there weren't always nice looking guys working in that
department. So they day mom decides to take me to get my trainers,
there is the best looking guy ever standing at the register looking
right at me. I wanted to die and crawl into the box was holding. It was really sad when they closed GEMCO. Then they put Target in its place and it's slowly turning into a GEMCO without the quality of the customer service of course. I still miss GEMCO after all these years. |
| Comments: | OMGosh! I have so many wonderful memories of GEMCO. I grew up in San Lorenzo on Hesperian Blvd. There was an open field across the street from us. One day the tractors came and they started to build the best store ever, GEMCO. My sisters (3 sisters, 4 of us girls) all worked at that GEMCO for our first jobs as responsible teens. All we had to do is walk across the street into San Leandro. I was the only one out of the four of us that worked somewhere else in the store other then the front desk. |
| Name: | Deborah Kennedy |
| Email : | kennedyd22@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | They were the best!! None of the local stores could beat their prices. I worked at the Gemco store in Sparks NV and the Reno location. The stores were always busy and had everything you could possibly want. The stores closed due to a "corporate takeover" that Eshelman character SUCKS!! |
| Name: | Laura (Sayed) Federico |
| Email : | LauraFed@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | First day working at the first day of North Hollywood's store opening! |
| Comments: | Worked there from 1976 until 1977, helped pay for college. |
| Name: | Shawn Kirshner |
| Email : | shawn.kirshner@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at the Granada Hills store from 1981 to 1984 first as a cart boy then as a Warehouse man (teamster). Great experience and good memories. |
| Name: | Rock Cozort |
| Email : | therockmandude@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Well I have a few, 1st; CAR KICKBACK!! 2nd; Running to back cooler downing a beer/inhaling from whipcream can & run up front to, OHHWOW LOL 3rd; Pallet-jack racing 4th; The Great people and MGRS there! |
| Comments: | I worked at the Downey Gemco for Luckys' market around 1977 or'78 as a bagger I had so much fun there but the people their where just great, like a family. We'd stop and talk to Mrs. Hitchcock whose son went to Santa Fe High also. The cool closing mgr was working thank goodness the nite of my first pallet-jack race and my pallet-jack went wide right into the display of oranges LOL oranges everywhere, he married one of the cashiers. Maybe see Mr. Carpenter Sr. and ask him how the kids(The Carpenters') were doing, he say oh there doing just fine, Ok say hello for us. And, the cute blonds that worked the front door to Gemco and ask for you Gemco cards, I really wish I'd spent more time with the tall one, looking back I really liked her. To any young people reading this please do yourself justice and seize the moment only two things could happen, the person says No or you live Happily Ever After, I let too many of the laters go by because I didn't believe in my self, I didn't believe I could make them happy, I've been miserable most of my marriage, to someone from another state that I have nothing in common with we married for the wrong reasons & now I'm dieing of liver disease, hell I'm only 51 but still feel 17 and wish I could go back and do things differently, GEMCO you ROCKED what great memories!!Forever in my memories, THANK YOU ;) |
| Name: | Larry Pierce |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The phone used to break all the time. I learned a lot about telecommunications. |
| Comments: | Frankly, the phone rang too much. There are only 24 hours in a day. There's more to life than telephones. I AM A RESPECTED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL. I only have 2 hands. Why can't people get that? |
| Name: | Linda Essig |
| Email : | ljeangels@msn.com |
| Website: | http://uniquepicturesbylinda.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at the San Gaberil Gemco we had a young store
manager named Larry Pierce he was very aggressive and would blow up on
a moment's notice. We had a phone on register 6 and if Larry rdceived
information he would slam down the phone !! Well at least one a week
the phone had to be repaired or replaced |
| Name: | Don Turman |
| Email : | turman41@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Being 15 yrs old and my 1 st job GREAT TIMES for sure |
| Comments: | Anyone have contact info for Terry Wuertz? Please let me know. Thanks Don |
| Name: | Kathy (Degnan) and Richard Solomon |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Richard asked me out in the warehouse office. Forgot to get my phone #. Came back and said, "I have a really important question" I answered, "Your not going to ask me to have your children" Well 28 years later Two boys one 26 now and one 21. Older a Grad student and younger, two more years of computer engineering. We did not realize those were some of the best years of our lives. Party's, softball, turkey bowl, hanging out after work for hours. Those were the Days. Hope everyone has wonderful lives, we do! |
| Name: | Philip Lynch |
| Email : | plynchii@mac.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Opening day, my father was the sporting good concessionaire. I worked at 501 until I graduated from high school and then ran the set up crew around the country setting up stores in texas, Illoinois and Virginia. The whole Gemco experience was huge in my life |
| Comments: | The day in 1986 Gemco was sold to federated was one of the
worst days in retail history. Wal-mart is the Gemco model operated by
bad people. Had Lucky Stores not bailed under the stock pressure from
Adelman their would be no Wal-Mart except in Arkansas. For those of us that worked their thanks for the effort, it had great value. Lucky management had no guts. |
| Name: | David J. |
| Email : | drjohnson123@msn.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Sorry, here is the correct link:
http://i1261.photobucket.com/albums/ii599/picsmk1/gemco_zpsf971d7b1.jpg |
| Name: | David J. |
| Email : | drjohnson123@msn.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Wanted to see if anyone could positively identify the
location in this screencapture from a 1st season episode
of Scarecrow & Mrs. King from late 1983 or early 1984. It was a Gemco store that was probably in the San Fernando Valley. Any help appreciated !!! [IMG]http://i1261.photobucket.com/albums/ii599/picsmk1/gemco_zpsf971d7b1.jpg[/IMG] |
| Name: | Mark C. Larsen |
| Email : | marieisspecial@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Dressing as Darth Vader for Halloween party. |
| Comments: | MARK C. LARSEN Resident of Corona, Ca. Born 10/30/1950 in Los Angeles, Ca., died 3/1/13 on a motorcycle ride in Borrego Springs, Ca. Mark worked at the GEMCO in Huntington Beach for many years in the 1970's and 80's. He met his ex-wife Gail Duplisea there. He always spoke happily of his time there. He went on to get a Bachelor of Arts from Cal State Fullerton, and worked for the State Compensation Dept. for 10 years. Beloved by his surviving mother Bridget "Jean" of La Quinta, Ca; father Harry; brother Eric ; sisters Ann, Karen, Marie Larsen-Darr, and Laura Trovato;and many loving friends. He is buried at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Huntington Beach. |
| Name: | Antoinette Timmons |
| Email : | agavin04@att.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked at Gemco in Gardena, CA (on Redondo Beach and Van Ness). I loved working at Gemco - it was my first job. I learned so much. |
| Name: | Lynda Haight (Brooks) |
| Email : | ratherbebuying@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | There are so many! I worked @ Gemco Corporate on Knott Avenue in Buena Park from 1978 till 1985. What a great group of people and Supervisors! |
| Comments: | Loved the Cafeteria where we would all congregate for coffee
in the morning, lunch together! Loved the Birthday Club, our Christmas
Party's, car pools...I could go on and on!
