Ernst chain ada

TRACINC its origin back to the I turn of the century, the 85 year old Ernst home center chain in the home center division of Pay 'n Save Corporation is a blending of Ernst Hardware and Malmo Nurseries,two pioneer Seattle, Wa., enterprises.

Now operating 68 stores, the chain serves communities in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada. The Pay'n Save Corporation acquired the Ernst Hardware operation in the late '50s after it had experienced a period of less than perfect management. The garden supply outlet was acquired two years later and helped to make Ernst Home Centers a complete one-stop shoPping system.

Following the formula which made the drug operation successful, the home center division stressed self-service and attracted the do-ityourselfer.

M. Lamont Bean, now chairman of the board and chief executive officer, was president of the Pay 'n Save drug division at the time of the acquisition. Both he and his father, the late M.L. Bean, founding chairman of the corporation, were skePtical of the purchase because of their lack of experience in the hardware business. E. Ron Erickson, now president and chief operations officer of the corporation, remembers revamping the interiors and making the Ernst stores self-serve like the drug stores. He became assistant general manager of the Ernst home center division in 1960 and was named general manager in 1965.