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American states (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, Michigan, Tennessee, and
Kentucky). At its peak, the company had approximately 11,000 employees and annual revenue of $ 750 million. The chain advertised with the phrase "Handy Andy, you've got it made". The company's core product mix included hardware, lumber, building materials, home decor, kitchen/bath and lawn/garden. The stores were highly visible and well known for their very large vertical stripes of brown and white that would typically cover the entire building.
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on
October 17, 1995, due to creditor pressures, which led to the closure of about 20 of its stores. At that time, Handy Andy had over $ 120 million in debt and was planning to reorganize into hardware supermarkets. In early 1996, however, creditors forced Handy Andy to liquidate its assets to repay
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was founded as Arrow Lumber
Company by Joseph Rashkow in 1947 on the south side of Chicago. His son, Ronald Rashkow, bought out the single store operation in 1967 from his father. He converted the company to Handy Andy in 1971 with its first expansion unit. The company grew to 72 stores in seven
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its outstanding debts. On
January 25, 1996, Handy Andy announced it would be closing its remaining 54 stores, laying off over 2,500 employees. By June 1996, Handy Andy Home Improvement Centers had ceased to exist.
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Richard George was president of Handy Andy Home
Improvement Centers. He was at the helm at the time of Handy Andy's bankruptcy on October 17, 1995, and for the company's closure in June 1996.
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In 1989, Handy Andy acquired 21 Central
Hardware store locations in Missouri, Kentucky, and Ohio plus Witte Wholesale Hardware from Interco.
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In 1979, Handy Andy acquired four
Republic Lumber store locations from Jewel Food Stores in the Chicago market.
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In 1987, Handy Andy acquired the Forest City lumber chain with stores in Ohio, Michigan, and
Illinois from
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200:"Why The Roof Caved In On Handy Andy; Swift Expansion, Confusion Nailed Home Retailer"
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282:"Company News;handy Andy Home Centers to Close Remaining Stores"
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Companies that filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1995
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In 1986, Handy Andy acquired six Mr. HOW stores from
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Lumber, tools, hardware, garden supplies & plants
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372:Home improvement retailers of the United States
362:Defunct retail companies of the United States
256:"Forest City agrees to sell 18 retail stores"
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17:Handy Andy Home Improvement Centers, Inc.
382:Retail companies disestablished in 1996
357:Economy of the Midwestern United States
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169:"Joseph Rashkow, Founder of Handy Andy"
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124:area. The stores were later renamed.
225:"Handy Andy to buy 6 Mr. HOW outlets"
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377:Retail companies established in 1947
367:Hardware stores of the United States
320:Buck, Genevieve (October 17, 1995).
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352:Defunct companies based in Illinois
98:Handy Andy Home Improvement Centers
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167:Heise, Kenan (February 13, 1988).
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322:"Banks Pull Plug On Handy Andy"
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233:. June 5, 1986. Archived from
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45:1947 (as Arrow Lumber Company)
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197:Veverka, Mark (1995-10-21).
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205:Crain's Chicago Business
129:Forest City Enterprises
244:– via HighBeam.
295:. January 26, 1996.
142:Handy Andy declared
114:Nashville, Tennessee
72:Schaumburg, Illinois
118:Service Merchandise
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288:The New York Times
262:. January 14, 1987
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68:Headquarters
22:Company type
346:Categories
331:2021-09-18
306:2021-09-18
266:2021-09-18
241:2021-09-18
210:2021-09-18
180:2021-09-18
154:References
144:bankruptcy
138:Bankruptcy
79:Key people
62:Bankruptcy
301:0362-4331
53:June 1996
88:Products
32:Industry
122:Chicago
120:in the
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50:Defunct
42:Founded
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36:Retail
297:ISSN
58:Fate
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