Wonderful people worked there! My immediate Supervisor for many years was Ken Gay. I was so excited the day he hired me as a Data Entry Operator! Gemco proved to be a wonderful working experience! I still remember my Best Friend, Vicky Acevedo-Cambero, and so many others, Charlene Bloes, Barbara Packer, Judy DiGiovanni (Lucky Corp.), Laura Hudson. Almost 25 years! The time has gone, but the memories haven't! |
| Name: | Ted |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | It was Memco for me! Fairfax VA. "The Leaky Roof" Lot's of good overtime at Easter 1979. #1 Tim #2 Jim G.dly #3 "Shazi" #4 Gloria B. Lot's a "very cool" co-workers. Ellen B, Cindy B, Joe B, Phil McD, Larry R, ETC. Miss you all! |
| Name: | John Schroeder |
| Email : | jtschroede@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I closed down a Gemco store in 1986. I made sure I was the last Gemco employee out of the store before we turned the keys over to a Target representative. |
| Comments: | I started working for Gemco in August 1979. I worked as a
clerk, a Department Manager, and eventually the #3. This was truly a great company full of wonderfully committed employees. It was a union store but I’ve found that union employees have a greater commitment to the company and non-union ones. I never had a serious problem with the concept. From a management style, the company emphasized local management, control over inventory, and the ability to let people express their creative in merchandizing, product selection, and promotion. In short, we were “entrepreneurs.” It made it a fun place to work. Gemco closed at the height of the “junk bond era” where corporate takeovers were financed by issuing junk bonds to buy stock at premium prices. It was during the Gemco GOB (Going Out of Business) sale that this whole industry began to unravel. Unfortunately, it was too late to save Gemco. I wonder what Gemco/Lucky Stores would be like if Lucky Stores had issued their own junk bonds to fight the takeover rather than using Gemco to finance a stock buyback. I think at all times, they acted in the best interests of all the stockholders and did the best they could with the knowledge at their command. As far as Asher Edelman (the person who caused the demise of Gemco) is concerned, may he burn forever in the lowest level of Hell. Dante surely would have encountered him. |
| Name: | Tina (Tassinari) Johnson |
| Email : | tina.johnson@dhcs.ca.gov |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | There were so many but the biggest one I can think of was because we were close don Mondays we would all get together and raft down the American River. There would be about 30 of us and we had a great time. |
| Comments: | I still host Gemco reunions at my home in Carmichael, CA
about every other year. I started Gemco in 1978 and worked until we
closed in Dec. 1986 at the Fulton Ave. store in Sacramento. Gemco was
an extended family to me. I can remember when we were implementing the EFT system in all the stores going to the stores all over CA and training the employees on the new system and then going live the following week. What a great time I had meeting so many new and fun people. |
| Name: | Nancy |
| Email : | nccasta69@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My parents use to do our grocery shopping here. When I turned 16, I applied for a position and was hired. It was my 1st job. I started working as a cashier for the Arleta store. I was very saddened when it close. It was a great and wonderful experience working for Gemco. The store manager was Joe Winters. |
| Name: | Melodie ( Green) Lees |
| Email : | oohmytyk@aol.com |
| Website: | http://www.oohmystyk.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | so many memories. allof the people i worked with at the Gardena store from the Grand opening to 1973. MIke was our #2 and he hired me for the ladies dept cause he liked my legs ( i was told many years later) ( i was 18) loved our number 3 Jake and adored our #4 Jim Rogers. we were all afraid of our #1 Lee Nemecheck . |
| Comments: | Thanks to Jim Rogers i can decorate a house for Xmas like no one else. Jim choose me to help him decorate Gemco for Xmas. i was close with Cecila Mccabe and i will never forget her or Willette Blackwell. Annie. Anne, Debbie, Joanie, Lois. Berta Blue. Judy Furman, Robin Violette.......where are you girls? |
| Name: | richard peterson |
| Email : | rich49er@mail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | our dept xmas parties |
| Comments: | I worked in the data processing dept/ head office building on Knott ave in Buena park from 1984 until it shut down. Worked with a great bunch of people. |
| Name: | Debbie Milker |
| Email : | Debsmil@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked for memco in Maryland and came out in 1983 and worked at the north Hollywood store then similar valley and woodland hills. Remember the cabbage patch doll days???? |
| Name: | Pawnee Carter (Smolen) |
| Email : | kupoet@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I worked at the Tempe, AZ store on McClintock and Baseline from July 1981 to February 1982. I managed the Snack Bar during that time. I met people there that I am still in touch with today. Leslie Balog being one of them. Loved it! Later in 1983 I started as a Cashier at the Glendale/19th Ave. location in Phoenix, AZ, and worked there for 3 years until they closed :( in December of 1986. Anyone else from there? Send me an e-mail!! Love to all!! |
| Name: | Kevin |
| Email : | coolspidey@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Use to love going to my grandparent's house in Indio, CA, just because we usually got to go to Gemco. Great store. |
| Name: | Tim Murphy |
| Email : | Timmurphy47@gmail.com |
| Website: | http://www.spotcrime.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | 1973 Gemco (madison ave.) north highlands, ca |
| Comments: | First of all it was when those u.s. Army railcar explosions (in roseville, ca) had the sheriff evacuate my neighborhood to gemco i was 10. Then remember zebco combo reel and the 45's school clothes kites it was very fun when you are a kid |
| Name: | patty |
| Email : | motherlove49@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | good friends and loving many friends |
| Name: | Joe Schlader |
| Email : | schlader@gmail.com |
| Website: | http://www.pawnbroker.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked in El Cajon, La Mesa and finally Reno. Years there 1978-1980. I worked with a lot of great people that taught me much. |
| Comments: | I worked in the Jewelry department, later became manager of that department in Reno. |
| Name: | Oscar Acosta |
| Email : | oscaracosta2004@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The pursuit of excellent retail practices, customer service and the team atmosphere. The managers were the best in the business and I learned a lot from them. I continue to be influenced 40 years later as a store manager. Met Jim Otto at the Yuba City store as warehouse manager loading groceries. |
| Comments: | I worked at the East San Jose store and Yuba City store until it closed. 74-86 I miss that comraderie, fun atmosphere. |
| Name: | Rosalind Aguilar |
| Email : | rosalind-aguilar@sbcglobal.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Our "get togethers" at El Torito in Buena Park after work- lots of fun!! |
| Comments: | I worked at the Main Office in Buena Park - Banking and Check Authorization, I was the person that you called to have checks authorized. Wow - I spoke to sooo many of you - especially the Credit Managers...Those were the days. |
| Name: | Diana Jansen |
| Email : | tjax36@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The Gemco picnics at a park off of Topanga Canyon. Good times! |
| Comments: | Those were some of the best times of my life.Gemco was a great place to work & we were all a big family. I worked there for 5 years until the sad day they closed. I made lasting friendships that I cherish to this day. I love you & miss you Gemco!! XOXO |
| Name: | Vicki Taylor |
| Email : | Audio51@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Many favorites! One big one was...LAYAWAY!! They had the best plan ever. Walmart came close, but Gemco hod Kmart beat by a mile. I was very unhappy as young mother when they ended it. Next best was buying my fisrt computer there...a Commodore 64 in 1983.... |
| Name: | Lisa Toscano |
| Email : | lisatoscano7@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Numerous! |
| Comments: | Like many others, before me, Gemco was also my first job (Carson 575 & Riverside 526). I worked for this company for six years, within literally every department, until they closed. Many wonderful memories were created due to the camaraderie between our fellow colleagues and shoppers, which truly (literally and figuratively) created a family atmosphere. I am thankful for the memories, along with the lessons and opportunities that came to me through this “first” job. I still look back upon this time with great fondness. |
| Name: | Guy Shaham |
| Email : | guy-gemco@shaham.org |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Many wonderful memories for a teenager, including softball games at the park on Sunday nights. |
| Comments: | GEMCO #543, North Hollywood, CA (Victory Blvd & Vineland
Ave - now a Target). Worked there from 1981 until the store closes in December 1986. I started to see its decline after the UFCW strike (1985?) when many associates went to work at the new COSTCO store near the Burbank airport. I was an avid photographer even back then and have tons of pictures. |
| Name: | Curt Bowman |
| Email : | captcurt1968@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | It was first real job. My family used to shop there also. so I have many fond memories of Gemco. I worked at store # 526 in Riverside to this day when I see that number I think of Gemco. I still have my vest from those days. |
| Name: | Rick MacLaughlin |
| Email : | Maclaughlinr@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked at the Yorba Lina and Fullerton stores back in the mid 70's to 1982. Great fun and supported me through college. |
| Name: | Michael Peace |
| Email : | mrpeace@cox.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at the San Bernardino store! I worked in Grocery, Security, and Watch Repair. I miss all the people I worked with. I know some have passed on. If you remember me send me an email would love to hear from you. I miss working at Gemco |
| Name: | Gemco Fullerton #541 |
| Email : | ageofknowledge@live.com |
| Website: | http://www.economyincrisis.org |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Dreaming of being able to work for Gemco as a junior high student in the 1970s. |
| Comments: | Gemco was a big part of our lives. Born and raised in Buena
Park and then later moving to Fullerton, Gemco was IT!
