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After 40 years, I learned something: Wigwam was a Seattle-based store. I didn’t know. There was one in Honolulu or more specifically, the one I knew of in Moanalua. The ones in Kailua, Kalihi and Kapalama already disappeared by the time I knew of Wigwam so... 1977 or so.
I remember going to Wigwam a few times and since it was technically away from Honolulu proper (about 10 minutes from where I lived), I thought what they offered there was great, very different from other stores close to my house or apartment.
Apparently, Wigwam also owned a store called Dodies, which I never heard of. When I moved to Washington State, I ended up discovering stores like JAFCO, Ernst, Lamonts and then I learned Farrell’s and Old Spaghetti Factory we’re both based out of Portland.
These are all of interest to me, considering where I ended up. The one regional store I’ve yet to visit is Bi-Mart, originally run by the guy who started Pay-N-Save. There is one in Sunnyside, WA, a town about an hour from me. This is of interest too.
Bi-Mart is a department store that can only be explored by those with a membership to it, perhaps not unlike Costco. My grandpa was in the navy and used to be a member of a store back home called GEM, Government Employees Mutual or Government Employees Mart.
Apparently, there used to be GEM stores in Boston as well but when began going to it, the store was open to the public, it wasn’t just for military people or their family. I went to four different GEM’s on Oahu and I have a lot of fond memories too.
One specific memory was when my mom was getting groceries one night and I was outside. I sat on the light because I thought wow, I need to relax for a bit, not realizing I was about to burn my ass. I scarred myself that night. Fortunately, my friends didn’t see any of it.
Anyway, I am curious about Bi-Mart because it is a membership store, a bit like what GEM was before it became public in 1970. I’d like to have a life membership to this store, even if I just go to it once a year. Yes, I am dumb but hey, it’s my life like Talk Talk.