I bought my pet rock at Gemco Fullerton and they used to sell rock candy there as well. They had everything. People would get their eye exams and glasses and then go grocery shopping and swing by the audio department to get their hi-fi and music. It was wonderful. All gone. Nothing even comes close today to the old Gemco. |
| Name: | Larry Keehne |
| Email : | Lckeehne@msn.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My first job at age 15 at Gemco in San Gabriel #427. Grocery
:Dept... Car pick up was a great way to spend the day. Could get 3
baskets full of grocery in a VW BUG. Great memories about this store. "good evening Gemco customers, Gemco will be cosing in approximately 10 minutes, the staff and management thanks you for visiting us, and bids you a cordial good evening" |
| Comments: | I would like to know where abouts of the following friends...
Phillis and Gary Winn/Wynn / Gary Regar/Reger |
| Name: | Jerry Clark |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | There were so many! Remodels were a lot of work and kind of fun. But one year I helped unload a truck full of Christmas trees. Just me and one other guy who was a Department Head, so he had to go back in the store a lot. It took my whole shift! My hands were numb because it was night time and there was still snow on some of the trees! I think I got sick a few days later but what a workout! |
| Comments: | It really was a great place to shop AND work. Just before I turned 16, I talked to the manager at the Bellflower stro (#529) weekly until they hired me (maybe so I would stop bugging her?). I worked there until they closed. I miss the wonderful atmosphere! My coworkers were awesome and even the customers were (usually) great! The loss of Gemco was a travesty! |
| Name: | Jim Blakely |
| Email : | JTBPHOTO@YAHOO.COM |
| Comments: | I work there at the Lancaster ca North Hollywood ca and Granada Hills ca stores |
| Name: | Eric Meyers |
| Email : | ericmeyers1@aol.com |
| Website: | http://sedonatennispro.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Being A Cart Puller
rope and a handle lol |
| Comments: | Visalia ca |
| Name: | Steve Gonzalez |
| Email : | maxportman@sbcglobal.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I suppose my favorite memory is the family feel I had as an employee of Gemco. There was comraderie as well as fun but also parental-like authority. The cast of characters at the Santa Ana store was incredible and as time went on new faces came aboard from managers to dept heads to clerks and cashiers, but to this day I still remember so many names and faces of really good people and even our security guy, Barney. He was the best! |
| Name: | Barbara |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | All the great friends and co-workers at the parties and reunions. Many fond memories. |
| Comments: | # 501 .... 63 to its demise in 86. After a short retirement, followed many co-workers to Costco. Permanately retired in 2004 to help support a racing industry to have it destroyed by Obama and the govenor of CA. |
| Name: | Terry |
| Email : | mothertml@sbcglobal.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | #501 Anaheim Whse. price marker 1969-1986 |
| Comments: | Best place to work and shop.Miss everyone |
| Name: | Barbara |
| Email : | losalmom2001@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | G.E.appliances/Gemco golf tourney and all store parties. |
| Comments: | 501 Anaheim ... 63 til death 86. then followed them to Costco. |
| Name: | Doug Flannery |
| Email : | grndpadug@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My favorite memory is all of the people that became friends and family during my 18 years. |
| Comments: | I worked in Fountain Valley, Glendora, Cerritos, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo and Huntington Beach. No matter where you went, the dedication to the company and the Gemco Family never changed. It was long hours hard work but the people always made it fun. I have never experienced that kind of "WORK" again. It is always the "PEOPLE" Best wishes to all, hope there will be another reunion someday. |
| Name: | Erich Zegers |
| Email : | KCDutch@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Fork lift races in the back of the store in San Gabriel. |
| Comments: | Worked part-time in the San Gabriel store #505. My Mom worked there for many years. If you were a past #505 employee, you may remember her. Here name is Sunny, and she had jet black hair she wore in the old 1940's style with a big rounded bun in front and one down her back neck. Sometimes she wore chop sticks in her hair as well. I think in the Men's and Women's depts. |
| Name: | Brian Craig |
| Email : | creestof@roadrunner.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Not my most favorite, but maybe one of the most memorable. Halfway through the day (and halfway through a million dollar remodel) the construction crew began to gather up all their tools and walk out the front door one by one. We were all wondering what was going on, until Talbert Johnson (our Store Director) returned from a meeting and called all of us managers to the office. There behind closed doors, he opened a paper bag and pulled out a couple bottles of Cold Duck and some plastic cups. It was sort of fun in a way...because it didn't seem real whatwith staring out his office window at all the shoppers and employee's down on the sales floor. |
| Comments: | Anyone up for planning a "30 year Gemco Reunion" for 2016? |
| Name: | Bob Daly |
| Email : | bdaly209@verizon.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | When I was a store manager at #516, Fullerton we held a promotion for a new hand held electronic game. Bowser from Sha na na, made a guest appearance. To add a little excitement to his entrance, I talked him into riding through the store on the back of my warehouse manager's motorcycle. The place was wall to wall people all cheering for Bowser. We had a great time. By the way, sales were lousy that day. |
| Comments: | I started working for Gemco in 1969 at the Glendora store. I
stayed with Gemco until the bitter end in December of 1986. There were
so many terrific people that I met and worked with along the way. It
would be difficult to name them all. Here are the names of some of the
managers that had a positive impact on my life and career at Gemco:
Dick Stevens, Lee Nemechek, Grant Cottingham, Rolf Ghering, John Snyder, Tom Berubi, Bill Lampe, Bill Price, Lloyd Tomlinson, Rudy Stangl, Gus Howels, Gary Ojendyk, Tom Kelly, Larry Pearson. I am afraid that some of the folks I named are sadly gone now. I will never forget them and I will never forget GEMCO. Retail has changed drastically in the last 20years. I suppose everthing changes not always for the best. God bless everyone that I worked with at this great company. My memories run deep. |
| Name: | Roy |
| Website: | http://www.pbase.com/roy/image/117578228/original |
| Comments: | Colleen, click on the link to see the Oceanside address. |
| Name: | colleen |
| Email : | colleen.k@att.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Loved the whole store |
| Comments: | I lived in oceanside 1974-1979 I need to know the address of that store. |
| Name: | Gail Jarson (Gardner) |
| Email : | pigeongirl13@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Was doing wacky crazy things early in the morning while stocking shelves. Also hanging out with our friends. Laughing and singing in the early morning with our co-workers and having just the best times in my life. |
| Comments: | Worked at the La Puente store from 1973 to 1983 and quit after starting a family. Worked as a cashier first, then went to cosmetics, and ended up working in health and beauty aids stocking shelves in the very early mornings. Quit to raise a family for ten years and went to work for May Co. and now at Macys for the last 20 years. Can't get the retail out of my blood. |
| Name: | Mark Davis |
| Email : | davismarka@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I never worked at GEMCO but have fond memories going there
with my parents to shop. My favorite memory is bringing in shopping
cartes as a kid and they would give me a ticket, the more ticket you
saved up you could use to get candy ect.
|
| Name: | Jean Sgobassi |
| Email : | jsgobassi@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Was going through some old paperwork. Found some old
paperwork for a LIfe Annunity from my Gemco days. Would have been a
nice monthly check from Transamerica Life. Did that terminate? Tried to
call the number, been getting a busy signal for 2 days. Can anybody
help?
Thanks a bunch!!!!! |
| Name: | Lori Kennedy |
| Email : | lori.ellis@boeing.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | So many fond memories and fun times working at GEMCO! Going to Don Jose's in the parking lot after work :) |
| Comments: | I worked at the Fullerton GEMCO on Yorba Linda Blvd. from 1981 - 1985. I got hired as the "British Sterling Girl" in Cosmetics engraving British Sterling cologne bottles with initials at Christmas time. I was thrilled to get hired on as a cashier and then got a job in Sporting Goods. |
| Name: | Gene St Hilaire |
| Email : | genenkona@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | So many memories; my first career job in retail. Started in Cerritos July 1972; hired by Dave Andrulonis and Jim Harris as a cart boy and stayed with Gemco til closing in 1986. Worked in Bellflower, Huntington Beach,Downey, both Riverside (526 and 800), Pomona, La Puente and probably a few I may have forgotten about. As I read the guestbook it saddens me to hear of those who have passed away. Recently heard Billy Evans passed away as well. I will never forget the hard work and fun we had as evident by the comments posted. Gemco taught us how to be merchants. Thanks to those of you that helped shape my career, way too many to mention./ Nice to be reminded of all the great people that worked for the company It was a wonderful ride while it lasted. |
| Name: | Jeff Wulff |
| Email : | ojwulff@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I worked at the following stores: La Puente 09/78 to 07/82 Fullerton (Yorba Linda Blvd) 10/80 to 07/82 Fullerton (Harbor Blvd) 09/82 to 09/85 San Gabriel 09/85 to 04/86 Fresno 04/86 to 12/86 (Company Closure) |
| Name: | Rick Rodela |
| Email : | bizdr@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Working the nitecrew at the San Gabriel store,and having BB gun fights and bicycle races around the store. |
| Comments: | We used to through parties in Alhambra and a lot of Gemco employees used go to the parties at what we called the mansion. |
| Name: | Don Anderson |
| Email : | flautist1@msn.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I lived in Granada Hills on Paso Robles Ave, which dead-ended into their parking lot (now a 2-story Target). Gemco was part of growing up. I can vividly remember the layout of that store. |
| Comments: | I worked as a scab at that Gemco during a supermarket strike. It was the best money a 16-yr old kid could ever hope to make. I'll never forget spending my first paycheck on some gawd-awful patchwork peach-to-rust ombre' jeans that I may have worn once. On the other hand, I still have my White Stag down ski jacket I got at Gemco and wear it when I work outside in the winter. I love it's flawless construction and classic V-design flattering my broad shoulders - ha ha! |
| Name: | Shannon |
| Email : | capshew_s@madera.k12.ca.us |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Some of my best memories are of Gemco. I was born in 69', so my childhood was the 70s. It seems like every Friday night, my parents would take us to the Carl's Junior in Visalia. Then, we'd go over to Gemco to shop. I got my prescription glasses there too. Love those memories! |
| Name: | Janet anderson |
| Email : | Anderson2251@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked in the pharmacy at the Gemco in Gardena from1974-1986. I just had lunch with Alan Aoki, I can remember so much about the lay out of the store, all the departments, the Christmas craziness for lay a ways. I am still close friends with Joy Achiilli. I remember Shiela and Vickie that worked the reception desk. Debi Parasoupolis, Sharon and a lot of pharmacy customers. It was the best job I had. |
| Name: | Brian Chilstrom |
| Email : | Bchilstrom@verizon.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | RIP Peter D. Chilstrom |
| Comments: | Peter D. Chilstrom Jr. Born April 27, 1953, in New Jersey City, NJ. Passed away on May 21, 2012, in Quartz Hill, Calif. Peter is survived by his wife of 37 years Terry, his three children Stacy, Matthew, and Jared, his mother Harriet Chilstrom, his four brothers John, Harold, Steve, and Brian of Chino, Calif. Six Nieces, one Nephew and one grand niece. He is preceded in death by his late father Peter D. Chilstrom Sr. Memorial service Sunday July 15, 2012 5:30 p.m. Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, Rose Pavilion |
| Name: | Brian Chilstrom |
| Email : | Bchilstrom@verizon.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Peter D. Chilstrom Jr. Born April 27, 1953, in New Jersey City, NJ. Passed away on May 21, 2012, in Quartz Hill, Calif. Peter is survived by his wife of 37 years Terry, his three children Stacy, Matthew, and Jared, his mother Harriet Chilstrom, his four brothers John, Harold, Steve, and Brian of Chino, Calif. Six Nieces, one Nephew and one grand niece. He is preceded in death by his late father Peter D. Chilstrom Sr. Memorial service Sunday July 15, 2012 5:30 p.m. Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, Rose Pavilion |
| Name: | mary zwolak (wife of ron zwolak) |
| Email : | dustyp7@aol.com |
| Comments: | To any of you from old riverside stores in the 1970s. I just wanted to let you that Ron past away on June 17, 2012.we had wonderful memories of that time |
| Name: | rick |
| Email : | rickinlucas@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | This was the first big store in Modesto. I left in 85, came back to visit a few years later and it was gone!Always wondered why, now I know. |
| Name: | darrell heffner |
| Email : | darrell.heffner@clorox.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I miss all the great people i worked with at the San Jose,Calif store.I great times at this store. |
| Comments: | Anybody out there that work at that store send me an email. |
| Name: | Paul Johnson |
| Email : | www.pcjohnson_1@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Way to many |
| Comments: | Looking to see if anyone has current information on Bonnie Johnson. See was Morty Godless Assitant for years. Later I believe was Lee Nemecheck's. She stayed on long after sale. Lost touch. Looking for info of a contact number. Her current one is no longer of use |
| Name: | Steve Ford |
| Email : | srford@adelphia.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Getting hired by Tom Kelly(#2)at Bellflower in 1977 as a PT automotive sales clerk at the the tender age of 15 for the grand opening stands out and then going on to eventually become a store manager of Santa Maria, Carson, and (closing) La Mirada! What experiences and friends and mentors that enriched my life at Gemco! Pete Quiring,Terry Wuertz,Rich Hibben,Sue Mullins,Bob Boyd,Paul Guerra,and too many more that I will always cherish and appreciate what they did to create a wonderfull and enriching life experience.... |
| Comments: | Thanks for the opportunity to re-live a great experience from my past.....love you all that shared it with me! |
| Name: | Steve Ford |
| Email : | srford@adelphia.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Opening the Santa Maria store.....hanging out after work in the parking lot at Culver City-- "solving the world's problems" with Sue Mullins!(Ha) |
| Comments: | What a rich history of growing up within this good company of friends and associates at a time when we thought we would just go on forever! |
| Name: | barbara graham |
| Email : | Anniesworkshop@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked in the Santa ana Gemco from 1970 to 1986...would fill in doing the books in Mission Viego and Anaheim. I loved Gemco....Mtgh. |
| Name: | Fermin Garza |
| Email : | fermin.garza@laverne.edu |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I started at Pomona working for Randy Fauntz in the Audio department. I worked in Chino, La Puente, Cucamonga, Norwalk, Cerritos, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, West Hollywood, Glendora, Riverside, and Woodland Hills. |
| Comments: | I want to say Hi to; Marc Martinez, Dana Young, Jim Falls, Ernesto Lujan, Mike Maynard, Patty Gallup, Bob Milkowski, and Michelle Summers. |
| Name: | Charlene Taniguchi |
| Email : | chamartan@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked in the Colma/Daly City (Bay Area) store as cashier. Met alot of good people, Sandra Lozano, Nancy Yeo and a few others that i can't remember at the moment. Grew up shopping at Gemco with my parents and siblings...good times! |
| Comments: | I am curious to the union that i was paying through my paychecks. Anyone know if we have money stashed away for us? |
| Name: | David Matheney |
| Email : | DaveSVDP@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Too Many To List |
| Comments: | Closing in on Retirement Age and looking for information on the pension plan that covered GEMCO's non-food employees. Let me know what you know. |
| Name: | Janine Nelson |
| Email : | neenienelson@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I have so many good memories. I love the people and still think of them often. So many have passed on but I remember them fondly. I worked at 506 in Downey, and then off to 545 in Mission Viejo where I was promoted to store secretary and district secretary, my boss being Rolf Gehrung. I wish Gemco still existed. Miss it lots. |
| Name: | Clint Fredenberg |
| Email : | clintfor@pacbell.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The people I worked with as I worked the Stereo/Computer Dept from 82 to closing in Mt View and San Jose. The time my Mom said I could get a record at GEMCO for washing the car as a kid. I got the 4 album Chicago live at Carnige hall album for $9.88. Kinda tricked Mom into it. |
| Comments: | Great memories there. |
| Name: | Clint Fredenberg |
| Email : | clintfor@pacbell.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The people I worked with as I worked the Stereo/Computer Dept from 82 to closing in Mt View and San Jose. The time my Mom said I could get a record at GEMCO for washing the car as a kid. I got the 4 album Chicago live at Carnige hall album for $9.88. Kinda tricked Mom into it. |
| Comments: | Great memories there. |
| Name: | Michael Lockwood |
| Email : | Dpforest@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | So many great memories! I was asst. mgr. in the jewelry dept. in Glendora (525). Was a very interesting time in my life. It was a better store than Walmart or Target can ever hope to be! |
| Name: | Brian Craig |
| Email : | creestof@roadrunner.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Had to come back as so many other names popped into my head : ) |
| Comments: | Sue Snell...a love I was to young to keep
Joy DeVore...a love I was too dumb to keep Maureen Mahoney, Tom Schlack, Joyce Morales, Brian & Sean Boyce, Lisa Braschek, Cindy Kasko, Luthor Moxley, Steve Nichols, Rick (tall red haired warehouse guy), John Debelak, Tom Moonan, Teresa Messbarger, Patty Murphy, Ron & Elaine Nitti, Sue (the stores greatest secretary...who is probably still blushing from her encounter with Maximus Erectus...the male stripper the managers got for her birthday), Gary Ojendyk who I respected immensely, Ralph Goldman who I feared immensely...list goes on and on...as does my bad spelling : ) |
| Name: | Brian Craig |
| Email : | creestof@roadrunner.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Culver City/Gardena/Torrance...Gosh...everything was great about Gemco. My first job (17) was a xmas graveyard stocker ($2.83 an hour) and one day as I ran up the safety ladder to face the supers, ran down, pushed ladder 5 feet, rinse/repeat...I headed back down and stopped in my tracks to see LLoyd Tomlinson (#1) watching me...he then turned to my #3 Richard Harrington and said "Give that kid a raise!" The next weel I was making $2.92 an hour ...lol! |
| Comments: | I treasure the memories (good and bad) during my 9 years with Gemco. So many great people...Clay Hardwig, Bob Boyd, Sue Mullins, Paul Taketomo, Robert Martinez, Ken Barbula, Don Turman, Debbie & Margo Bogan, Rick Batistoni, Talbert Johnson, Jim Burns, All the Hot, Hot ladies at the front desk and the credit office, Don Tibor, Jim Stazak, Diane Woodward, Michelle Kustic, Diane Ascani, Teri Wiggert, Anne Imirsek, Debbie Martinich, Bob Farber, Bob Fogarty,...Sheeesh...as I'm writing this, so many faces and names are flooding through my head...not to mention all the dumb things I did out of severe immaturity, missed opportunities...Hell, I remember sitting in the snack bar with my whole patio department crew being treated to soda's by George Peppard who'd just bought a bunch of stuff from us. What a big part of my life you all were...as well as all the others I don't have room here to name. I miss those times AND all of you. I really hope you all went on and had some great adventures and happy times! Take care... |
| Name: | lezlee (green) medeiros |
| Email : | lezlee.medeiros@sundale.org |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I Got a chance to work in every department,but I had the most
fun working the front desk greeting people! I also remember
working the nite shift, rides bikes,ordering pizza and falling a sleep pricing underwear. |
| Comments: | I enjoyed working at GEMCO(1979-TO CLOSING). GEMCO was a fun
and friendly place. We all loved getting paid every Friday! I made some good friends,Carrie,Laverne,Nick,Norma And many more! I Hope everyone is well and having a good life! |
| Name: | Beth Anthaume |
| Email : | bethleonardt@yahoo.com |
| Website: | http://www.avoyatravel.com/expert/bethleonardt |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Sitting on Santa's lap and taking my picture - we always did fun things at working during work, we had the best crew. |
| Comments: | This was my first job and love it -
I worked there starting in 1979 my senior year of high school and stayed for 2 years. I would run into people that I worked with years later and it's so suprising that everyone always had GREAT things to say about this company. I'm thankful that Gemco give me my first job - |
| Name: | Jeff Jasso |
| Email : | visaliajasso@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I worked for Gemco in the Visalia, Ca store. Does anyone know where we can find out about our retirement fund? I have been searching and can't seem to locate anything. Please email if you know anything. Thanks. Great Site. |
| Name: | Don Finney |
| Email : | dfinney2012@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Been awhile since I have been on this site.Nice to see people are still finding it.I worked at the Long Beach,Hunington Beach and Visalia California stores.I often find myself telling friends how great it was to work at Gemco.I am still in retail,manageing a mens clothing store in Ogden Utah.I would love to hear from anyone that I worked with over the years. |
| Name: | Greg Waddell |
| Email : | greg@gregwaddell.com |
| Website: | http://gregsphotostudio.com |
| Comments: | For any of you who worked with or knew my father, David Waddell, he passed away on March 4th, 2012 at the age of 91. He was VP of Operations for Gemco in N. Calif. and Memco on the East coast throughout the 70's and early 80's. |
| Name: | Greg Waddell |
| Email : | greg@gregwaddell.com |
| Website: | http://gregsphotostudio.com |
| Comments: | I just wanted to post this for any of you who knew or worked with my father, David Waddell. He was VP of Operations for Gemco throughout the 70's and early 80's. He passed away on March 4th at the age of 91. |
| Name: | Cherylgrinstead |
| Email : | pandachecha@alo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Trying to find out about Bea Miser.She worked at the Cerritos store with my Mom,Joyce Grinstead.They lost contact with each other awhile back.If anyone has info please let me know. |
| Name: | Michele Summers Downs |
| Email : | mdowns725@aol.com |
| Comments: | IT's me again... forgot to mention that I worked at the Pomona store from 1982 to 1986 |
| Name: | Michelle Summers Downs |
| Email : | mdowns725@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My boss hired me before I was even 16, September of 1982. I worked there for 4 years before new contracts were being pushed in and employees under the old contracts were being pushed out. Loved working the floors and especially over night during the Christmas Shifts. |
| Name: | lionel [poncho] sequeira |
| Email : | lioseq@att.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | 1966 day being hired the highest hourly paid pharmacist in sacramento |
| Comments: | became reginal manager of pharmacies of n. ca. and nev. |
| Name: | Laurie Norby |
| Email : | laurielucas.4@q.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I have so many memories during the time I was working at Gemco. I was 16 when I started there. and stayed until our store closed. I worked at the store in Culver City California. |
| Comments: | I was real upset when the store closed. I have not been in touch with anyone. my store mamager was Sue Mullins. |
| Name: | Darrell Grani |
| Email : | Darrell@ad-graph.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Started as Christmas help on my 16th Birthday in November 1979 in the Pomona store #528 wow still remember the number! Hired on again in summer of 1980. Worked thru High school and part of college. |
| Comments: | Still today remember it as a great place to work. With a bunch of great people. Worked in the toy department for a while. Today I work in the Toy field due to that job and the contacts made! |
| Name: | Christine |
| Email : | christine_ashford@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I am adding to the post below.... |
| Comments: | I had to give my alternate email address because I am having issues logging into fit4him@yahoo.com . Also the year I am speaking of was 1984 - 1985 for sure. My aunt actually worked there for many years. I know Nick was there 1984-1985 but not sure when he started or when he left. Again, thank you! Thank you for this site! |
| Name: | Christine |
| Email : | fit4him@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I never worked for GEMCO but my favorite memory was visiting my aunt, Geraldine Evans (Geri or Jeri) during her lunch break. She who worked at the GEMCO in Claremont, CA back in the 80's. |
| Comments: | The reason it was my favorite memory is because I was always an east coaster and had never been to California. My family spent 1984 with my aunt in California and one day when she was working, my uncle took me with him so we could visit with her and purchase film for my camera. The store was awesome. It was like nothing we had in Virginia or Texas at the time. While visiting, I briefly ran into (almost literally)a fork lift that was being operated by a young gentleman, whose name is Nick. I said my apologies, went out into the store and purchased my film; came back to the back and my uncle was ready to go. Later that afternoon when my aunt Geri came home she mentioned that Nick asked about me and was interested in showing me around the area. Of course being only 17 years old at the time, my aunt told him "No". The following year my aunt came to visit us in Texas, where we lived, and Nick asked her to tell me hello and asked me if I could give him my senior (high school) picture. I did and I believe we exchanged hellos through my aunt several times. Anyhow, my aunt has since passed away and I think about Nick from time to time. I was thinking of finding him but I only know his first name and where he worked. If anyone here on this site worked at the GEMCO in Claremont and knew my aunt, Geraldine Evans or Nick or both, please contact me. The only other thing I knew/know about Nick was that he was a football player for the shcool he was either attending at the time or had just graduated from. If I remember correctly he was a senior in college (22 or 23 years old) and I was a senior in high school. Nick was also part Hawaiian (I think). I just remmeber he was very tan and I beleive my aunt said he was of Hawaiian decent, maybe partly; not sure. Any information would be so greatly appreaciated!!!!! |
| Name: | Roy- Gemco Webmaster |
| Comments: | Todd, it sure is good to hear from you after all these years. Thanks for mentioning those names too, Gemco had so many NICE people working for them and that's what gave it a family atmosphere and why we looked forward to going to work. And "the queens of the credit office" is very fitting name for them. Again, such sweet and attractive people. And those LCD displays were hot items back then! |
| Name: | Todd Carnes aka TC - (29) 514 Granada Hills CA '83-'86 |
| Email : | todd_carnes@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Riding bikes down the main aisle during Christmas. 3 aisle long icee spills. The girls who broke my heart. "Aisles of smiles" from Murphy. Pushing carts in the rain. The Teddy Ruxpin melee of 1985. |
| Comments: | My first job as a 29 for Gemco is the best employment memory I have. I met some great people including Renee and Heather in Small Appliances, Mr Saunders in Hardware, Mitch, Tracy, Pedro, the queens of the credit office, and of course my best friend for 28 years (fellow 29 Dave Jens). It was a beautiful thing to get paid so little and enjoy it so much. Hey Roy, I used to hang out with you in Audio and drool over the multicolor LCD displays of the JVC R-X500. Brings back old times. Anyway, time has passed and I'm a husband, father, and 20+ year Systems Engineer. Thanks for the site Roy. |
| Name: | Lavona Wright Goodson |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at the Pomona,San Gabriel & Glendora Gemco |
| Name: | Sue Blount - San Leandro Store |
| Email : | sioux_zeque@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at The San Leandro Store from the mid 70's 'till the day it closed, before that in Fremont. I was one of the receptionists. I also had the last name a Moore. I am looking for more of you who worked at 510 or 532 during that time. |
| Comments: | I have worked many jobs since then and Gemco holds the most memories for me and is still my favorite job. I still think of my time there often. Claudine Abert - where are you? Trudy, Kathy, Judy, or anybody else - let me know where you are. Would love to try to have a reunion. |
| Name: | Alan Easley ( D. ) |
| Email : | Stanggreen98@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Pacoima store photo and jewelry department clerk.
My most vivid memory was of Paul in the watch repair department. In his booth . " yala yala " he used to say |
| Name: | Alan Easley ( D. ) |
| Email : | Stanggreen98@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Pacoima store photo and jewelry department clerk.
My most vivid memory was of Paul in the watch repair department. In his booth . " yala yala " he used to say |
| Name: | Joe Footdale |
| Email : | jfootdale@live.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Hey Arlene, glad to see you are still around. Please send me
an email if you get a chance. Take care! Joe |
| Name: | Brian Doolittle |
| Email : | doolittlebrian@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Starting in Audio at Redwood City with Greg Smith, George and
Jim Dutkewicz in major appliances Spring 1982 then on to Mountain View
with Rick Lemieux. Clinton Fredenberg introduced me to real golf at Spy
Glass & Pebble Beach. There were so many excellent people in every
store: Cupertino, San Jose & South San Jose, Colma and Freemont.
It was a marvelous time 1982-83-84. Best wishes to you all. Good memories. |
| Comments: | I taught public high school and Jr. High from '71 until I came to CA in 1981. I returned to teaching 1985 and retired last June. |
| Name: | DAN TUNNELL |
| Email : | tunnelldan@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Worked at the Visalia & Stockton stores in the major appliance dept. |
| Name: | DAN TUNNELL |
| Email : | tunnelldan@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Worked at the Visalia & Stockton stores in the major appliance dept. |
| Name: | Dan Kelly |
| Email : | event4you@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Chrstmas parties, hiring "seasonal" always cute girls for
Christmas time. Great job, good friends. Ken Awes was store manager,
John Davidson was #2 at Mack Road store in Sacramento. Rang up the very
last customer ever at that location, still have a picture of it.
|
| Comments: | Some time after Gemco closed the local union, (#588) ? sent me a letter statimg I had a certain amount in a pension fund for retirement. Cannot find letter or anyone who knows how to look up or access this fund. Was'nt too much, $3oo/mo I think but in this economy anything helps. Still have a few years to go until I retire but would appreciate any help. Great website, keep up the good work!! |
| Name: | Kathi Camarella Wheat |
| Email : | kackilyn@verizon.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Working there was the greatest experience! I worked in
Pomona, SanBernardino, Fullerton-541, La Puente and Glendora. Meeting
my ex-husband there, we had some great times, shopping there,
remembering i stashed stuff under the Cosmetic counter where i worked
until payday came around. Love the audio and record departments! Great
memories...thanks for the website
|
| Name: | Mark Orsborn |
| Email : | Mark.Orsborn@cox.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Closed on Monday's BBQ's! |
| Comments: | GEMCO 571 La Mesa CA 1977 -1986 |
| Name: | Derek de Vany |
| Email : | Derekjon105@mac.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Most memorable was going to Tommy's after work with my
friends. Two double cheese and two cokes!
|
| Comments: | Worked in the La Mirada Gemco from 1980-1986, mostly in the
patio department. It was the best place in the store to be, watering
the plants in the early mornings or stocking the toys during the
Christmas season while cracking jokes. |
| Name: | Lisa Leija McAllister |
| Email : | bzmom62@yahoo.com |
| Website: | http://www.strosesuites.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Too many. |
| Comments: | The Las Vegas store on Boulder Highway. Gemco was my first job. It was a scream. So much fun. The thing is the management trained us very well. I judge all stores by my training at Costco. Counting change back, saying thank you when ID is returned to customer, etc.. Worked for a red headed man Jeff, a latino man very dark complected, and another man who married a checker named Mariane. I met a lot of wonderful people there which is the same as many postings here...proof GEMCO hired really good people. It's a shame they went out of business. It was a very well run store and was not much different than todays Target or WalMart Superstores, which I am sure they learned from GEMCO. |
| Name: | Jeanne Guerra |
| Email : | Jgpg5464@charter.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Family! Life long friends. Paul and I are both alive and still married. It has been 45 years. Gosh we're getting old. My real favorite memory about Gemco occurred many years after closing. Paul was on a plane and saw Pete Harris. Paul said, " Hi, Pete, Paul guerra and Pete replied oh Jeanne Guerra's husband. It's nice to be remembered, |
| Name: | Pete T. Saenz |
| Email : | ptsaenz@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I always purchased our christmas tree outside of GEMCO! |
| Comments: | I worked at the Oceanside Ca in 1986 and worked at Glendale Az from 1980-1986! |
| Name: | mike molin |
| Email : | mikemolin48@clear.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | just the employees i worked with it was a fun place to work I worked for them for 15 years and 6 different stores before i went to costco which many of gemco employees are now working for.I worked in the warehouse. the stores i worked at were.LA PUENTE.SAN GABRIEL.DOWNEY.CHINO.GLENDORA.AND,LAS VEGAS. which was fun because we got to play the slots on are breaks.some of the bosses i worked for were terry wertz,rudy stangl,derek pope tom edwards.tom kelly.jeff long ron hanstein,larry hoover,george spelman,garry webber,rolf,bob daly,frank farcone mark mashaud,wally riesbeck,just to name a few besides all the great employess I DONT have enough room to name them all it was my first job and it was great.the golf tournaments the softball teams.it was a great experience in my life. |
| Comments: | just hope to get in touch with some of my old gemco friends |
| Name: | Lisa POLE |
| Email : | LISAPOLE1@AOL.COM |
| Name: | Roy- Gemco Webmaster |
| Comments: | Pamela, I remember those UPC registers- what a PAIN they were for me! To ring up just ONE item I had to press at least 74 buttons!! I wanted to take an axe to it. I'm sure others felt the same way. |
| Name: | Pamela Johnson |
| Email : | Pamhandle2@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The best memory I have was when GEMCO got the UPC code and
the unique registers into the San Leandro Store #510 in the 1970's. We
had visitors from all over the world to see this. All the Japanese that
came in with their cameras and as a receiptionist we had to tag them
all. GEMCO was the first store to have these registers. "LIFE"
magazine, "New York Times", all the known media came to this store to
see the $10,000.00 Register in the grocery department print out items
such as Rice Krispies for $1.29, etc. The Japanese loved it because
there was a register that printed out groceries in their language.
I also remember Ralph Goldman coming into the store and everyone would scamper around getting their departsments spruced up. LOL |
| Comments: | I worked as a receptionist during 1971 to 1980. I eventually worked up to the store secretary job, after the previouse secretary Gail Travers was promoted to the Lucky stores corporate office as a treasury secretary. I stepped into her job but quickly stepped down when I got pregnant. (maybe 6 months or so I did that job). I remember my #2 Marty Rodriguez who seemed to drink coffee by the gallons running around like crazy. She was one of the hardest workers. I eventually transferred from the San Leandro Store, to the Dublin, CA store, and lastly to Yuba City. My whole separation from my husband was my demise to leaving GEMCO. I surely miss that store. In my opinion GEMCO was the FIRST Walmart! |
| Name: | Chris Turner |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Gemco was my first job. |
| Name: | David Alarcon |
| Email : | dave@constructionhardwareco.com |
| Comments: | Trying to locate Hank "Hanko" Valencia.Worked together @ 505 San Gabriel from 1980-83.Any information would-be greatly appreciated. |
| Name: | Roy- Gemco Webmaster |
| Website: | http://www.pbase.com/roy/image/117578228 |
| Comments: | Click on the link and so you can see the address for the El Cajon store. And here is the location now http://g.co/maps/8a44h |
| Name: | Gregory May |
| Email : | gregory_may_jr@yahoo.com |
| Website: | http://gregoryagogo.multiply.com/ |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Dad and I would shop there for everything, but usually our weekly groceries. It was hard getting money out of him for things I needed, like school clothes. Have vague memories picking out clothes for school, like 1983 or 1984. |
| Comments: | Does anyone know the exact street address for the Gemco El Cajon location? My memory is not helping me, and things look so different now along Fletcher Parkway where I think it was. |
| Name: | Melinda |
| Email : | melsahara@Gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I got my dress for my first school dance at Gemco, my first bra, my first Barbie, what didn't we buy there? |
| Comments: | I am wondering if there was a special name for the snack bar area at Gemco? I remember what a treat it was to eat there. |
| Name: | Paul Barnett |
| Email : | poppipaul@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | The people, of course. The working conditions were better than I previously had at another dept. store. |
| Comments: | I was the jewelry mgr at 514 (Granada Hills) from 73-76 and 544 (Visalia) from 76-86. The closing was traumatic. |
| Name: | Joe Bodle |
| Email : | theragingbuffalo@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Working at Gemco, GRANADA HILLS. I worked there in 85-86. One of my best memories there was the night of our manager, Brett Busse's birthday. He used to drive an old Datsun that was missing the right passenger fender. We took a collection and went to pick your part and got a new one for him. The color didn't match, but we put it on for him that night while we were working. We waited for him after work to see his reaction. It was awesome! He invited us to his house to meet his wife and newborn, and he bought us beer! I was 17. Thanks Brett! Good times! Great people! |
| Name: | Lisa DelGiudice |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at Gemco in Carson (575) from 16 years of age, where I was hired as Christmas help, to 20. I loved that job and all of the people I met. I gained valuable experience that I was able to use from college and throughout my career in the corporate world. Gemco was a great store! I still miss it. Cheers to all the Gemco alumni! |
| Name: | colleen eidson |
| Email : | colleene@cox.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked there for nine years. Opened the Oceanside store and also El Cajon. I have actually had dreams about Gemco, good ones, and think of the people there often.I remember working my dept. on day and the #3 Bill C. came up and asked me why I was there. It seemed he had given me the day off. He let me work and take the next day off. |
| Comments: | I worked almost every department there. Ending up in the warehouse as a marker for years. Best job in the store! There are so many people I remember. Miss those crews. |
| Name: | Delbert Gossert |
| Email : | delgossert@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Gemco nite at Disneyland was always a great event. So many friends, Paul Guerra, Bill Evans, Ron Evans, Tom Kelly so many memories so little time. |
| Comments: | Started in Fountain Valley in 1969 worked for 10 different
stores and helped to open so many more. The greatest bunch of people I
ever worked with. I am now retired living in Hawaii,but have never
forgotten the best years of my life. I have several old Gemco Ads that
I treasure. I still keep in contact with Paul Guerra, Larry Shiganaka.
Have contacted a few others on facebook. aloha |
| Name: | Mike Gauci |
| Email : | tracker5360@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Too many to mention. |
| Comments: | I started out in 1977 at Huntington Beach as a warehouseman
working with Jim Roy,Tom Fogarty,Gail Williams,Betty Mathwig,Fred
Stegman,Gary O,Grant Cottingham,Gene StHilare,and so many others. In
1980 I was promoted to Warehouse manager in Las Vegas and opened up 802
with TOm Kelly. It was a good 10 years. MEt my wife at HB and we will
celebrate 30 years in 2012. Looking for Mark and Erin from HB. Mark was a warehouse man and Erin a clerk at the time. They hooked up and moved to Colorado. |
| Name: | andy estrada |
| Email : | andynjulie@hotmail.com |
| Website: | http://www.facebook.com/andynjulie |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I lived down the street from the Arleta GEMCO on Beachy Ave. I remember eating patty melts for dinner at the cafe on the way in, and buying a 45 record at the audio shop on the way out. also, pushing the lawn mower to the gas station for a fill up. |
| Comments: | The location on Van Nuys and Beachy is a High School now. |
| Name: | andy estrada |
| Email : | andynjulie@hotmail.com |
| Website: | http://www.facebook.com/andynjulie |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I lived down the street from the Arleta GEMCO on Beachy Ave. I remember eating patty melts for dinner at the cafe on the way in, and buying a 45 record at the audio shop on the way out. also, pushing the lawn mower to the gas station for a fill up. |
| Comments: | The location on Van Nuys and Beachy is a High School now. |
| Name: | Robin Copeland |
| Email : | varykno@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | |
| Comments: | My father had worked for Gemco since I was a little girl. All of our family friends had been supervisors or managers at one Gemco or another. I remember feeling like I wasn't actually born, but more like I was "bought" at a Gemco. Because my father had been transferred so much, I became familiar with many stores including the Memcos. I personally worked at the Riverside, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, and Mission Viejo stores. |
| Name: | Arlene Huggard (Gibb) |
| Email : | electriclady@cox.net |
| Comments: | I was just reading Joe Footdale's comments and it put another smile on my face. There was so many good memories at Gemco, that there is no way to count them!! It was a wonderful time in my life and I love all the memories I have working with Joe and everyone else at the Long Beach (Signal Hill) store!! Thank you Joe!!!!! |
| Name: | Tom Franciscus |
| Email : | tfranciscus@tfisystems.com |
| Website: | http://www.tfisystems.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I worked at the Escondido Store #549 from 1981 - 83. Lots of fun times... Inventory Mondays and Sunday evenings once a year were a great big party... All the pranks over the paging system.. Used to love running to exit door when the shop lifter page came over the system.. So many good people, so many good times... Thanks everyone in #549 for all the great memories |
| Name: | Brian Lowe |
| Email : | Ibeugenius@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | getting arrested in the parking lot after work one night. I was 17. The store was closed, and I was in the side parking lot with the sporting goods manager Rick (dont remember his last name)and some other people. Out of no where about 20 of El Cajons finest come at us from all directions. Helicopter and all. They thought they had a major drug bust going, and wound up with me and a bottle of moosehead beer. They were soooo bummed. Arrested me anyway and took me to the station house right down the street. I thought it was hilarious. I remember Rick being really worried as he gave me the beer. Good times. |
| Comments: | I was a courtesy clerk at gemco 573 in El Cajon, from 83-84 Anyone know where Dave Bernotus is now? |
| Name: | Ralph Anzellotti |
| Email : | ralph@teleport.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Phil was a manager at Gemco 503 Cupertino and we use to call him Porky (not to his face!).... |
| Name: | Unemployed WASP |
| Email : | ageofknowledge@hotmail.com |
| Website: | http://helpfixamericafirst.blogspot.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Mom getting us that rock candy at Gemco. |
| Comments: | Gemco was it. We used to go to the ones in Orange County, CA. They had everything. When the pet rock craze hit for 6 months, Gemco had them right near the entrance... lol. They had it all back in the day. Great store. |
| Name: | Gil Hodges |
| Email : | hodgesgil@hotmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Just seemed like one big family. If Gemco was still around I would still be working there. Best Retail job I ever had. I worked in Culver City and Gardena |
| Comments: | sourerd (is that a word????) me on anything union |
| Name: | Brenda Meyer-Strode |
| Email : | frogs4bls@gmail.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Meeting my husband. He was pushing carts and I worked in shoes. (I know not really a Gemco employee-we were Kenney-Style Co.). |
| Comments: | I worked at the Pomona store - Shoes 1973-1975, went to work at J.C. Penny's and moonlighted at Gemco. Then came back for a few months in 1976 and again in 1984. Had many good friends there. |
| Name: | Michael Strode |
| Email : | stroder1922@yahoo.com |
| Website: | http://N/A |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Gemco Warehouse sales....lol. I loved all areas that I worked. Like most people, did not like all. Met my wife there. This year is 31st. |
| Comments: | Working a Pomona #528 for 13 years. Started pushing carts out of High School. (I was first turned down for work because Ron Hanstein thought I wanted a #10's job. Hired me on the spot when I told him I was just out of HS and wanted a cart pushing job) Dirk Janz helped me get the job. |
| Name: | Tim Sherwood |
| Email : | trsherwood@q.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Too many to list, probably the Lancaster store Christmas parties. |
| Comments: | Worked in Lancaster as Christmas help in 77 and 78, then hired part time (the always fun 3:45 to 9:30 shift). Transferred to Pacoima as a Dept. Mgr in 81. I transferred to Fountain Valley in 82. I left Gemco in 84. Made a lot of great friends at all the stores I worked at. |
| Name: | Anne Hempy (Imrisek) |
| Email : | anne_hempy@yahoo.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Worked at the Culver City store (574) when I was about 17 or so. I worked in the Ladies Dept. Best memories were the "disco times" at the Denny's bar across the parking lot. Yes I was 17, but I blended in with the 21 crowd & they never carded me. ;-) |
| Comments: | Jeanette Einstein was a mentor to me... she told me to stay
in school! (I ended up dropping out but went back for a BSCS later -
you were right Jeanette!!!)... she married Kevin McCray - Lisa Vela was
my manager & friend. I also recall working with Reiko and Donna in
the ladies dept. It was a great group of people - a really fun place to
work. Kareem Abdul Jabbar came into the store once & he was easy to
pick out of the crowd! Lots of good memories there - 6am to 3pm shift
during the summer to do stock work... Inventory time... I hadn't
thought about Gemco in quite a long time. Thanks for putting up this
site. |
| Name: | Allan Hansen |
| Email : | hansena@npgcable.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I was a young box boy. My favorite memory was competting against the other box boys (and girls) on how fast we could bag grocerys. |
| Comments: | I worked at the Lancaster, CA store from opening day. It was a great store to work at and everyone was like a bug family. The best job I ever had! |
| Name: | Greg Waddell |
| Email : | greg@gregwaddell.com |
| Website: | http://photos.gregwaddell.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Opening a new store |
| Comments: | Unfortunately for me, reading the copies of the Employee Newsletter, brings back memories of the "dark days" preceding the closing of Gemco. Stan Brenner's pompous, hard nosed retail leadership style, along with his "imported" talent, killed the heart and crushed the family atmosphere that made Gemco one of the greatest retail experiences ever. |
| Name: | Dana Dey McCoy |
| Email : | mlucyfan2@aol.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I started working at Gemco in North Hollywood Calif. in 1979. I met my Best Friend there and had alot of fun with the great people I worked with. I remember the closing shift when you worked an hour after the store closed to clean up. We all had the most fun at that time. |
| Name: | Lantz Shapiro |
| Email : | pastor@fbcventura.com |
| Comments: | I used to work at the Gemco in Redwood City from 1984-1985. I was in hardware to start with and I did well there, but then for some reason they moved me to the garden section which I knew nothing about. I think Gemco went downhill when they tried to make it more of a self-service store. Customers always liked to come to us for help in finding things or getting advice on what to buy for what they needed. |
| Name: | David Warner |
| Email : | davidwarner1@sbcglobal.net |
| Website: | http://www.screenmobile.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | All the friendly people! |
| Comments: | I was the vendor for the record dept for all the valley
stores from 1978 to 1985. Met some wonderful people. I would love to hear from some of the former record dept managers. I met my ex-wife in the Gemco Pacoima record dept! |
| Name: | Joe Footdale |
| Email : | jfootdale@live.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | There are too many... |
| Comments: | I started at the Signal Hill store in 1973. One of my earliest memories working there was taking a break at the snack bar, and Arlene Gibbs smiling at me and welcoming me to the store. I worked in Sporting Goods, Hardware, and Patio. There were so many good people there, you never forget the good times. I left Gemco in 1975, then returned in 1976 to the Torrance store, then transferred to Cerritos. Paul Guerra and Clay Hardwig were absolute mentors to so many. I haven't seen anyone I used to work with there in quite a while, but know you will never be forgotten! |
| Name: | jim van muysen |
| Email : | jvanmuysen@comcast.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Gemco 423 |
| Comments: | I was an employee at Gemco 423, Hacienda Heights, 1967 to
about 1969. Great place to work. Meat dept clean-up, bagger, clerk, frozen, night crew, ha d a great time as a young guy. |
| Name: | Dorothy Hilburn |
| Email : | dkdot@email.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | Trying to make the closing announcements without laughing while my friends and fellow front desk clerks made faces at me. |
| Comments: | I was hired at the Santa Ana store for Christmas, 1977 where I worked in the patio department. Happily, they asked me to stay on after Christmas and moved me (unhappily) to toys. During my time there I worked the check out, small electrics and finally the front desk. Of the many people I met at Gemco, two are still my best friends - Susan Barnhart and Kim Clancy. I had a really great time working there and, like any 17 year-old, I had crushes on many of the guys who worked there. In 1980 I worked at the La Mirada store, which wasn't as much fun but had some really great people whom I still think of (Michael Mideras) today. I remember by boss, Joe, rubbing my shoulders and whispering in my ear that when he got done rubbing my back he was going to start on my front. We'd laugh like loons and that's as far as it ever went. Hell, we'd both be fired in today's world! Mostly I remember how much fun we had and I can't decide if it was because we were all so young or if it really was a great place to work. Cheers to all my old co-workers; Mark Larson, Nancy Atherton, Joel Rubenstein, Mike Solorio, Lindsay St. John, Jerry Rice, Sioux Stout, Beryl (with the hair that stood straight up!), Dennis Good, Kathy Bower, and Wally the guard - not to mention all the others whose names I can't remember. |
| Name: | Leigha |
| Email : | leigha.robbins@sbcglobal.net |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | when they had those turtle neck Sewat Shirts with a lady bug on it's back the seatshrit had a green color and cuffs and the rest of the sweat shirt was white except for the turtle and lady bug. |
| Name: | Norman White |
| Email : | nwhite@newtownofficesupply.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | My first GEMCO Golf outing |
| Comments: | I worked in Houston 1972-1974 while I was going to University
of Houston. Worked with Gary Hill, Jim Humlick, started out in Sporting
Goods, then Patio, promoted to Patio Department Head when Dave Stevens
was promoted. Many good times and memories! |
| Name: | Al Gillette |
| Email : | al@alpine-hbs.com |
| Website: | http://alpine-hbs.com |
| Favorite "GEMCO" memory: | I can't even try to recall all the good memories I had in my 20-+ years at Gemco. Started in #503,Cupertino. Still a junior in High School and the store hadn't open yet. I was "laying" in the isle putting stickers on model airplanes when this mountain of a man came by and said "BOY if you don't get up, we'll be going to the hospital" and at 15 I was naive enough to ask WHY" and when his voice boomed "TO GET MY FOOT OUT OF YOUR ASS" I realized I'd just met Chuck McCumby. WOW!! My first day at Gemco. |
| Comments: | I still can't see the word ICE and not think of $3.97. I
still use the code almost every day; writing combinations on lock
boxes, notes to myself, raises in personell files, secret phone numbers
and on and on. NO ONE except, some of you, know what I'm talking about.
Regardless what position I had, I was always #7. I remember sitting in Bud Grafius' office and him telling me that President Kennedy had been assinated. I met my first wife there. A lifetime of friends still remain because of GEMCO. |